On March 17 and 18, 2011, more than 6,380 total attendees including 4,705 students, 851 instructors, 824 parents and administrators, industry guests, volunteers and exhibitors (from more than 206 schools and 311 organizations) attended the 7th Annual Construction Career Expo, sponsored by the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), Transportation Education Foundation of Georgia (TEFGA), and the Georgia Utility Contractor’s Association (GUCA).
Members of the GUCA participated in this event, which had two areas designated just for utility construction. This year the utility construction industry area featured a hands-on experience for the students. A student favorite was sponsored by GUCA member companies Robert M. Anderson Inc.; Brock Built LLC; Richard Harp Excavation Inc.; C. A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; and Vermeer Southeast Sales & Service, where students were allowed to operate and perform certain tasks on heavy equipment. Students could operate three large excavators, one mini excavator, a stand up loader and a crane.
The students tried their skills in picking up balls and placing them in containers with the mini excavator, moving timbers and large piles of mulch with the large excavators and operating a crane. GUCA members also had booths set up so students could find out about potential job opportunities for careers in the utility construction industry.
Flint Equipment brought a heavy equipment computer simulator to show students how utility contractors install underground utilities. Robert M. Anderson Inc. provided a cotton candy machine, and Brock Built LLC provided a popcorn machine, both of which were a huge draw for students.
GUCA’s education and safety committee attended the expo on March 17, 2011, to walk around to see what the expo and SkillsUSA Championships have to offer students in construction programs looking to pursue careers in various facets of the industry. They toured the 150,000 sq. ft. convention center and the outdoor utility construction area.
Education and safety committee members who attended the CEFGA Expo included Rick Borowiec, Reynolds Inc.; Matt Chatham, Blount Construction Company Inc.; Jeff Duncan, Cowin Equipment Company; Ryan Hoilman, Thompson Pump & Mfg. Co. Inc.; Keith Lamberson, Trench Shoring Services; Charlie Murren, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; Gina Shelnutt, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; and Billy Vondenbosch, Clayton County Water Authority.
GUCA gave special thanks to all of those who attended, donated and helped make the 2011 CEFGA Expo the largest and most successful to date.
These volunteers were Steven Bledsoe, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; Fiona Bowen, Georgia 811; Scott Brumbelow, GUCA; Curtis Cagle, Richard Harp Excavation Inc.; Donald Carlan, John D. Stephens Inc.; Aaron Criswell, John D. Stephens Inc.; Allen Dobbs, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; Jeff Duncan, Cowin Equipment Company; Ryan Hoilman, Thompson Pump & Mfg. Co. Inc.; Shannon Howard, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; Kim Kosky, STS/UtiliQuest; Grant Lamberson, Trench Shoring Services; Angela Lance, Peed Bros. Inc.; Charles Lance, Peed Bros Inc.; Kip Martin, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; Vikki McReynolds, GUCA; Charlie Murren, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; Billy Padgett, Reynolds Inc.; Bryan Ponder, Brock Built LLC; Malik Reid, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; T.J. Scriba, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; T.J. Shelnutt, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; Regina Shelnutt, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; Martin Smith, Stephens MDS/Stephens Rock & Dirt Inc.; Billy Townsend, GUCA; Jeremy Truijillo, Western Summit Constructors Inc.; Billy Vodenbosch, Clayton County Water Authority; Dallas Williamson, Western Summit Constructors Inc.; Trevon Whittick, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; and Kelly Wilson, Western Summit Constructors Inc.
For more information, call 404/362-9995.
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