Sunol's Own Shine at the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project

The $4.8 billion Water System Improvement Program has generated millions of craft hours and thousands of job opportunities for residents of the Bay Area counties served by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).

The SFPUC Infrastructure Division’s Workforce and Economic Program Services Bureau works closely with participating contractors to support their efforts to employ local journey and apprentice workers on their projects. 

To date, 48% of all workers are residents of the agency’s 7-county service territory, which includes Bay Area residents who receive SFPUC services or who are impacted as a result of WSIP construction activity. Furthermore, 71% of all apprentice hours have been worked by SFPUC service territory resident apprentices.

On the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project, for example, three residents of Sunol have found successful employment and professional development opportunities as a result of this once-in-a-lifetime project. Two residents, Mr. Anthony DeValle and Mr. Travis Hoxie, have recently completed their respective apprenticeship programs, obtaining milestones such as advanced certifications and more than 3600 hours of on the job training. Mr. Justin Gronley, also of Sunol, is nearing completion of his apprenticeship training, and will soon “journey out”.

Mr. DeValle expressed that, for him, the best part of achieving journeyman status is the opportunity to reach back, “Helping to teach the younger kids by sharing lessons I’ve learned from the more experienced workers.”

Mr. Hoxie agrees that “passing it on” is a major benefit. Travis also liked “gaining more education and developing one’s professional skills necessary to make it in the construction industry.” 

Some of the skills and experience they highlighted while working on the Calaveras Project were: environmental remediation, electrical work, tree cutting, concrete work, dirt work, asphalt, power tools, carpentry, iron work, and traffic control. They even learned complex skills such as rappelling as part of the complex structural work.

Mr. Gronley is especially grateful that the Calaveras project’s timing and location has benefited him. “It’s nice to be able to succeed right out of high school, participate on this project, and still be close to home.”

The Calaveras Dam Replacement Project team would like to congratulate these hard-working individuals on their recent success and express their gratitude for their efforts, and the efforts of all of the workers and staff who are working on this integral project of the WSIP program. 

Calaveras Dam's newest journeymen from Left to Right:

Anthony DeValle; Travis Hoxie;  Justin Gronley

Congratulations!

Building Tunnels and Building Lives

Robert Shumate put in the work to go underground

In the fall of 2011, Robert Shumate, a recent graduate of Alameda County’s Cypress Mandela Training Center, attended the Miner Tender Preparedness Program. Shortly thereafter, he put his training to the ultimate test at the New Irvington Tunnel project.  Robert quickly excelled and gained the trust of his peers, learning all aspects of working in extremely challenging and potentially dangerous conditions. Robert came to work each day with a positive attitude and a great work ethic, and within a short period of time, he was not only working on a tunneling project, but IN a tunnel. A feat which surpassed the expectations of his training. In addition to providing a stable income for himself and his family, Robert gained unique work skills specific to mining, making him  a “hot” commodity in the industry and open to a wide range of work opportunities across the nation.

Robert’s success is a testament to his hard work.  His opportunity to shine was made possible by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SPFUC) and Southland Tutor Perini’s (STP) commitment to hire locally for the $4.6B Water System Improvement Program (WSIP).   In addition to Robert, half of the New Irvington Tunnel project’s workforce is made up of local residents meeting the goals of the SFPUC’s local hire program.  This means a portion of the ratepayers investment into improving the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System is also putting people to work in communities where our projects are located.

Whether it is local workers or local small business the 

SFPUC and STP are committed to the San Francsico Bay Area

© San Francisco Public Utilities Commission R. Scheswohl

“Southland is enthusiastic about tapping into the Bay Area’s talented and diverse workforce”, said Michael Cash, Regional Manager for Southland Contracting, Inc. “In addition to exceptional people like Robert, we've also provided nearly $10 million in construction contracts to local small businesses.”

The SFPUC is committed to training future members of the Bay Area’s workforce.  The WSIP goal is to have one apprentice worker for every four journeyman workers on each capital improvement   project.  Tunneling is not an apprenticable trade so this contractor made sure to place junior workers in above ground roles and has exceeded this goal with  32 percent of workers in apprentice positions. 

The Job Training Opportunity Program (JTOP) where  Robert gained his training  is a great example of how the SFPUC, contractors, unions, and community-based organizations partner to create opportunities for local residents to receive the skills, training, and support necessary to help them attain successful and sustainable careers in construction.

Robert Shumate (R) stands tall with Tunnel Superintendent Jack Bowling (L)

Photo by S. Bednarz, ©2012 Jacobs Associates, All Rights Reserved

Robert recently reached another major milestone by completing  all apprentice hours required for Journey-level status! He is now one of the elite mining workers in his union and shares a proud heritage with the many other miners before him.  Congratulations to Robert and all of the other JTOP trainees!

For more information visit the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s local hire program page.