Some of the classrooms at the Calcasieu Parish Career and Technical Education Center will soon have new equipment, thanks to a $25,000 donation from the Construction Education Trust Fund (CETF).

“We’re going to be purchasing a second saw stop. Mr. Thompson’s been wanting one for a while, “Justin Mahoney said. Mahoney is the CTE principal. John Thompson teaches carpentry at the Center. A saw stop blade has a signal sensitive to the body’s electrical system that triggers a brake.

The school also plans to purchase an electrical trainer for second-year students and a bending machine that will be shared by welding and pipefitting students.

Ken Naquin, secretary/treasurer of the CETF made the official check presentation. CETF was established as a nonprofit organization to provide funds to Louisiana schools, high schools, trade schools and universities. It has no employees or overhead. The fund is financed through violation fines imposed by the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors.

Naquin is also the CEO of the Louisiana Association of General Contractors, a statewide trade association that represents the industry, offers member services and supports programs creating the workers of the industry for tomorrow.      

“There will always be construction,” Naquin said. Construction is really the only self-perpetuating industry. Man will always build, but buildings deteriorate. So, we rebuild. So y’all are entering an industry that never stops self perpetuating. You can actually see what you accomplish by building,”   

Naquin said that fines collected by the Louisiana State Licensing Board (LSLBC) have been consistent over the years, around $1 million or more a year. There are 22,000 licensed contractors. Fines are usually assessed to the contractors who operate without a license or subcontract to an unlicensed contractor. Only about a third of the fines assessed are collected. The board cannot go after contractors who move to other states to collect fines.

Jarod Cavys, Pat Williams Construction, was at the presentation, and said he has hired high school graduates for entry level jobs such as framing, hanging doors and installing cabinetry and said he worked his way up from entry level high school graduate to vice president of construction. It took 27 years. Entry level pay might not be what new hires expect, but those who are dependable, ambitious, can pass a drug screen who “focus on their duties as a career and not a job that pays on Friday, are the ones who do best. Project managers can make in the three figures, Cavys said.