Cody Clancy

"My dad was a construction worker, and slowly but surely as I grew, my interest in what he did for a living began to grow as well. I thought it was really cool to drive over a bridge and tell my friends my dad built it. It was when I got to high school and began taking shop classes that I fell in love with the trade, and my career path was determined.

I started my construction career straight out of high school. I could barely hit a nail with a hammer then, but training was offered on the job. Today, I’m a laborer and forklift operator with A.M. Cohron & Son Inc., and I’m participating in our company’s crane operator training program. I do a little bit of everything, from building forms to tying rebar and operating heavy equipment. Every day is something different, which was exactly what I wanted in a job. I never experience burnout, because each project holds a new challenge. Someday, I hope to be a supervisor and lead a crew of my own.

If you’re interested in the construction trade, I recommend you pay close attention in your high school geometry, algebra and physics classes in addition to shop class. Like me, you might think you’ll never use those classes in real life, but they help you understand how equipment works and how to avoid mistakes.

My final advice is to have a good work ethic and always try to be the hardest worker. Also, be open to new ideas — there’s always a better way to do something. Be willing to try new methods, even if the current one is working."