Over the last 20 years the construction industry has been facing a growing shortage of workers, and the problem continues to be getting worse, not better. Earlier in my career I remember going to an AWCI convention and hearing a speaker talk about future workforce shortages and how we should focus on this upcoming problem. I am embarrassed to say I did not think it applied to our company, and I thought I could deal with the problem later. Can you believe I thought that? How many of you thought the same thing? How many of you did something about it? How many of you are having success bringing craftworkers into the wall and ceiling industry?
We need to learn from you. We need to hear your story. We need to learn what has worked, understand what has not worked and see what new efforts you are doing to attract people to our industry. We also need you to reach out to AWCI and share your stories so the association can share them with our membership. AWCI can feature you in our publications, on social media, in videos and white papers (contact porinchak@awci.org for details). It helps us work together, learn from each other and bring more craftworkers into our profession. We all take so much pride in being in the wall and ceiling industry, so let AWCI help us work together and solve the labor shortage crisis.
AWCI will be graduating our first class of emerging leaders at our annual convention next March. The class is made up of 14 people from specialty contractors, distributors, manufacturers and design professions. These people range in age from 24 to 45 and are from all levels of their companies. Our first class was an absolute success, and we want you to be a member of our next one, which is starting in early 2023. If you are interested in applying, please reach out to Annemarie Selvitelli, AWCI’s director of education and member services, at selvitelli@awci.org. You can also find information about the Emerging Leader Program on our website.
In the meantime, I would like to wish each of you a happy and safe holiday season. Thank you for what each of you has done and continue to do on behalf of our industry.
In addition to being 2022–2023 president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, Travis Vap is CEO of South Valley Drywall, Inc. in Littleton, Colo.
