When preparing a transition into speaking to high school students, Brown & Harper Wholesale Flooring Centers owner, Fred Brown, went to an expert, according to a Master Builders Association (MBA) press release.
"I asked my son if he was sitting in the class what type of topics would hold his interest," Brown said. "He reminded me to use the type of math I apply everyday in my business. I hope these students take with them the idea that you really will use geometry, algebra and basic math in your day-to-day life."
Brown is one of many volunteers for the Master Builders Association (MBA) of Pierce County's popular "Builders in Schools" program. Oakland High School in Tacoma recently collaborated with the association to create the opportunity to take and adapt the MBA program for high schools.
The program's goal is to create fun, interactive learning sessions that teach the students about all aspects of the residential construction industry while emphasizing the need for academic and trade skills. For a trial run this spring, the MBA partnered with the high school's Science, Math and Art (SMArt) program.
The speakers will take the students through different careers in the building industry. From purchasing materials to color theories to home loans, the MBA plans to guide the students through the whole journey of building and selling a home. They also hope to get in touch with their future employees.
"We want the students to see that they can have a career in our industry that will provide them with a solid living wage to build a life on," said Program Chair and United Wholesale Supply owner, Dan Garber. "When watching the students interact with our speaker, I saw a number of them I could hire someday as buyers or designers."
Oakland High School Principal Lillian Hunter also expects it will help her students see the value of how their current classes will relate to their future and adult lives. "This is bold and innovative. The opportunity for our students to have this kind of exposure to professionals is wonderful," Hunter said. The MBA will hold one more session of Builders In Schools on Thursday, March 5, and plan a full line-up in the fall.
The Master Builders Association of Pierce County (MBA) is a non-profit trade association comprised of more than 1,000 builder and associate member companies employing over 10,000 people in Pierce County. The MBA's purpose is to promote through membership involvement, legislative action, networking and education, the opportunity for affordable housing to all while striving to maintain the highest ethical standards.
Contact Laura Haworth, communication coordinator for the MBA, at 253.272.2112, ext. 102, for more information.