How to Get Started

Find the Right Construction Trade for You
Join a Workforce Development Program
Apply to Apprenticeship

A career in the union construction industry offers you higher wages, improved benefits, and ongoing training for a more economically secure future. Here’s a roadmap to start your career in the union construction trades.

Step 1: Find the Right Construction Trade for You

Each trade is a specialized career path. Learn about the work, requirements and how to apply by clicking on the icons below.

Boilermakers

Bricklayers & Tile Layers

Carpenters

Cement Masons

Electrical Workers

Elevator Constructors

Heat & Frost Insulators

Ironworkers

Laborers

Operating Engineers

Painters & Allied Trades

Plasterers

Plumbers & Pipefitters

Roofers & Waterproofers

Sheet Metal Workers

Sprinkler Fitters

Stationary Engineers

Teamsters

For more information on apprenticeships, view:

THE CALIFORNIA BAY AREA APPRENTICESHIP GUIDEBOOK
THE BALTIMORE-DC METRO AREA APPRENTICESHIP GUIDEBOOK

Step 2: Join a Workforce Development Program

Multi-Craft Core (MC3) Curriculum Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Developed by North America’s Building Trades Union (NABTU), MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Programs provide participants with technical and job readiness skills that will prepare them for a career in construction.

Graduates earn industry-standard certifications, meet with employers, tour apprenticeship training centers, and connect with union members and contractors. Many MC3 programs provide supportive services, stipends and referrals to housing and food assistance.

CTWI partners with jails, high schools, community colleges and local organizations to operate MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship programs.

Solomon Williams found out about the Sprinkler Fitters while working as a valet. He was spotted by a Sprinkler Fitter who was performing building inspections. That Sprinkler Fitter knew based on Solomon’s work ethic that he would make an excellent addition to the trade. As he got ready for the trade test, Solomon decided to sign up for CTWI’s Oakland Construction Math Test Prep class. There, he met Dylan Boldt who exposed him to more about the Sprinkler Fitter trade. Solomon says CTWI offered resources to gain more knowledge about construction unions, and that CTWI programs helped him with test prep, interview prep, and networking with people in the unions.

“A career is long-term, it may not be quick to get in, but once you get in, it’s something you have for life.” 

Solomon Williams
4th Year Apprentice, Sprinkler Fitters UA 483 | CTWI Construction Math Test Prep Graduate

Find a Program Near You

Union Pre-Apprenticeships

Bricklayer Pre-Apprenticeship

Carpenters Pre-Apprenticeship

Ironworkers Pre-Apprenticeship

Local Organizations

RichmondBUILD Academy

Rising Sun Center for Opportunity

Cypress Mandela Training Center

FutureBuild

CityBuild Academy

North Bay Trades Introduction Program

San Mateo Trades Introduction Program

Trades Orientation Program

Community Colleges

Diablo Valley College

Laney College

Los Medanos College

Jails and Juvenile Detention Centers

Alameda Juvenile Detention

Contra Costa Juvenile Detention

West County Detention Facility

Martinez Detention Facility

High Schools

Oakland Unified - Castlemont High School

West Contra Costa Unified - Kennedy High School

San Leandro Unified - Lincoln High School

Vallejo City Unified - Vallejo High School

Tri Valley ROP - Emerald High School

Livermore Valley Joint Unified - Del Val High School

Mission Valley ROP

Construction Trades Math & Mechanical Test Preparation Course

This class prepares students to earn qualifying scores on apprenticeship entrance exams for various union apprenticeship programs including welders, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, electricians, plumbers, sheet metal, and more. We partner with local adult education centers to provide these programs free of charge. Students are given the opportunity to learn math for the trades, test-taking skills meet with industry experts and connect with union members and contractors.

