SLCUC SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CONSTRUCTION USERS COUNCIL

1. SLCUCSOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CONSTRUCTION USERS COUNCIL MARKETING CRAFT CAREERS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

2. SW LOUISIANA CONSTRUTION LABOR DEMAND VS SUPPLY DEMAND • INDUSTRY IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CONTINUES TO EXPAND • SOUTHEAST TEXAS IS GOING THROUGH A MULTI YEAR BOOM • NEW GRASSROOTS FACILITIES ARE COMING INTO THE AREA

3. SW LOUISIANA CONSTRUTION LABOR DEMAND VS SUPPLY SUPPLY • BABY BOOMER GENERATIION OF 76 MILLION BEING REPLACED BY X GENERATION OF 44 MILLION • PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF CRAFT WORK AS A PROFESSION HAS DECLINED • STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS DO NOT HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF FINANCIAL, SAFETY, AND MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF CRAFT CAREERS • PUBLIC EDUCATION CONCENTRATED ON PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE AND NEGLECTED VOCATIONAL EDUCATION • SCHOOLS NOT MAXED OUT!

4. HIGH SCHOOL CRAFT CAREER MARKETING PLAN • FORMED A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM TO ADDRESS THE MARKETING PROBLEM • DEVELOPED A TEAM CHARTER, IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND SCHEDULE • TEAM MEMBERS CONSISTED OF MEMBERS FROM: ABC INDUSTRY OWNERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOWELA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM

5. HIGH SCHOOL CRAFT CAREER MARKETING PLAN • DEVELOPED INFORMATION AND DATA TO BE USED IN CRAFT CAREER MARKETING • DEVELOPED A MARKETING PRESENTATION AND BROCHURES • DEVELOPED PRESENTATION FORMAT, PRESENTERS, AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE

6. HIGH SCHOOL CRAFT CAREER MARKETING PLAN • ORGANIZED PRESENTERS FROM ABC AND OWNERS TO GIVE THE PP MARKETING PRESENTATION IN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS • EACH PRESENTATION HAD YOUNG CRAFTSMEN WHO TESTIFIED AS TO THEIR PERSONAL EXPEERIENCE IN CRAFT WORK • MADE THE PRESENTATION TO LOCAL PRINCIPALS AND COUNSELORS • MADE THE PRESENTATION IN 32 OF 37 LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TO MOSTLY SENIORS

7. Your Future in Southwest Louisiana What do you want to do when you get out of school?

8. What do you want to be? Doctor Lawyer Police Officer Fire Fighter Soldier International Spy Hollywood Big-Wig

9. Have you thought about being… a Welder? a Machinist? an Electrician? a Carpenter? an Ironworker? a Mason? a Mechanic? a Plumber?

10. What is Quality of Life? It is your ability to enjoy living the life you want! Ask yourself the following questions: What things do you want for yourself and your family? How will you pay for them?

11. Is this the Quality you want from Life? A Nice Home: $150,000 A New Truck: $25,000 A New Boat, Motor & Trailer: $20,000 A New ATV: $5,500

12. Then you need to decide… Do you want a job or do you want a career?

13. What is the difference between a job and a career? A job is: A regular activity performed in exchange for payment A career is: A chosen pursuit; a profession or occupation. Bottom line: Your job is what you are doing today. Your career is what you will do with the rest of your life. - Dee Piziak - EzineArticles.com Expert Author

14. What qualities does a good craft person possess? They enjoy working with their hands. They have good work ethics. Go to work on time and are dependable. Show respect for others and are honest. Capable of following procedures, policies, rules and directions.

15. Do you like working with your hands? Have you considered the earning potential of a person that can work with their hands?

16. Let’s look at the numbers… Welder Makes on average: $66,500 a year $1279 a week

17. Let’s look at the numbers… Instrumentation Specialist Makes on average: $68,600 a year $1319 a week

18. Let’s look at the numbers… Electrician Makes on average: $68,600 a year $1319 a week Plumber Makes on average: $68,500 a year $1317 a week

19. JOB AVAILABILITY In the next few years, the construction industry will need 1 million new workers. Demand for craft workers is expected to increase throughout the entire Southwest and Southeast United states There are well over 4,000 craft jobs in the Lake Charles area, 15,000 in the Golden Triangle area and over 50,000 along the gulf coast. Local and area forecasts predict continued growth in job demand.

20. Training: You can receive the training that you need right here in Southwest Louisiana at SOWELA Technical Community College or the ABC Industrial School for less money than a college degree. In most cases, your ABC tuition may be covered by your future employer!

23. HIGH SCHOOL CRAFT CAREER MARKETING PLAN RESULTS • SUMMER DAY CLASS ENROLLMENT INCREASED FROM 4% TO 40 %HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (ALTHOUGH TOTAL RESPONSE STILL LESS THAN EXPECTED) • PRINCIPALS AND COUNSELORS WERE RECEPTIVE TO PRESENTATIONS AND REQUESTED THEY BE REPEATED NEXT YEAR • PRINCIPALS AND COUNSELORS SUGGESTED PESENTATIONS BE GIVEN TO PARENTS IN THE FALL ORIENTATIONS • PLAN TO SCHEDULE FORMAL FEEDBACK SESSIONS WITH PRINCIPALS, COUNSELORS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS TO GET INPUT ON MARKETING PRESENTATIONS

24. HIGH SCHOOL CRAFT CAREER MARKETING PLAN PATH FORWARD • PLAN TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS IN THE FALL OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR INSTEAD OF SPRING • PLAN TO HAVE A “CRAFT EXPO” IN FALL 2009 FOR ALL AREA STUDENTS IN THE CIVIC CENTER WITH PRESENTATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, BOOTHS, AND EXHIBITS • WILL GO TO FORT POLK THIS SUMMER TO RECRUIT • PARTNERED WITH THE CHAMBER TO PRODUCE A CRAFT MARKETING DVD THAT CAN BE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND ALSO ACCESSIBLE ON THE INTERNET

25. RESPONSE • RESPONSE TO RECRUITMENT EFFORTS NOT AS GOOD AS WE WOULD LIKE – WHY? • DONE LATE IN THE YEAR. • DIDN’T PROVIDE MUCH INFO TO THE PARENTS • MOST KIDS ENCOURAGED TO GO TO COLLEGE • KIDS DIDN’T KNOW WHAT SOME CRAFTS WERE ABOUT. • OTHER REASONS WILL BE DETERMINED.