Ben Goddard, CEO of BPG, a design-build telecommunication infrastructure company, knows a thing or two about communication. So it wasn’t much of a pivot for him to connect with a different audience at the Arizona Construction Career Days (AZCCD) event held in November 2021 in Papago Park.
“His passion for the industry showed while he talked to the students, as it does every time he welcomes employees during new hire orientation,”Todd Heaton, BPG director of employee resources, says. “Ben is a firm believer in Building Tomorrow's Workforce Today.”
AZCCD is the largest construction event for high school students throughout Arizona, which provides hands-on construction experience. Schools travel from all across the state to attend the event, which celebrated its 20th anniversary. “BPG supports the need for students to understand the many career opportunities available in the construction industry and for teachers and career counselors to advise students accordingly of their options,” Heaton says.
Heaton adds that since this was BPG’s first year as a sponsor and an exhibitor, the company did not quite know what to expect. “So we brought it all!" he declares. "Our fleet for show-and-tell, our many knowledgeable employees for each division (Design, Construction, Technologies, and Electric), and representatives to answer questions on career opportunities, benefits, and salary ranges.”
BPG's booth also allowed students to experience hands-on construction activities, a spinning wheel to win gift cards and BPG-branded items, and a contest, a wordplay on BPG. “It was such a pleasure to see the excitement and engagement of the students, as well as meeting teachers and career advisors that have the best interest of their students at heart,” Heaton says.
For those students who missed the event, a career guide, which contains information for employment and technical education, trades, and expected salaries, can be downloaded from the AZCCD website. “BPG also features a career guide on our website to guide students interested in pursuing a career with our company,” Heaton says. BPG, currently located in Tempe, was founded in Phoenix in 2000 and now has offices in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
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This article originally appeared in the bimonthly Arizona Contractor & Community magazine, Jan/Feb 2022 issue, Vol. 11, No. 1.