(Pictured from left to right) Eva Fryer-Payne, Family Homes; Trisha McConkey, Associated Bank; Cindy Roeser, Roeser Home Remodeling; Christy Nalley, Metro Electric Lighting; Jan Hibbs, Hibbs Home; Thiessa Schmittgens, Pella Windows and Doors; (Not pictured but on the Sub Committee) Kathleen Crowley, Spire; Sally Hentz, Benton Home Builders.
On Thursday, April 26, 2018, the Home Builders Association (HBA) of St. Louis hosted a student chapter “Competition in a Box” for some local area participating schools. There were three schools and six teams of three students involved in the event this year. The goal is to encourage more schools and students to participate in the coming years.
This event is a one-day competition designed to provide tech students, already semi-skilled, an opportunity to develop and showcase many needed skills in the home building industry. The “Competition in a Box” was designed in multiple choice format with participating students answering questions about blueprints and construction methods. They were not easy questions and it really helped the students to see the home building industry can be both challenging and rewarding.
In addressing the nationwide labor shortage, it is important for young students to realize there are many rewarding careers in the Home Building Industry. Events such as “Competition in a Box” are designed to help make the students aware of all the different careers and opportunities available to them after graduation, along with providing many with needed connections to local businesses and HBA members.
There were many contributors at this year’s event. Cindy Roeser of Roeser Home Remodeling in St. Louis contributed by helping grade student papers along with Trisha McConkey of Associated Bank. Roeser Home Remodeling also helped sponsor the event by providing nine $20 gift certificates to QT that were put in student bags. Atlas 46, DeWalt Tools, Home Depot, and St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council sponsored prizes for the winners of the competition. Other sponsors included ABF Security, Spire, and Associated Bank. Members of the HBA’s Professional Women in Building Council also donated gift cards and other items for participating students.
The HBA is a local trade association of more than 600 companies representing the residential construction industry. The goal for the local St. Louis student chapter is to connect members with students to provide job shadowing, internships and opportunities after graduation.