Working on a Workforce

One of the biggest and most urgent challenges facing all industries across North America is attracting the workers needed to keep businesses running strong.

With workforce development such a key issue, Crane Hot Line wanted to find out what some crane and rigging industry companies that are active in workforce development are doing to attract their next generations of workers.

To do that, we reached out to companies that the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Foundation (SC&RF) recently honored for taking initiatives in workforce development.

In April, the SC&RF presented Ideal Crane Rental Inc., McNally-Nimergood Co., Steffan Industries Inc. and Crewtek with Workforce Ambassador awards for their exemplary efforts.

“The purpose of the Workforce Ambassador program is to grow industry awareness at the local level,” said Jackie Roskos, SC&RF director. “Companies who commit to the program are dedicated to raising awareness about the industry through community engagement, such as field trips, classroom visits and career days.”

Crane Hot Line connected with three of the four companies recognized as Workforce Ambassadors. Here’s what they had to say.

Ideal Crane Rental

Ideal Crane Rental is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and has five other locations throughout the state.

Kristin Chose, director of business, said the company is proud to be in the community providing general education opportunities to build the industry.

“Ideal Crane Rental is an early founder of Kids Building Wisconsin, a one-day event that reaches almost 10,000 children and families annually,” said Chose.

She noted that Ideal Crane Rental provides a crane, a telehandler, boom lifts and scissor lifts so that children and parents can learn about the industry’s equipment
and careers.

The event involves more than 60 construction-related companies to provide a day of exciting hands-on experiences.

Ideal Crane sits on the event’s board of directors and also chairs a smaller pre-event that gives children with disabilities the chance to learn about the industry in a less-crowded atmosphere.

Each year, Ideal Crane also visits many schools and holds several touch-a-truck events in communities across the state.

In addition, the company holds on-site visits in order to give adults hands-on learning opportunities through programs like the Wisconsin DOT Highway Construction Skills Training Program and the Madison College Construction Program.

That general education introduces crane and rigging concepts, covers opportunities in the industry and often ends with attendees viewing equipment and a crane demonstration in the yard. 

Ideal Crane also connects with potential workers by sitting on several technical college advisory boards throughout Wisconsin and by working with organizations to make the industry accessible to all. 

“Ideal Crane Rental is proud to be so involved throughout Wisconsin,” said Chose.

McNally-Nimergood

McNally-Nimergood Co., Saginaw, Michigan, goes about building a pipeline of skilled employees in many ways.

One way is working with local career and technical education (CTE) programs to expose high-school-aged students to the opportunities.

 Another is exposing children as young as preschool and kindergarten to the crane industry.

 “Working with students is a great way to provide information and learning opportunities,” said Meghan McNally-Wininger, compliance and marketing director at McNally-Nimergood. “It also allows us to work with administrators and parents to create advocates for our industry.”

McNally-Nimergood hosts field trips to its facility, attends touch-a-truck events and even takes cranes to schools.

“Not only do we include the students in hands-on learning, but we also do our best to involve the parents and school administration,” said McNally-Wininger. “The kids love to see their principal or teacher get lifted in a man basket or sit in the operator cab running the crane. By creating advocates in education, we can reach many more people.”

The company also partners with local CTE programs.

“We bring cranes and rigging equipment to their facilities for hands-on lessons, and we also host them at our facility,” said McNally-Wininger. “Seeing the resources our technicians have and the technology on the equipment is a great introduction to becoming a crane technician.”

She notes that partnering with CTE programs is the quickest way to see results, since 16 to 18 year olds will deciding on careers in the near future and hands-on experiences increase their desire to explore the crane industry.

Workforce development is not new McNally-Nimergood. It has given high-school students the chance to learn about the industry for decades. In fact, many of its operators started working for the company while in high school.

Crewtek

Crewtek is a non-profit trade school that not only teaches heavy equipment operation and load-handling activities, but also helps students learn well-rounded life skills, says Jonathan Daniels, Crewtek’s national director of student services.

Its eight-week training program builds a foundation for aspiring professionals getting started in the skilled trades.

Crewtek’s program includes a range of certifications and hands-on experience with heavy equipment, from mobile cranes to telehandlers and skylifts, and it concludes with help matching graduates with jobs.

The organization was cofounded by Industrial Training International (ITI), Barnhart and other partners that train and employ skilled workers around the globe.

Although each company has its own recruiting and development programs, they envisioned Crewtek as a more comprehensive, industry-neutral solution.

Rather than focusing on a specific piece of equipment or specific career path, Crewtek provides ground-level training and exposure to various equipment types with a focus on safety, communication and teamwork.

Graduates work both in unions and in companies in professional roles that range from wire rope manufacturing to heavy equipment operation.

Crewtek students can be anyone willingness to commit themselves to the training, from recent high-school graduates to mid-level professionals looking to advance their careers or take a new path.

Most are in their early to mid 20s, but the company can serve anyone with the mindset to succeed in the skilled trades.

“Our trainees typically graduate with a core set of certifications including CCO Mobile Crane Operator, Rigger I & Signalperson, Forklift, Telehandler & MEWP Operator, Equipment Spotter and OSHA 10 Fall Protection Authorized User,” said Daniels.

Since community outreach is vital, Crewtek is an active member of the chambers of commerce both in Houston, Texas, and Woodland, Washington, where it has campuses.

In addition, it sits on CTE advisory councils, and participates in local career fairs and community events, from Dozer Days to farmers markets.