FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, April 29, 2004

DASNY Construction Staff Aids in Career Days

Nearly 800 High School Students Participate

GLENMONT � More than two-dozen Dormitory Authority employees volunteered on April 28 and 29 to be part of the third annual Capital District Construction Career Days, where 800 high-school students learned about construction careers. The event is the collaborative effort of government agencies, contractors and contractors� associations, local unions and the Youth Construction Initiative Program.

"As a Steering Committee member, I see Construction Career Days as a win-win for both high school students and the local construction industry,� said Steve Curro, DASNY�s Director of Technical Services. �Students are introduced to the many facets of construction, from education to actual hands-on demonstrations, while the building community has 800 prospects from whom to recruit to shore up their future ranks. The aging of the construction workforce is a major concern to all of us. Ensuring awareness of the industry to the next generation of builders is the main goal, and through Construction Career Days, that goal is achieved."

Students learned how to operate construction�s big machines � a 200-ton crane, backhoes, skid steers, cherry pickers, graders, mixers, and a forklift � and discussed career opportunities with professional contractors, project managers, laborers, carpenters, welders, operating engineers, plumbers, steamfitters and electricians.

Students also visited information booths sponsored by local construction companies, union apprentice programs and colleges. Dormitory Authority staff joined representatives of the State Department of Labor, Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration as government-agency participants. The event was held at the Eastern New York Laborers Training Facility.

The students had fun while learning. �We got to use the mini-excavator � that probably was the coolest part,� said Amanda Beebe of Guilderland High School in a broadcast report. She added that she �learned the parts of a crane and how to use it, and some of the other equipment they used, like welding and all that.�

In addition to Mr. Curro, other volunteers from DASNY�s Office of Construction were Joe Albino, Darlene Brown, John Capron, Chris Culley, Lou D�Ambrosi, Joan Daniels, Kim Dolin, Bill Donlon, Mike Gabriele, Ron Gecsedi, Charles Goodbee, Jim Hall, Heather Hodson, Chris Keado, Rachel Kudlack, Julie Lendin, Jackie Longtin, Bruce Martelle, Jill Persico, Pearl Ellen Rock, Mary Scudder, Rick Stoffels, Jeanne Teale, Dave Turone, Alison Warner, Todd Van Wormer, and Cheryl Woods.

Garland Sweeney of the state Department of Transportation was the chairman of the event, with Vincent Barone of the Federal Highway Administration serving as co-chairman.

For more information, contact Press Officer Claudia Hutton at (518) 257 3382, or CHutton@dasny.org.

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