15

Trades applied to by job seekers

70%

Pass rate on trades entrance exams

+250

Students enrolled and prepared

Find Out More About Test Preparation Courses

CTWI’s Test Prep Classes are available through:
Laney College, Vallejo Adult School, Benicia Adult School, West Contra Costa Adult Education

Outreach Flyers

View Flyer
View Flyer
View Flyer
View Flyer

Step 3: Apply to Apprenticeship

Once you are in a union apprenticeship training program, you are part of the union. During an apprenticeship, you learn about your trade from experienced workers on the job site and through formal classroom training. Apprentices EARN while they LEARN – and the education is free! At the same time, you will receive health and retirement benefits. Most importantly, you will be able to support yourself and your family for a lifetime.

Facts about union apprenticeship programs:

18+ and GED or HS Diploma required

2 to 5-year training programs

Average starting pay ~$26/hr

Zero student debt

Excellent benefits: health, retirement, paid time off

No college degree required

Apply for a construction apprenticeship

About

Job Seekers

Events and Resources

Events
Construction Apprenticeship Guidebooks
Union and PLA Textbook
Industry Papers
Newsletters

Contact

Donate

Chuck Leonard

Executive Committee

Chuck Leonard is the Political Representative for Plumbers & Steamfitters UA 342. He is a 41-year member of the local and a long-term Bay Area Labor leader. In addition to serving on the CTWI board, Chuck also serves on the Contra Costa Construction & Building Trades Council (delegate), Contra Costa Central Labor Council (Executive Board Member), Alameda Labor Council (Executive Board Member), and Building Trades Council of Alameda County (Executive Board Member). He also serves on the Legislative Committee of the California Democratic Party, the Sustainability Commission for Contra Costa County, and the Richmond Workforce Development Commission. He is the Vice Chair of the Green Empowerment Zone.

Tim Frank

Secretary

Tim serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Neighborhoods and is a leading authority on how to make cities, towns, and neighborhoods work better for people and the environment. This is with a particular emphasis on tailoring green building and smart growth solutions to address the housing crisis and create good jobs in rural, suburban, and urban settings across America.

Tim previously served as the Chair of the Sierra Club’s National Challenge to Sprawl Campaign and as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Location and Planning Technical Advisory Group. He currently serves as a Board Member of both the Sierra Business Council and as Board Chair of Good Jobs First.

Elena Anaya

Member

Elena served as the Community and Citizenship Senior Director at Turner Construction in Northern California, the largest commercial builder in the U.S., where she led supplier diversity initiatives and workforce development programs.

Elena collaborated with SFUSD in developing a college-accredited, pre-apprenticeship high school program. She collaborated with OUSD in strengthening a pre-apprentice construction program to meet the workforce needs of GCs in the Bay Area. Elena increased employee participation in philanthropic and community events and mentored the next generation of leaders through Employee Resource Groups.

Kitty Creech

Member

Kitty began her career in construction in the 1990s as a residential land developer. Since 2003, she has worked with Davillier-Sloan, Inc., a minority-owned Oakland-based labor-management firm. She has been negotiating and managing innovative Project Labor Agreements for counties, cities, community college districts, and related agencies throughout the Bay Area.

In doing so, she ensures labor harmony and focuses on building the pipeline of local residents entering the building trades and working on local public works construction projects. Kitty has overseen labor compliance programs, ensuring that prevailing wages were properly paid to workers and that clients were compliant with California Department of Industrial Relations requirements.

Danny Bernardini

Executive Committee

Danny’s background includes government affairs and working as a Senate staffer before taking over the BTC. Being a child of two parents in Labor, championing the advancement of working men and women has always been a mission. The Napa-Solano BTC values its relationships with education partners and continues building pipelines to careers by focusing on exposing the youth and young adults to the advantages of joining a union.

Meg-Anne Pryor

Member

Meg-Anne is the Apprenticeship Coordinator for Operating Engineers Local 3 in District 1, Burlingame. Born and raised in San Francisco, she entered the construction industry after a friend introduced her to City Build, an 18-week Pre-Apprenticeship program based out of San Francisco. She joined the program and excelled, graduating as her class’s valedictorian, and continues to be a leader in her field.
Meg-Anne brings eight years of experience in the field operating heavy equipment, and four years on staff as an apprenticeship coordinator. She is the first African American Female Apprenticeship Coordinator in the history of her union and has been named both Volunteer of the Year and Apprentice of the Year.

