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Empowering Futures: California Welcomes Work Study Student at Stanford Medicine Sutter Health Cancer Center Project
On Thursdays, high school senior Marcos Becerra swaps a four-walled Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay High School classroom for the 167,273 SF Stanford Medicine Sutter Health Cancer Center (SMSHCC) job site in a bustling area of Oakland, Calif.
That’s been his routine since February, when Marcos and Boldt first came together as an outgrowth of his school’s work study program. Stephanie Osbahr, workforce development and community outreach manager, brought the program to Boldt senior leadership and project owners when she learned about its alignment with Boldt’s values and the opportunity to introduce local youth to Boldt’s career opportunities.
“If we wait until students are in college, we’ll miss out on a literal gold mine,” she said. “We need students to understand how construction is a viable opportunity earlier in their education.”
Boldt was very receptive to the opportunity. Stephanie credits Boldt leadership and SMSHCC project owners for their receptiveness to meeting with school representatives and welcoming Marcos.
Through the program, talented students like Marcos, who live in underserved communities, benefit from both a high-quality education and invaluable work experience. Students participating in the program earn 50% of the cost of their education through the work-study placement, with benefactors bridging the gap between what students earn at their job and what their families can afford to contribute. The school is impressively successful, with 100% of its students being admitted to four-year universities.
For Marcos, the program is the latest success in an upward trajectory from humble beginnings. He attended Learning Without Limits in elementary school, followed by Urban Promise Academy for middle school and Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay High School. These opportunities, combined with Marcos’ persistence and commitment to learning, have positioned him to be the first in his family to pursue a college degree. His plan is to attend San Jose State University with a major in mechanical engineering this fall.
Marcos’ introduction to the SMSHCC job site was within the job trailer, learning to work with AutoDesk Construction Cloud (ACC) and other technologies, introducing him to continuous safety improvements (CSIs) and other aspects of safety, attending Big Room meetings, learning about the Boldt Production System and performing a variety of other tasks. In the process, he’s learned several innovative technologies, problem-solving and time management under the guidance of Kaitlyn Davis, project coordinator and Marcos’ supervisor and mentor.
After turning 18 in April, additional doors opened for Marcos; namely, the ability to step outside the job trailer and onto the job site. Since then, he has shadowed several trades on the site and created weekly 360° Camera Captures that document project progress. He has been impressed with many facets of the project, including the workforce that is making it a reality.
“I’m amazed at the number of teams it takes to make a project happen,” said Marcos.
And while his plans are to pursue a career in engineering in the automotive industry, he’s found great benefit in learning how engineering applies on a construction site. He has also built his interpersonal skills, networked with a variety of professionals and gained confidence, all while learning more about the construction industry.
“Even if I don’t go into construction, knowing how things are built is valuable information and useful to me,” said Marcos.
For Boldt, creating a long-term relationship with entities such as Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay High School is crucial to developing a diverse, skilled, committed workforce in the Bay Area. Stephanie said it’s not just about building Boldt’s brand awareness; it’s also about doing the right thing for the youth who call the area home.
“We can share our project culture while building relationships in the communities in which we do business,” she said.
David Thomack, president of The Boldt Company, said Boldt’s commitment to the program highlights how we can actively contribute to shaping future leaders and community stewards alike.
“This partnership highlights the profound impact that supportive relationships and collaborative efforts can have in transforming the lives of young people, ensuring they are better equipped to face the challenges of the future,” he said.
About The Boldt Company
The Boldt Company (Boldt) is a leading professional construction services firm with customers across the United States and is a subsidiary of The Boldt Group. Founded in 1889, Boldt is a fourth-generation family and employee-owned firm headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin. Boldt is recognized as a pioneer in Lean construction and in the industrialized construction space. Boldt operates 18 offices across the U.S. that serve customers in healthcare, power, industrial, education, automotive and commercial markets.
