Construction Ready

05/28/2026

THURSDAY THRIVERS: Meet Aubree Charles, Alexander Charles, Jaylen Wallace, and Takhia Penn, a quartet of high school seniors who have flourished in instructor Randin Burley’s Construction Pathway at 4C Academy in Albany.

“He helped me realize that I could do more, instead of just doing the minimum,” Penn says.

Two of the students are moving on to construction management programs in college, and all four have gained hands-on skills that will benefit them for life.

To learn more about this senior group that Burley says “wound up becoming one of the best” he’s had, read our newest Success Story at https://constructionready.org/story/4c-academy-seniors.

Georgia Department of Education

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

Hands-on workforce development happens when industry works together with training programs like ours.

Today we say a big Thank You to Portwest for supporting women in construction. Portwest provides our female Pre-Apprenticeship graduates with personal protective equipment, ensuring they begin their careers outfitted in state-of-the-art gear.

Partnerships like this strengthen the future workforce 🤝🏽

05/22/2026

Congratulations again to the 21 graduates of Westside Works Group 52, all of whom are now trained, credentialed and ready to work. 👏👏👏

And a special Thank You to each of our sponsors, including Associated General Contractors of Georgia, Atlanta Gas Light, Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Power, Holder Construction, The Home Depot Foundation, LuLuMa Foundation, The Marcus Foundation, Portwest, and Strack, Inc.

The graduation was live-streamed this morning, and you can still watch it – see the post immediately below.

And just like that, the construction workforce gap closed a little more 🤝

05/22/2026

Congratulations to the 21 Pre-Apprenticeship graduates of Westside Works Group #52. They are now trained, credentialed, and ready to work!

05/21/2026

THURSDAY THRIVERS: Meet Ethan Morriss, a Chattahoochee Technical College graduate who, just a decade removed from high school, is an experienced carpentry professional with Anning-Johnson Company.

Ethan initially pursued a traditional college education before realizing a technical career was the better fit for him. He benefitted from strong mentors at Chattahoochee Tech and on the job at Anning-Johnson, and he offers this advice for young men and women wondering what they should do with their lives:

“Follow what interests you. You’re going to enjoy your time and your life so much more. If it interests you, don’t let it go to waste; jump on it and seize the opportunity.”

Go to https://constructionready.org/story/ethan-morriss/ to read how Ethan seized the day and continues to thrive in a hands-on skilled-trades career.

Woodstock High School Georgia Department of Education

05/21/2026

Today we recognize Composite Construction Systems, Inc. for their donation to Construction Ready through the Peach Education Tax Credit program. We recently presented the Columbus-based company’s Vaughn Dobbins with a token of our appreciation for their support of construction education.

Want to learn how CCS and other Georgia companies and individuals are investing their tax dollars into this all-important work? Visit https://constructionready.org/taxcredit for details.

05/20/2026

Talk of six-figure salaries will get a student’s attention.

That was part of the vision cast for Atlanta Public Schools and Clayton County Public Schools students who attended our See It To Be It events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last month.

These behind-the-scenes tours and interactions with industry leaders help young men and women see firsthand how the many career pathways in construction come together to deliver world-class results.

Enjoy this brief highlight video for a look at what more than 200 students experienced at the Benz.

MAREK Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association H.J. Russell & Company IEC Atlanta & Georgia

05/19/2026

Last week Construction Ready was proud to support the GiveWorx program at Give Center East in Gwinnett County as they celebrated 20 students graduating and taking the next step toward bright futures—many of them pursuing careers in the skilled trades.

A special congratulations to program lead Ms. Karen Foote for her leadership and commitment to student success, and to everyone who helps make GiveWorx such a meaningful opportunity for young people.

We were also honored to hear from Courtney Jenkins of The Home Depot Foundation, who delivered an impactful keynote address and reinforced the importance of investing in the next generation of the workforce.

These students have put in the time, effort, and determination to build real pathways for themselves, and it’s inspiring to see their momentum!

05/18/2026

We had a great time helping GNTC host a practice session at their Gordon County campus on Friday for students preparing for the SkillsUSA National Competition.

SkillsUSA Georgia state champions in Masonry, Carpentry, TeamWorks, Plumbing, Electrical Wiring and Cabinetmaking sharpened their real-world skills under the guidance of experienced industry professionals who showed up to mentor, coach, and invest in their future.

Thanks to these schools and instructors for leading the way:
🛠 Fannin County High School , Ryan Chastain – TeamWorks
🛠 Lee County High School , John Wanner – Plumbing
🛠 Harris County High School - GA, Josh Tracy – Electrical
🛠 Sonoraville High School, Bo Dooley – Masonry & Carpentry
🛠 Chattooga, Bengi Price – Cabinetmaking

A big Thank You also to Mainline Plumbing, Anning-Johnson, McKenney’s Inc, Duffey Southeast, Kellogg Creek Cabinets, Independent Electrical Contractors, and Acme Block & Brick for their support and participation; to Donny Homes and GNTC for hosting the event; and to ACG Georgia for providing lunch.

This is what workforce development looks like – collaboration between education and industry, hands-on learning, and a clear pathway to high-demand careers. We’re excited to see these students compete on the national stage and represent Georgia at the highest level

Georgia Department of Education Anning-Johnson Company McKenney's, Inc. Duffey Southeast Inc. IEC Atlanta & Georgia Associated General Contractors of Georgia Chattooga High School

05/15/2026

Georgia construction firms continue to step up big in supporting construction education through the Peach Education Tax Credit program.

Yesterday we celebrated The Conlan Company for their contribution to Construction Ready through this groundbreaking initiative. We appreciate them for taking the time to make this happen 🙏

The tax credit program enables individuals and corporations to donate to programs like ours while receiving a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their state income tax returns – a win-win for everyone 🙌

Learn more at https://constructionready.org/taxcredit