Combining Hands-On Skills Demonstrations with Information About Careers in the Construction Industry

DENVER, CO – Over 20 Mercy Housing Mountain Plains youth joined Swinerton employees on Thursday, July 27 for a technical construction skills fair, where representatives from the Construction Education Foundation and Swinerton’s apprenticeship program educated participants on career paths, benefits, and opportunities in the construction industry through hands-on activities.

“Swinerton and Mercy Housing share a commitment to community-based values, which drives our dedication to address the growing housing needs in our cities,” says Patrick Otellini, Swinerton’s National Affordable Housing Director. “Through our unique partnership, we work together to provide affordable housing across the country while also striving to create opportunities for residents. This includes initiatives like introducing elementary school children to potential careers in the construction industry and organizing events to empower high-school-aged youth with the skills required for entry-level work in construction or other apprenticeship programs.”

Students Learn About Alternative Education Programs 

Students from grades six through 12 spent the afternoon learning about various skills in construction trades, including how to lay concrete and perform drywall, framing, and welding. The Swinerton/Mercy Housing Construction Skills Fair also introduced students to alternative education opportunities to a four-year degree, such as apprenticeships, trade schools, community colleges, and in-house company programs like Swinerton’s development program.

“Education and community go hand in hand,” says Shelly Marquez, Mercy Housing Mountain Plains President. “When community partners stand together to support education by providing diverse perspectives and resources, we can transform the lives of our youth through dynamic and inclusive journeys. With the help of Swinteron, we were able to expand the horizons of Mercy Housing youth by showing them different types of skills and job opportunities they can consider as they think about their future.”

The Construction Skills Fair was held at Swinerton’s warehouse in Denver, CO, and was part of Mercy Housing’s Out-of-School Time programming.

About Mercy Housing Mountain Plains

Mercy Housing Mountain Plains (MHMP) serves Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Utah with affordable homes and Resident Services. With 39 properties, MHMP serves over 6,000 residents. MHMP is a regional office of Mercy Housing, Inc., a leading national affordable housing nonprofit that serves tens of thousands of people with low incomes every day. MHMP’s mission is to create stable, vibrant, and healthy communities by developing, financing, and operating affordable program-enriched housing for families, seniors, and people with special needs who lack the economic resources to access quality, safe, housing opportunities. mercyhousing.org/mountain-plains/

About Swinerton 

Swinerton provides commercial construction, construction management, design-build, and self-perform services throughout the United States. Founded in 1888, Swinerton is 100% employee-owned and is the preferred builder and trusted partner in every market it serves—proudly leading with ownership, integrity, passion, and excellence. Swinerton is headquartered in Concord, CA, with regional offices in Spokane and Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Boise, ID; Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and San Diego, CA; Honolulu, HI; Denver, CO; Dallas and Austin, TX; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte and Raleigh, NC; and New York, NY. For more information, please visit swinerton.com.