Southeast Iowa Builders hosts career fair

WEST BURLINGTON - The Southeast Iowa Builders Association Education Committee will host a new event providing hands-on
activities for area seventh-graders as they begin to think about and explore their futures.

Build My Future will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 5, at the Des Moines County Fairgrounds in West Burlington.

The event will give students an opportunity to experience a variety of skills, as well as exposure to various tools and equipment used in construction trades.

“These activities are not meant for training, but more of an exposure to construction,” said Brian Johnson, director of district services for the Burlington Community School District, who also serves on the SEIBA Education Committee. “For many of these students, it may be the first time they have done something as simple as hammering in a nail.”

The SEIBA Education Committee is adapting models of Build My Future events held throughout the U.S. to meet its vision to provide fun construction skill activities for the about 600 seventh-graders expected to attend. Districts in attendance for the inaugural event are Burlington, Notre Dame, Fort Madison, New London, Holy Trinity, West Burlington, and Danville.

The event will have four designated areas in these categories: Tool Showcase, Equipment Showcase, Exterior Construction, and Interior Construction.

Each of these category areas will have at least 10 hands-on activity stations.

List of exhibitors by area:
Interior Construction - Brockway Mechanical Roofing, Rheinschmidt's Flooring America, Plumbers and Fitters - Local 125 Electrical Workers Local 13, Standard of Beaverdale, Burlington Fire Department, Frank Millard and Company, Bessine Electric, PPG Industries
Exterior Construction - Mohrfeld Electric, White Cap, Iowa Ready Mix Association/JonesContracting, Green Oak Development, JJD Contracting, J.C. Wiley, Schickedanz Construction, Cessford Construction, Randy Burgus/McClure Masonry
Tool Showcase - Carl A. Nelson & Company, John Deere, Huffman Welding & Machine
Equipment Showcase -  United Rentals, Altorfer CAT, Graystone Construction, Ideal Ready Mix, Jazz Concrete Pumping, Seither & Cherry

Southeast Iowa Builders Association Mission Statement: SEIBA's mission is to continually improve the capabilities and capacities of the construction industry through education, training, and teamwork.

Southeast Iowa Builders Association Purpose: The network of contractors, vendors, material suppliers, equipment dealers, financial institutions, insurance agencies, accounting firms, and other businesses developed through SEIBA allows for the growth and development of new business relationships. The management and employees of our members will utilize the fundamental principles of ''Total Quality" and "Partnering" through communication, safety, and on-time performance to make Southeast Iowa a better place to build a future.