Continuing education opportunities abound for builders 

It may take plenty of bricks to build a house, but it also takes a lot of know-how. And no builder can ever claim to know all there is to know. Education is the true foundation to any success, and that is more than a metaphor in the building industry. As indispensible as a hammer, educational offerings often provide for the true tools of the trade. Whether it’s an introduction to Green building, a refresher on wise accounting practices and how to keep the books, or a course on managing the workplace more efficiently, builders can benefit in big ways by keeping themselves educated.

Case in point: Joseph Irons of Irons Brothers Construction, a full-service design/build company based in Seattle, “The education and designations my staff and I have received give my company one leg up against our competition,” says Irons. “Starting off, I didn’t know anything about how to run a company. I did it more as a job than a career. I was learning as I went. Now with four designations to my name (CAPS, CGR, CGP, GMB), I have become our local building association’s poster child for construction industry education.”

Now in his 10th year of business, Irons attributes much of his company’s success to the education he has received over the years. “The NAHB University of Housing classes not only helped me learn how to manage business, but improved my personal life, too,” he says. “When I started the company, I was doing all of the work. Now with knowledge, experience and training behind my belt, I am managing qualified people to do the work. I’ve learned how to manage my company better, and this helped me balance my work and family life.”

For Irons, becoming certified in certain specialties is only part of the path to prolonged success. “Building association designations are enhanced when accompanied by additional training and education,” he says. “Every year my staff attends continuing education and conference courses to build up their knowledge of current industry business and building practices. Some of these courses are taken at the International Builders Show, the Remodeling Show, and the Journal of Light Construction Conference. Each staff member at Irons Brothers Construction also holds their OSHA 10 and CPR/First Aid certifications to be prepared to respond in any emergency. We also take advantage of our local building association’s educational opportunities and most recently attended the Healthy Homes course sponsored by the American Lung Association.”

As Irons indicates, there are many other educational avenues to explore. Almost every market has a community geared toward educating builders, whether it is a local chapter of a national organization, a community college or technical institute, a real estate group, or simply a trade organization looking to expand local expertise.

“On education programs that can benefit builders, you really have to actively seek out those programs or courses that directly benefit your company,” says Francis Maasland, a builder in Tucson, AZ. “There are endless classes offered by homebuilding associations and local real estate associations and even design associations, such as the American Society of Interior Designers. All are basically tailored to your field or will offer you a class to become certified or a specialist for a particular application. Now homebuilding associations and municipalities are starting to bring their Green building and remodel guidelines, and the good thing is those are typically directed to your direct living environment. For instance, in Tucson, the Regional Green Building Program focuses on increased water conservation and other issues of local importance.”

Other educational programs focusing on local sustainability were recently announced by the UC-Irvine Extension, which just introduced a new program featuring “Specialized Studies in Sustainable Buildings: Renewable Energy Management” and three new elective courses under the existing Certificate Program in Sustainability Leadership.