Recently, Meg-Anne was honored as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Special Guest for President Biden’s State of the Union Address. In addition to serving on CTWI’s board, Meg-Anne is Chair of the Bay Area Apprenticeship Coordinators Association (BAACA) Board and gives back to City Build every chance she gets.

Dylan Boldt

Executive Committee

Dylan is a 13-year veteran of the United States Army, and the current Chair of the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning and Adjustments in his hometown of San Leandro. He has 20 years of experience as a Union Sprinkler during which time he worked as a journeyman, foreman, and general foreman on all types of building projects throughout the Bay area.

After 16 years, his journey shifted from leadership on the job site to leadership in his local union when he became a business agent. Dylan completed the UA Certified Teaching Program in 2019 and has been an instructor for Local 483 since 2015.

Bill Whitney

Executive Committee

Since 2017, Bill has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council. His responsibilities include working with elected officials at local, state, and national levels to advance the interests of the Contra Costa Building Trades. He is also the lead negotiator for the Building Trades Council on public and private Project Labor Agreements. Bill is also involved in lobbying, public relations, and strategic planning on behalf of the Building Trades.

Bill graduated from Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of California at Davis. He has been a member of the Retail Clerks, the Warehousemen, and the Inland Boatmen unions. He is currently a member of the United Association Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 342. He has served as a Trustee on numerous Health and Welfare, Pension, and JLM Apprenticeship trust funds.

Jill Perry

Treasurer

Jill is a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience in governmental and grants financial management. She brings extensive experience in developing and implementing financial review processes, meeting financial grant reporting requirements, and providing budget oversight for large-scale projects. Jill spent 17 years in various union leadership roles with IFPTE Local 21, and won the City of Richmond Leveron Bryant Manager of the Year Award.

Andreas Cluver

President, Executive Committee

Andreas is the Secretary-Treasurer of the Alameda County Building Trades Council and has been working in the labor movement for 16 years. He served as a business representative for the building trades in Alameda County and internationally in Southern Africa as a program director with the AFL-CIO.

As a City of Oakland compliance officer, Andreas worked with community groups to ensure access for Oakland residents to union apprenticeships and jobs generated by public works projects. He has worked with local community groups to strengthen their participation in development planning, and helped create policies related to downtown development intended to benefit Oakland’s neighborhoods.

Alondra Maldonado Chavez

Administrative Coordinator

Alondra graduated from the University of California, Merced with a Bachelor of Science in Management and Business Economics. Raised in Richmond, she comes from a background in Construction Management in Residential projects which aligns with the communities CTWI serves. Her personal experiences have deeply connected her to the mission of CTWI, which is dedicated to creating employment pathways for underrepresented individuals in the Bay Area. With a strong commitment to increasing economic and social mobility, she is excited to leverage her current role to its fullest potential. 

Alondra serves as a key member in the finance and operations department providing support with programs, invoicing, and Grant management. She is dedicated to empowering local communities by helping women build family-sustaining careers in the trades. She is eager to be part of a team that is actively working to offer these crucial opportunities and to support the development of a more equitable and prosperous community.

COntact Alondra

Brittany Walker

Program Manager

Brittany helps to manage and oversee MC3 Programs and is passionate about helping underrepresented communities find meaningful, family-sustaining careers. She began her career in higher education administration, transitioning to working with MC3 Pre-apprenticeship programs in Santa Clara. She now brings her years of educational programming experience to CTWI.

Brittany moved to the Bay Area in 2014 from Michigan, where she majored in International Relations at Grand Valley State University and got her Masters in Arts in Educational Leadership and Organizational Analysis from Western Michigan University.

COntact Brittany

Austin Mendoza

Data & Program Manager

Austin ensures the data created by CTWI’s projects is collected and reported effectively. With multiple union family members, Austin knows the importance of a stable, secure, and safe working environment.

His experience includes working with educational data as a math major from UC Berkeley followed by years of working as a public school teacher in Oakland Unified School District. Having taught multiple classes on behalf of CTWI, Austin is committed to supporting non-traditional students and providing opportunities for anyone to obtain the education needed for a successful career in the trades.

