With so many educational institutions encouraging students to attend four-year colleges and universities, it’s been easy for students who don’t quite fit that mold to get lost in the shuffle. But for people who enjoy working with their hands, spending time outdoors, and making a difference in their communities, a career in the highway, heavy, and utility construction industry can be a focused pathway to success.
Throughout its 100-year history, Indiana Constructors, Inc. (ICI) has been instrumental in developing the workforce that has built the Crossroads of America.
When ICI opened its doors under its original name (Indiana Association of Highway and Municipal Contractors, Inc.) in 1924, one of the chief first-year accomplishments was the creation of a skilled labor bureau to place workers with its member companies.
In the 1930s, workers banded together to form labor unions, and most of the industry workforce development and apprenticeship training became wrapped up in the collective bargaining agreements between employers and unions.
But the industry needed more than boots on the ground, and as civil construction processes evolved, so did technical training requirements. While Indiana schools like Purdue University and Rose-Hulman offered construction and civil engineering education from the early 1900s, it wasn’t until after World War II — and the rush to build the interstate highway system — that those programs took on new importance. Students graduating with degrees from construction management programs around the state are leading Hoosier companies today.
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| Brandeis Machinery |
However, the fact remains that the horizontal construction industry is one of the remaining fields in which a worker without a post-secondary education can follow a clear path from shovel in hand to the C-suite.
In 2018, ICI spearheaded the workforce development program, Work IN Roads (WIR), to capitalize on that fact and to offer a different path for young people. In collaboration with the American Council of Engineering Companies Indiana, the Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana, the American Concrete Pavement Association Indiana Chapter, Indiana Mineral Aggregates Association, Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and the Indiana Department of Transportation, WIR set out to change the face of civil construction education.
What started out as an image campaign to show high school students and their influencers the value of a career in civil construction led to a revolution in technical education in Indiana’s high schools.
Enter ICI’s Director of Talent Development Eric Fisher, a former high school educator. Fisher developed the Work IN Roads Civil Construction Pathway (CCP) for Indiana high schools in line with the Indiana Department of Education’s Next Level Plan of Study. The CCP features curriculum development and technology, hands-on activities, industry certifications, site visits, and more. ICI members work with their local school corporations to provide equipment, mentoring, and paid internship opportunities for CCP students.
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Unique to the program is the “Sandbox.” Students work with industry professionals to gain practical experience in construction techniques. For example, one week may feature a lesson on concrete paving in which students prepare a site and pour and finish a pad of concrete. The next week, they’ll learn how to demolish the site safely.
WIR encourages learning by hosting a variety of programs to engage students. The Golden Shovel competition pits students against their peers from other schools in a variety of technical and safety skills. Women IN Roads advocates encourage and mentor young women entering the industry. Students participate in signing day activities, replicating the fanfare of athletes signing on to collegiate level athletic programs, but with immediate full-time employment with ICI member companies.
In just a few short years, the program has gone from one school to 17 in 2024, with more in the queue. To keep up with the demand, WIR provides paid training and continuing education for CCP teachers during intensive summer training sessions. And educators can connect with ICI member companies for paid summer externships to enhance their depth of industry experience and improve knowledge transfer to students.
In 2024, ICI created the Work IN Roads, Inc. foundation to help raise funds to expand the CCP to more schools. Foundation funding will help schools provide the necessary equipment, tools, and facilities. The foundation can support expanded teacher learning experiences, and students can receive financial assistance to pursue additional, specialized training.
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| Birkey's Construction Equipment |
After they have entered Indiana’s horizontal construction workforce, ICI member company employees have the opportunity through the Indiana Constructors Leadership Institute to prepare for executive roles within their companies. An intensive, 10-month learning experience gives participants in-depth training in areas including construction finance, labor relations, safety, communications, negotiations, advocacy, and servant leadership. More than 60 individuals have been through the program since its inception in 2019, and they form the foundation for industry leadership going forward.
While technology and innovation can completely transform many occupations, there will always be a need for a vibrant workforce in the highway, heavy, and utility construction industry. As Indiana Constructors, Inc. prepares for its next 100 years, we’re elevating the people and programs it takes to deliver that workforce for the benefit of our members and their communities.
