Changing up an event that has a proven track record is always a risk. However, after three increasingly successful years presenting Dozer Day to Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho families, a change was in the air. At the fourth annual Dozer Day weekend, the leadership of the NUCA EW/NI decided to take that risk. With the ongoing challenges in the workforce, we opened the site one day early and invited high school seniors to a “Signing Day,” an opportunity to meet with potential employers from the construction industry and, in some instances, to be hired “on the spot!”
NUCA Executive Director Sheri Nowlan explains,” We modeled our Signing Day after the national recruiting event for high school athletes. It’s the day they receive a verbal scholarship offer to compete in their sport on a college level. By adding our own “Signing Day” to Dozer Day weekend, we believe we are giving young adults an even better opportunity: a chance to embark on a life-long career in the high-paying construction industry.”
Rick Oliver, President of NUCA of Eastern WA & North ID and Superintendent of NPL Construction cou
ldn’t agree more. Rick stated, “Students from over a one-hundred-mile radius braved the stormy weather to attend our first SIGNING DAY. Even the rain couldn't stop our first SIGNING DAY event from being a success, complete with many new hires. The first of which, Dillion Plaster, a graduating senior from Sandpoint High, signed on to join the team at NPL. He even received our first NUCA "Signing Bonus" prize of $500 to be used for job site rain gear and work boots!”
ACI Northwest also reaped the benefits of Signing Day. Heather Andrews, HR Director, wrote, “We would like to welcome Brayden Olson and Xavier Marvicsin to ACI Northwest. We are very excited to have them join our family and cannot wait to watch their growth
within our company.”
“We will definitely share these stories with the students who attend next year’s Signing Day!” continues Nowlan. Dozer Day 2024 will take place on May 4-5, with Signing Day on Friday, May 3.
Signing Day would not be possible without all of our fabulous sponsors and company partners who came out, braved the rain and wind while meeting with the students and sharing their industry. If you would like to join this group and possibly find the next great hire you can contact Sheri Nowlan, NUCA Executive Director, at sheri@nuca.com / 509.904.0652 for more information and to reserve your spot.
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