Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I I N O. I JA N UA R Y 9 , 2 0 1 7 26 C O M M E R C I A L D E V E L O P M E N T F O C U S "I spend as much time looking for new people as I do for more projects," French says. Landry/French converted to an employee stock- ownership plan, or ESOP, in 2016 and that has helped the company attract talent, says French. It also increased internal growth opportunities for its staff members, so that new recruits see an opportu- nity for a career, not just a job. "We're not just going to hire a person to be in one position for the rest of their life," he says. "Our people can grow as we're growing." French, like many others, makes an eff ort to recruit Mainers who have moved and worked out of state at larger fi rms and want to return to Maine. " ose people bring another layer of expertise," says French. "It elevates our company when we compete against national fi rms." Tonello says that Consigli works with clients to identify areas of risk and how the labor shortage may potentially aff ect projects. To work around the shortages, Consigli is taking measures like using more prefabricated elements for projects, off site construction or splitting up work between contrac- tors. Consigli also provides on-the-job training and an apprenticeship program that teaches job skills. at has an impact on potential customers, too. "Our clients see that the amount of job training we provide diff erentiates us from other companies and allows us to show that we have the capability to properly staff projects," Tonello says. Matt Marks, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of Maine, says his group is work- ing with the Maine Department of Labor and the state's career and technical education schools to create pre-apprenticeship programs, particularly for skilled trades like carpentry, welding and heavy equipment operation, which would allow high- school-aged kids to get training during school vaca- tions, and apprenticeships that they can complete once they're out of school. Marks is also working to correct misperceptions about what it's like to work in the industry on an everyday basis and what the earning potential is here. He meets with school guidance counselors to help them understand the skills required for construction trades, and the salaries that students could poten- tially earn in the fi eld. "It's really about the industry getting out there and showing the potential income and opportunity is a lot diff erent than it was before," he says. "It comes down to what we value," he adds. "Some people have a good grasp on history and math. And other people are good at working with their hands. And that's of equal value to our society." J V A , a w r i te r ba s e d i n Ya r m o u t h , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t @ . » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time I spend as much time looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as looking for new people as I do for more projects. — Kevin French, Landry/French Construction

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