2025 GAHBA Boys and Girls Club Program Sessions 4 and 5

Session four of our Boys and Girls Club program featured a mini-career fair with three technical colleges in Metro Atlanta.

The students got to learn about the different programs that each of the schools have to offer, highlighted by the residential construction courses. 

We were fortunate to have a representative from each school to speak with the students: Patrick Mahaffey of Gwinnett Tech, Eartha Turner from Lincoln Tech, and Hector Celis of Atlanta Tech.

The GAHBA aims to show the next generation of our workforce that there are many different career paths that are available outside of traditional four-year colleges. 

Following the technical school presentations, Elliott Fried of Complete Permitting talked to the students about the permitting process and the effect that it has on the construction of a home. 

Session five introduced the students to a mock up wall that will be worked on for the remainder of the program. 

The wall mimics one that is seen in the Lennar development that the program has been modeled after this year, so the students are getting hands-on experiences that would be directly transferable to the field. 

First, Brad Ethridge of DuPont Tyvek spoke to the students about house wrap and the crucial role that it plays in the process of building a home. 

Next, Larry Kesselring and Jon Joldersma of Pella Windows and Doors of Georgia taught the students about window installation and how it works together with the house wrap 

to make a functional wall system that makes a good home. 

Following their presentations the students were able to put the house wrap on the wall as well as install a window. 

Thank you to those three outstanding GAHBA members for helping us lead this session.

Next week, the students will learn about MEPs (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) and the role that they play in the construction of a new home.