The Utility Construction Odyssey
“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.”
Opening stanza of The Odyssey by Homer
Donald Trump was recently sworn in as the 45th President. Like a victorious Odysseus, fresh off the sacking of Troy, he will embark on a four-year odyssey … perhaps as challenging as Odysseus’ journey home. Like Odysseus and his crew, there is both worry and optimism as we board the ship of state and set sail. Will our “Constructor in Chief” build jobs through infrastructure spending or strand us with the forgetfulness of the lotus eaters? Strap yourself to the mast because we are in for quite a voyage.
Trump inspires optimism in support of the construction industry as a job creation engine through energy policy, infrastructure rebuild, etc. We still face many challenges, the greatest of which is the lack of skilled workers and supervisory personnel. We do, however, have high-paying jobs, clear career progression, superior skill development and training, innovative technologies and an entrepreneurial culture. Each aspect is largely unknown and unobserved outside of our industry. It is time we stopped hiding our light under a bushel and sing like the sirens to draw talented individuals to the shores of our industry.
