“We realize how necessary it is to get in front of students at a young age to let them know our industry exists and that there are a multitude of careers available,” says Helen Robinson, chair of the DFI Educational Trust and vice president of GEI Consultants Inc.

The trust serves as the charitable arm of DFI—an international association of contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, academics and owners in the geotechnical construction industry.

Over the past 20 years, more than 700 students and young professionals—geoprofessionals involved in the design and construction of foundations, excavations, ground improvement and tunneling—have received scholarships and grants across the United States and Canada, which includes many international students studying in North America.

“We always get a very high caliber of candidates, so it’s very difficult to make the scholarship selections,” Robinson says.

Recipients of the scholarships are enrolled full time at U.S. and Ontario, Canada-based colleges or universities and are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees related to the field. Spring scholarships range from $2,000 to $5,000. “A $5,000 scholarship is wonderful, but we’d love to do even more,” says Robinson.

“We’re always trying to quantify the impact and determine how we can use the funds more effectively. It’s a challenge because the cost of getting an engineering degree continues to increase,” she says.

Since 2006, the trust has awarded nearly $2.7 million in scholarships and grants through 24 funds, including the spring offerings for At-Large Scholarship Program and Women in Deep Foundations Professional Development Grants Fund.

Recognizing diversity gaps within the industry, DFI’s Women in Deep Foundations Committee worked with the trust to create an initiative to support professional growth and industry engagement among women involved in geotechnical design, manufacturing and construction.

The grant awards recipients $1,750 and provides a complimentary opportunity to attend DFI’s Annual Conference on Deep Foundations in Orlando, Florida—helping expand networking and career development opportunities.

“Over the past 15 years or so, we’ve seen real progress for women in the industry,” Robinson says. “But there’s always more we can do, especially when it comes to supporting parents starting young families.”

Despite strong career potential, the geotechnical industry is not usually at the forefront of students and parents’ minds. A lack of awareness around the field’s opportunities continues to impact recruitment.

“There’s so much work to be done. We are working to educate parents and students who may be interested in the field,” says Robinson. “Not everyone needs to go to college. You can make a good living, be part of a team and be very successful without that path. We want young people to know that.”

Retention is another growing concern.

“People in the industry are getting burned out because we can’t keep up, and some are seeking lower-stress jobs. It creates a cycle,” she says. “Geotechnical work has a reputation for people getting dirty, and the tools or lab testing may not seem as exciting.”

The solution? Supporting the next generation of professionals in the geotechnical industry with access, awareness and opportunity.

“We need to change the image of professions in the industry to reflect innovation,” says Robinson. “It’s not just about moving dirt—it’s an exciting and highly challenging field, and the world is built on the work we do.”

SEE ALSO: A BEACON OF HOPE: JOSEPH GROH FOUNDATION’S NEWEST GRANT RECIPIENT

The post Trusting the Pipeline: Supporting Early-Career Construction Talent first appeared on Construction Executive.

As ABC’s 2026 Young Professional of the Year, Mokeba is proudly bearing the fruits of his labor—and his 12.5-year career at Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Performance Contractors stands as a testament to how merit builds legacy.

“I don’t have an education in construction management,” says Mokeba. “You would think someone like me would be behind the eight ball, but I have proven that I will work hard and learn. Advancement in the merit shop isn’t based on who you know, how long you have been there or what your name is.”

LINING UP THE SHOT

For Mokeba, cultivating his career and leadership path in Baton Rouge—the city that raised him—was not always the plan. After earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University, he chose to pursue a career in construction from the ground up.

“I just tried to find my way into an interview and let them know, ‘If you teach it to me, I will learn it and I will be as successful as possible,’” he said.

That goal-setting mindset at Performance Contractors set Mokeba on the path to where he is today. “Goals need to be realistic but also challenging. They need to be attainable and achievable, and they need to not only benefit me, they need to benefit other people as well,” he says.

Mokeba began working primarily in the field before transitioning into a corporate role. During that time, Josh Rounds, vice president of project services and controls at Performance Contractors and a past ABC Pelican Chapter president, along with Lance Glaser, director of strategic procurement, equipment and logistics, encouraged Mokeba to get involved with ABC.

“Growing up in Baton Rouge, you see a lot of different ABC members that are based there. You see the life that they live—they’re very stable and always growing,” Mokeba says. “I am grateful to work for Performance Contractors, a company that not only supports my professional growth but also encourages me to pursue my personal passions. Their support has given me the platform to make a meaningful difference.”

FAMILY MATTERS

Mokeba’s endeavors to refine his career and leadership have been shaped by positive role models and guiding principles. His father, a political science professor at Louisiana State University for the past 36 years, instilled the philosophy of servant leadership.

