Non profit champions industry members in 2023

Employees from member company Steffan Industries participate in a hand-signals exercise during a career day at Central Elementary School in Elizabeth, PA, USA. Steffan is in the school’s district and tries to build on lessons learned with each new visit. (Photo: SCRA)

The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Foundation (SC&RF) was formed in 1986 and comprises a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organisation whose mission it is to support SC&RA member companies through scholarships and grants, research and education and workforce development initiatives.

SC&RF is sustained by financial contributions from member companies and individuals, as well as fundraising efforts at SC&RA meetings. Association members are encouraged to join the Foundation’s volunteer committees in helping to shape the future of SC&RF as well as the overall industry.

One such way to support SC&RA is through the Endowment Fund, which allows contributors to take part in a structured giving campaign that allows them to earmark funds for their programme(s) of choice or to allocate funds to the General Endowment Fund to benefit all programmes.

As for what the Foundation has been up to, if 2022 was considered mostly developmental in practice, then 2023 has been the rollout year. High on the list of priorities among an assortment of rollouts is the Lift & Move Workforce Ambassador Program. It brings together companies of all sizes to participate in activities focused on building industry awareness and fostering community relationships to bridge the skilled-labour gap and ensure a future workforce.

Ambassadors in the programme receive a host of benefits, including marketing tools and resources created to promote the industry, a company listing on the Lift & Move website, photo gallery access, a Workforce Ambassador certificate and an opportunity for quarterly (virtual) meet-ups to discuss best practices and share success stories.

Jackie Roskos, SC&RF director. (Photo: SCRA)

Lift & Move will also recognise ambassadors in various ways: by checking in on a quarterly basis to review activities and points (the company with the most points for each category will be recognised and awarded – categories are based on number of employees); by featuring all winners in ICST sister magazine American Cranes & Transport, as well as recognition at the SC&RA Annual Conference Closing Night Awards Ceremony; by making each winner eligible for the “2023 Workforce Ambassador ” award; and by highlighting winners on the Lift & Move website and social media platforms.

“This programme has really gained momentum in 2023,” indicated SC&RF Director, Jackie Roskos. “The reality is the industry needs as many representatives as we can get out there telling people about career opportunities, especially since we are such a niche sector of the industry. The future workforce has to at least be exposed to the opportunity, to know what it is, before they can pursue a career in this trade.”

SC&RA member company Boulter Industrial Contractors has committed to the Association’s Workforce Ambassador Program and is seen here maximising the benefit of community engagement. (Photo: SCRA)

Roskos added that most people aren’t even aware of the heavy haul side or crane and rigging, and the additional steps it takes to find employment therein. “Companies really need to have access to this information at the forefront of their recruiting, and that’s what this programme is designed to do.”

Jonelle Anderson, director of business development and marketing at BOSS Crane & Rigging in Texas. (Photo: SCRA)

Jonelle Anderson, director of business development and marketing at BOSS Crane & Rigging, as well as chair of the Lift & Move Committee, echoed Roskos. “We’re steadily developing the communication lines with this programme to let people know what it’s about,” she noted. “We can’t just sit back and watch the workforce disintegrate – we have to develop some type of recruitment process. Not only to recognise all these companies that have a productive method, but to support the ones that need help.”

Anderson acknowledged that the intent of the programme is not to get in the way of a company’s recruitment methods, but assist as needed, and share what works. “It allows us to take success stories from some of the more established programmes and potentially educate smaller companies that don’t have one, or companies of any size looking to develop something.”

Kelan Bragg, general manager at Bragg Companies, and vice chair of the Lift & Move Committee, sees the Workforce Ambassador Program as a “lift all ships” scenario. “We’re all drawing from the same pool,” he emphasised. “The more people in the pool, the better for the industry. So, if you’re safeguarding secrets and you’re keeping people from having access to a great career, I think that’s detrimental to not only yourself, but the industry as a whole.”

Brittany Bachman, marketing manager at Boulter Industrial Contractors in the USA. (Photo: SCRA)

Brittany Bachman, marketing manager at Boulter Industrial Contractors, also a programme participant, agreed. “It’s more critical than ever that we come together to learn how to address the labour shortage and help the industry thrive,” she said. “I’ve seen the power of community engagement through the Lift & Move programme – and these efforts only strengthen the industry and raise awareness of the trades for the next generation.”

The Foundation is planning an even bigger push on the Workforce Ambassador Program in 2024. The Lift & Move programme is supported by SC&RA, the NCCCO Foundation and media partner, KHL Group.

Expand the market

SC&RF’s 2023 educational assistance efforts continue to create opportunity for countless SC&RA members as well. Vo-tech and partner-in-education scholarships benefit individuals pursuing training, certification or continuing education through vocational or tech schools, community college, etc., and range from $500 – $5,000. Of note: seats with Morrow Equipment Company, ITI and CICB are available for 100 per cent tuition for those who apply through the vo-tech application. Scholarship deadlines (awarded to an individual) are 31 October and 31 December.

Steven Bruce, one of three employees at member company L.R. Willson & Sons, who were all able to pursue a CDL Class A training course in 2023 thanks to an SC&RF Company Training Grant. (Photo: SCRA)

An exciting new addition to these opportunities is the Company Training Grant, which SC&RF rolled out this year and designed to help companies cover the cost of sending employees out to training, or bringing in a trainer.

Jacquelyn Valek, COO at Tesar Industrial Contractors. (Photo: SCRA)

Mike Mitchell, crane superintendent at L.R. Willson & Sons, was able to reward three of his employees with US$1,000 each towards CDL Class A training courses. “I saw the opportunity online and applied for it right away,” he explained. “It’s huge for us – we run a crane crew with twenty-two crawler cranes that we move just about every day, and these three young guys are part of that crew. It’s huge for them too; it helps these guys excel not only through their training, but their pay jumps up as well. Overall, this grant has put three guys into the workforce who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get there due to expenses.”

Similar to L.R. Willson & Sons, member company Tesar Industrial Contractors was also able to pay for CDL Class A training – for two of its employees – thanks to the Company Training Grant. “We were really looking for an opportunity to invest back into our employees, and we realised this would be a game changer for us,” said COO Jacquelyn Valek. “Carrying a CDL driver is critical for us – it enables us to get out there and expand the market and service our customers more rapidly. To be able to use the grants for something that is specific to our industry and our needs is enormous.”

For more information see: www.scr-foundation.org