Construction Labor Shortage Solutions - The Next Generation

Even though the construction industry is booming, builders are struggling without the skilled workers needed for growth and sustainability. Leaders in Government, Industry and Education are realizing the growing need to provide the trades as a viable career choice for students. As the number of youth who are not working nor in school continues to climb, so does the urgency to get them trained and ready for future success. In this session, our panel shares how our industry must collaborate to develop the next generation of home builders through trades development, mentoring and training. 

Please join us to learn and to contribute to what is being accomplished to develop the next generation of Tradespeople. Our Panelists:

	Rosalin Acosta, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Prior to joining the Baker-Polito Administration she was a widely respected financial and banking service professional with over thirty years of experience in Greater Boston financial institutions, most recently as Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Enterprise Wealth Management at Enterprise Bank in Lowell. Secretary Acosta  has served in many community and civic capacities, including as a Board Member of The Boston Foundation, a Board Overseer at Boston Children's Hospital  and a 14-year Member of the Boston Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA). Acosta was a Director and Planning Member of the Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board and was appointed a Northern Essex Community College Trustee by Governor Baker in 2016. Secretary Acosta has been named one of Boston?s Most Influential Women by the Women of Harvard Club in 2014, where she serves on the Leadership Committee, and El Planeta's Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics in Massachusetts for three consecutive years. Born in Cuba, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University in Connecticut where she was a member of the Women's Varsity Ice Hockey Team. She is the proud mother of five children and an avid traveler, runner and cyclist
	Ed Brady, HBI President and CEO Ed Brady is the President and CEO of Home Builders Institute (HBI), a national nonprofit that trains underserved populations, including veterans, transitioning military, justice-involved youth and adults, and high school students for careers in the building industry. He currently oversees the operations, products and services for HBI. A second-generation home builder from Bloomington, Illinois, Brady learned carpentry from a union master carpenter in college and started building houses in 1988. During Brady's 30+ years in the industry, he has been advocating for and defending the building industry through leaderships positions at the local, state and national levels. He brings to HBI decades of experience leading a multi-million-dollar home building company, serving as director of the Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank and working with leading experts to advance the nation's housing policy. Brady has also served as a senior officer with the National Association of Home Builders and as the 2016 chairman of the board of directors.
	Josh Otlin, Principal, Miflord High School  Joshua Otlin is in his second year as the principal at Milford High School, his alma mater.  Prior to coming to Milford, Joshua worked at Hudson High School as both an assistant principal and social studies teacher for 16 years.  He earned a bachelor's degree from Middlebury College and a master's degree from Northeastern University, where he is currently pursuing his doctorate.
	Luci Rawe, Project Manager, Carpenter, Byggmiester Builders Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Luci moved to Boston 5 years ago to continue work in deconstruction and salvaging of construction materials. After some time with the non-profit Boston Building Resources, she went on to build custom furniture at Sandcastle. Following her long time interest in the trades as well as design/build, she joined the Byggmeister team in 2017 to pursue carpentry. She now runs jobs in and around Boston on various residential remodeling projects.
	Moderator: Michael Sams, Kenney & Sams LLC Michael Sams, a co-founder of Kenney & Sams, is a respected litigator, advocate and business advisor, serving companies throughout New England. He successfully tries, appeals, mediates and arbitrates disputes before the Massachusetts Superior and District Courts, the Supreme Judicial Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the U.S. First Circuit, private ADR services, and a range of state and federal agencies. Mike is well known as a trial lawyer and risk manager for participants in the construction industry including contractors, owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers and manufacturers.   Mike is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell - the highest rating for legal ability and professional ethics. Boston Magazine recognizes Mike as a Massachusetts "Super Lawyer,"; he is a Fellow in the Construction Lawyers Society of America, and has been named a New England Super Lawyer annually for over a dozen years. Mike is also recognized by Best Lawyers in America©, and is a sought-after speaker for legal and industry organization gatherings, where he presents best practices for risk management, dispute strategy, and winning at trial.