News release

The Builders’ Association announces new workforce and professional development director

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sep. 8, 2020 – Caleb McCandless takes on new role at The Builders’ Association as workforce and professional development director.

“With great enthusiasm, we elevate Caleb to become our workforce and professional development director,” said Don Greenwell, The Builders’ Association president. “Caleb plays an integral role at The Builders’ Association, educating members and partners seeking career advancement. His 20 years of industry experience and knowledge, and passion for teaching, supports our members’ career goals, as well as the association’s goal to advance the construction industry.”

McCandless holds a master’s degree in industrial management from the University of Central Missouri (UCM), where he was a professor for the construction management department. He is currently in the second year of Saint Louis University’s educational leadership doctorate program, through which he hopes to better assist The Builders’ Association members with professional development and learn more about Missouri’s school system for workforce development.

“I want to focus on advancing the industry by offering leadership and management courses that help members transition into leadership roles as they progress through their careers,” McCandless said. ”

McCandless started teaching for The Builders’ Association in 2010, while teaching construction management classes at UCM. After receiving his master’s degree, he worked for Kiewit, designing and building power plants. He taught evening classes while at Kiewit until he joined the team full time as the professional development manager six years ago. McCandless and his wife Kerri enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes. When he’s not trying to keep up with his two sons, Ethan, 8, and Jude, 6, he makes sculptured paintings and even received the Arts Council of Metropolitans Kansas City’s ArtsKC Award in 2012. He and his family are active members of First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit.

Moving forward, McCandless will work closely with Workforce Development Manager Romond Holt to grow a construction workforce that is diverse and reflects the demographics of the community. “Romond does an amazing job, and he and I are part of many panels and groups specifically focused on increasing diversity and equity in our industry,” he said.

Currently, McCandless provides a variety of virtual and socially distanced, in-person training programs to members and apprentices, including AGC’s Construction Supervision Fundamentals, BIM and Lean. He also partners with the National Institute for Construction Excellence (NICE) to provide virtual seminars to high school students about career opportunities in the construction industry.

About the Builders’ Association

The Builders’ Association is committed to improving people’s lives through construction. Builders’ is a nonprofit trade association on a mission to advance the industry and the broader community by delivering safety, craft and management training; employment, labor and government relations; and construction plans and technology tools. Four service and training centers operate in Kansas City, Jefferson City and Springfield. Serving mid-America for well over a century, the association’s hundreds of member companies employ over 25,000 people. As a catalyst for collaboration, Builders’ connects passionate people and businesses.

About the Kansas City Chapter, Associated General Contractors of America

The association’s sister organization, the Kansas City Chapter, Associated General Contractors of America, currently represents 120 firms in the heartland region and is part of the AGC of America, the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States.

Visit The Builders’ Association online at www.buildersassociation.com and connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.