“I think it’s simple—putting others before yourself and being kind,” Mokeba says.

Trademarked as his best attribute, Mokeba has been adamant in his maintaining selflessness, kindness, faith and service throughout his career. One of his guiding mottos reflecting that mindset? “Be the person that you want your daughter to marry,” he says. “I want my daughter to see me working through hard things—to see that everything you want in life comes from sacrifice and hard work.”

While his servant-leader qualities have been a useful tool in navigating challenges in the industry, Mokeba’s ethos of service extends beyond his career. Over the past five years, Mokeba has raised more than $30,000 for cancer research, supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society. He also serves on the board of Fork Cancer.

EARN IT

Mokeba’s vision for the future of the industry reflects a meaningful balance between embracing the inevitability of technological advancements while preserving the integrity of older generations of craft professionals. “We need to combine both to ensure we’re not losing what got us here, while also becoming more efficient with our practices,” he says.

Supporting the next generation of construction professionals has become a natural extension of his work. For the past four years, Mokeba has volunteered with LSU construction management students preparing for ABC’s annual Construction Management Competition. This year, the LSU construction management students won first place and were named Student Chapter of the year. “I have taken the lead over the last few years—arranging speakers and industry experts, speaking in classes to recruit students and sharing how beneficial this experience can be for their future,” he says.

It comes as no surprise that Mokeba’s character and merit have already been recognized by ABC. In 2024, he received the Committee Member of the Year Award from the ABC Pelican Chapter for his work with its Young Professionals Committee. “Given the Pelican Chapter’s respected reputation in Baton Rouge and across the nation, being selected for the award was both humbling and motivating,” Mokeba says.

Naturally, Mokeba’s commitment to growth extends beyond the jobsite. He serves on the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s 2026 Emerging Leaders Council and is currently pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate at LSU in contract writing and construction project management.

Winning ABC’s 2026 Young Professional of the Year is a milestone—but not the destination. “These achievements remind me that success is not just about personal milestones, but also about giving back and creating opportunities for others,” he said.

At the top of his priorities? Fostering a culture of safety and inspiring the next generation of craft professionals. “The industry is growing right now,” he says. “And we need more people. We need more talented and smart people.”

The post Merit Milestone: ABC’s 2026 Young Professional of the Year Nyoki Mokeba first appeared on Construction Executive.

“It’s really a way to take what we do in construction and have some fun with it while engaging not only the local artist community, but also the organizations we donate to,” said Todd Sachse, CEO of Sachse Construction.

The 2025 auction featured three hard hat collaborations between industry sponsors and artists.

Milwaukee Tool partnered with Bo Shepard to transform a vintage steel hard hat into a working lamp, with proceeds benefiting Focus: HOPE, a Detroit-based organization that provides youth with skills training, education and employment opportunities to promote economic mobility.

LuxWall and April Wagner collaborated to create a hard hat sculpted from molten glass. Proceeds supported EcoWorks, whose programs educate youth on sustainability and connect young people to careers in environmental initiatives.

Carhartt and Josh Welton teamed up to create a fully welded metal hard hat honoring Detroit’s industrial backbone. Proceeds benefited the welding department at Randolph Career & Technical Center, a school for skilled trades that works alongside the Detroit Public School system.

“Hard Hats for Detroit gets a lot of social media attention. Year after year, we gain more exposure and more people want to support it,” Sachse said. “We’ve been fortunate to have such a great response from the artist community. The exposure is another way to support them and help get their names out there.”

The impact of initiatives like Hard Hats for Detroit reflects a broader need within the city. Detroit faces ongoing challenges related to literacy rates, economic mobility, housing and mental health. Creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation is critical to long-term community stability.

“Detroit’s population struggles tremendously,” says Sachse. “Our mission is to reach young men and women in Detroit and show them opportunities. We need to break that mold and think long term for Detroit. If we can get to them young and provide skills—whether skilled trades training or life skills—we can help break cycles that repeat generation after generation.”

For 35 years, Sachse Construction has built a reputation not only in Detroit, but across the industry. When asked what inspires other companies to launch similar initiatives, Sachse says the motivation must come from within.

“We define our community as Detroit—the people of Detroit,” he said. “We’re passionate about their success, their growth and building a better future for the city.”

He encourages companies to start by identifying their own purpose.

“Reach inside yourself and ask: What’s important to you? What drives you? What are you looking to achieve?” Sachse said. “You can’t be everything to everybody. Define your community. Then figure out how you want to make an impact.”

