Trina Parks will lead the design and development of McCarthy's national craft development strategy.

HOUSTON—As part of its continuous efforts to address the construction craft workforce shortage head-on, McCarthy Building Companies has created a new national craft training and development position based in Houston and in the process, formalized the firm's commitment to craft training and outreach. To lead this effort, McCarthy hired Trina Parks as director, craft training and development. Parks will lead the design and development of the firm's national craft development strategy and craft training resources across McCarthy markets.

"The industry is experiencing a shortage in the workforce and McCarthy is actively working to solve this issue," said Ray Sedey, president of McCarthy's Southern region. "By creating this new role, we hope that this can enhance our efforts, and ensure that our crews are properly trained and developed so that they are encouraged to continue in the industry and McCarthy, while delivering their best work for our clients."

As a self-performing builder, McCarthy has always employed many of its own tradespeople on projects, helping the company to maintain its own labor force and not be entirely reliant on external subcontracting relationships. As a result, McCarthy has been able to maintain a reliable and steady labor force for certain trades (concrete, mechanical, plumbing, etc.) and these craft professionals understand its expectations for exceptional safety and quality performance. Additionally, in regions where McCarthy is building and the labor pool doesn't exist, the company is implementing innovative on-the-job training programs to introduce a new workforce to available construction opportunities.