COntact Austin

Jordan Ackerman

Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager

Jordan works with State Approved Apprenticeship Programs, Contractors and Building Trade Councils Leaders to draft and advocate for workforce policies that ensure the demand of underrepresented populations into union construction careers. Jordan is a co-leader of the Bay Area HRTP partnership, serving to educate municipalities and public agencies and providing technical assistance.

Before joining CTWI, Jordan worked in the economic development strategic planning industry with various communities countrywide. During this time, he focused on many of the same policy issues he works on today at CTWI, including workforce development, housing affordability, small business retention and expansion, and social equity, among many others.

COntact Jordan

Sandra Dueñas

Senior Finance & Human Resources Manager

Sandra plays a critical role in developing and managing budgets and ensuring compliance with financial standards. She oversees payroll processes, employee benefits, and the allocation of resources across the finance department, as well as the implementation of departmental policies and procedures. She manages invoicing and accounts payable and receivable creating seamless financial operations. Additionally, Sandra brings extensive knowledge of compliance requirements for state and federally-funded projects.

Sandra’s career is built on a solid foundation in workforce development and grant management. As a proud UC Merced Bobcat, she holds a BA in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Additionally, Sandra is SHRM certified and has earned her accounting technician certification.

COntact Sandra

Juan Calderon

Labor & Employment Specialist

Juan has a deep understanding of the construction industry having worked as a tradesperson, organizer, business representative, and East Bay Regional Director for DC 16, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades for over 22 years.

Born in San Francisco to immigrant parents from El Salvador, Juan’s father taught him at an early age the value of receiving an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. After working in his family lighting business, Omega Lighting, for a few years, Juan pursued a career closer to the ground, joining Carpet, Linoleum, Soft Tile Workers Local Union 12.

He completed his apprenticeship and established himself in the industry by working for several signatory contractors throughout the Bay Area. Having worked in the construction trades himself, he is passionate about strengthening pathways into a career in union construction.

COntact Juan

Jamie Mather

Deputy Director, Operations & Development

Jamie is responsible for strategic planning, staff management, and organizational capacity building. He is a strong proponent of developing and strengthening pathways to sustainable, remunerative, and dignified careers for all people, believing that when people can seize economic opportunities, our democracy is stronger.

With extensive experience in creating programs focused on serving the underserved, Jamie has previously worked as a teacher and union representative, high school vice-principal, and district-level school administrator overseeing alternative education programs and initiatives in the East Bay. He is motivated by a desire to collaborate with others to create, manage, and improve systems that connect opportunities to historically underserved populations. Jamie graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in History and minors in Spanish and Religious Studies, and earned his Master’s in Educational Leadership from the Principal Leadership Institute at U.C. Berkeley.

COntact Jamie

Megan Nazareno

Deputy Director, Partnerships & Programs

Megan oversees CTWI’s workforce development programs and works with partners to align initiatives with the broader construction industry and community. She is passionate about nurturing stakeholder relationships and improving systems that increase economic mobility for underrepresented communities.

Before joining CTWI, Megan worked in the engineering and construction industry where she consulted on commercial, residential, institutional, and historic building projects throughout the Bay Area. She is a licensed civil engineer.

COntact Megan

Beli Acharya

Founder and Executive Director

As the former Workforce Development Director for the Alameda Building Trades Council, Beli has helped strengthen pre-apprenticeship programs across the Bay Area. By partnering with unions and regional organizations, she has helped expand access to skills-training programs for disadvantaged communities.

Beli graduated from George Washington University with a Degree in Business Administration and earned her Masters of Science in Education from St. John’s University. She started her career on Wall Street helping S&P 500 businesses develop programs that sustain revenue growth. She designed education programs, drawing on her experience as an educator in inner-city schools of Oakland, Washington, D.C., and New York City over the last decade.

Beli is a graduate of the inaugural President Obama Leaders USA program, a leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders across the country.

COntact Beli

Support Our Work

Join our mailing list for all the latest news.