SEE ALSO: WINDSOR DOORS PARTNERS WITH MIRACLE LEAGUE OF ARKANSAS

The post Industrial Canvas: Turning Hard Hats Into Artwork first appeared on Construction Executive.

Launched in 2021, the program supports 30 community colleges and is designed to create clear pathways to careers while strengthening programs in high-demand technical fields. During the 2024–25 school year alone, the program supported 554 scholarships and helped launch more than 1,000 careers.

“Without proper funding, community colleges don’t have the resources they need to educate the next generation of skilled workers,” says Susan Ranft, vice president of human resources for the Americas at Johnson Controls. “Younger students who would be great candidates for skilled trades positions often lack exposure to—or even awareness of—the potential of these career paths.”

With nearly 5,000 students enrolled to date, the program empowers participants to do more than take a leap into a new career. Through the involvement of local Johnson Controls volunteer mentors and guest educators, students gain hands-on insight, build professional networks, learn from real-world experiences and access internships and entry-level career opportunities within the company.

“During the 2024–25 school year alone, our employees logged nearly 850 volunteer hours as educators and mentors, demonstrating how strongly they believe in the program’s mission and their dedication to building the next generation of skilled workers,” Ranft says. “They help students build professional networks and empower them with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in building technology careers.”

While intelligence, passion and determination provide a strong foundation for careers in the skilled trades, limited access to funding and educational resources continues to challenge workforce development efforts for prospective students.

Through the program, schools receive grants of up to $100,000, renewable for as many as three years, to support programming across HVAC, fire, security and digital disciplines. “We’re on track to donate up to $15 million by the end of 2026 across 30 community colleges to help them expand educational programs and workforce development initiatives,” Ranft says.

As a global leader in smart buildings—creating safe, healthy and sustainable spaces for more than 140 years—Johnson Controls encourages other companies to explore similar initiatives that support students pursuing family-sustaining careers.

“It’s incredibly important to invest in the future workforce,” Ranft says. “Companies should look for ways to fund and collaborate with local community colleges to strengthen skilled-trades programs, including creating opportunities for employees to engage with students as mentors and educators while fostering the expertise and motivation students need to succeed.”

SEE ALSO: A BEACON OF HOPE: JOSEPH GROH FOUNDATION’S NEWEST GRANT RECIPIENT

The post For Good: Johnson Controls Invests in Community College Partnership Program first appeared on Construction Executive.

“I am now able to wash my face, brush my teeth and comb my hair out of bed and in front of the mirror. This has allowed me to have my first real shower in months,” said Bray. “My wife and child depended on me before the accident as a father and financial provider. All of that has been shattered, and I would like to put the pieces back together for my family.”

The foundation provides information, resources, financial assistance and grants for individuals in the construction industry who face both short- and long-term disabilities. For Joe Groh, the nonprofit’s founder, aiding Bray and others in reestablishing comfort and independence after a life-changing injury is more than just work—it’s a personal mission. More than 17 years after breaking his neck and damaging his spinal cord on Father’s Day, Groh has maintained a mindset of positivity and resilience.

“You can’t imagine it. It’s a story that you read, but put yourself in their position. How would any of us feel if we couldn’t take a shower or perform our daily tasks for years? It gets at the very heart of your dignity,” said Groh. “Sometimes they are just looking for someone to talk through that understands their experience. I let them know that at the end of the rainbow, there’s definitely a life on the other side. Even if it’s going to be a different life, it can still be a good life.”

Since its establishment, the Joseph Groh Foundation has helped 151 families across 38 states, providing grants totaling more than $1.4 million.

“We try to provide information that we didn’t have when I got hurt. We want to at least get families started on the path of learning, because when something like this happens to you, it affects your entire family,” Groh said.

By offering grants for essentials that government programs or insurance won’t cover, the foundation has delivered shower chairs, various wheelchairs and wheelchair-accessible vehicles, assistive technology, rehabilitation equipment and other personal needs that help individuals with disabilities feel more independent, productive or able to resume work.

“A lot of smaller employers and public contractors with fewer than 10 employees may not offer short and long-term disability insurance for their employees. That’s critical to your survival,” said Groh.

After more than 35 years of working in the industry, Groh is focused on ensuring his experience, knowledge and foundation’s mission will survive well past the original founders.

“The stories that we come across inspire us and make us more determined to make sure we are able to pass this on to the next generation—that 30 to 50 years from now, the foundation is still helping people,” Groh said.

SEE ALSO: WINDSOR DOOR PARTNERS WITH MIRACLE LEAGUE OF ARKANSAS

The post A Beacon of Hope: Joseph Groh Foundation’s Newest Grant Recipient first appeared on Construction Executive.