THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA BUILDERS EXCHANGE (CCBE) CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING (ACE) MENTOR PROGRAM THROUGHOUT CENTR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA BUILDERS EXCHANGE (CCBE) CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING (ACE) MENTOR PROGRAM THROUGHOUT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

FRESNO, Calif., (July 14th 2011) – The Central California Builders Exchange is seeking Mentors to participate in this year’s ACE Mentor Program. The ACE Mentor Program of Central California is a not-for-profit organization that helps prepare high school students for careers in design and construction through mentoring. This program just completed its second year with more than 50 Mentors and 80 Students participating. Due to the continued success, the program looks to triple in size and service area for the 2011-2012 year. There are several Central Valley School Sites participating in this year’s program; some of the schools that have been involved in previous years include: Design Science, Edison, Duncan Polytechnical, Hoover, Liberty (Madera), Clovis and Kerman High Schools.

A partnership between schools, architects, engineers, construction management companies, trades and professional organizations, ACE awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to students graduating from programs in California in 2011. The Central California Builders Exchange continues to support and promote these partnerships to further develop a qualified and motivated workforce for the generations to come. The ultimate reward being a sustainable influence on the entire community and building industry as a whole.

Here is what some of the Mentors from this past year had to say about the experience:

Arturo Lopez, Brooks Ransom Associates - Consulting Structural Engineers had this to say about his first year mentoring: “We as professionals need to invest in our community and encourage our youth that working hard pays off. Being an ACE mentor this last year gave me the opportunity to do both of these. Our kids at Hoover HS had ups and downs during our mentoring session. But by the end of our session you could tell that they had developed some skills and experience by participating in the ACE program. And so did I!”

Marty Greenwood, Vice President, DMG Construction, Inc. had this to say about his first year mentoring: “I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to participate in the 2011 ACE Mentoring Program. As one of the mentors for the Edison High School team I found the students to be totally engaged in the program and excited to learn new concepts. The students were thrown into real world scenarios with responsibilities, accountability, and time constraints. What a great experience for both the Students and the Mentor.”

Stephanie McShane, with Maxim Consulting Group, who is going into her third year as a Mentor said: “What a rare and wonderful opportunity for these two groups to interface in such a positive way. It enables us to steer some wonderful young minds toward a career in our industry. I will definitely be part of it again next year.”

Participating Companies/Mentors adopt a group of 15 to 30 students for the school year and introduce them to careers in the design and construction industries. Programs in California enrolled close to 1,000 students this year. Students and their mentors meet 15 times a year to work on a design project that is presented at the end of the season. The program concludes with the fundraising luncheon where scholarships are presented to the high school seniors who plan to further their education and pursue careers in these industries.

The Central California Builders Exchange and ACE will hold information nights for all interested parties at the Central California Builders’ Exchange on:

• Thursday, August 4th From 4-6PM
• Thursday, August 18th From 4-6PM

For Information, please contact: Roxanne Greenwood at 559.237.1831 or Roxanne@cencalbx.com.

About the Central California Builders Exchange
The Central California Builders Exchange (CCBE) has more than 800 members representing the entire spectrum of Central California’s construction industry. The mission of the organization is to serve the construction industry by promoting high ethical and professional standards, providing quality services to its members, and working responsibly within the community for the enhancement of the building industry. CCBE acts as a catalyst to advocate collaboration of the industry, bringing all of the players to the table to work together. Originally formed to act as a liaison between contractors and architects to streamline the bidding process, CCBE has evolved into a dynamic professional association where the needs of the Members are priority.

About the ACE Mentor Program
The ACE Mentor Program was founded by the principals of leading design and construction firms to introduce high school students to career opportunities in the industry. The mission of the organization is twofold: to enlighten and motivate students toward architecture, construction, engineering, and related careers; and to provide mentoring opportunities for future designers and constructors. ACE makes a special attempt to reach students that otherwise may not become aware of the challenges and rewards of a career in the design and construction industry. For more information on the ACE Mentor Program, visit www.acementor.org.

For media inquiries please contact Tony Renfro at (559) 977-7194 or Tony@cencalbx.com

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