Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The 4th annual CEFGA Craft Pro Awards Banquet was held on Wednesday morning at the Cobb Galleria Conference Center in Atlanta, Ga. At this banquet, Greg Harrell, BHS Construction Education teacher was honored as the 2021 CEFGA (Construction Education Foundation of Georgia) Impact Teacher of the Year. This award is given to the construction educator who has gone above and beyond to place high school students in jobs and careers in the construction industry. In addition, the recipient must offer a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses all facets of the Construction Industry.

Zach Fields, Vice President of CEFGA, said, “Your level of engagement and motivation in delivering opportunities to your students has been incredible. The workforce impacts you have delivered has not only helped your students for the rest of their lives, but also have helped all of our construction programs by showing how vital they are.” Mr. Harrell is entering his twenty-first year as a Construction Educator at Bainbridge High School. Harrell stated that he loves teaching high school students about the Construction Industry and the importance of being workforce ready upon graduating high school. “It’s always a great feeling to see my students go out and be successful,” he said.

Jackson Dodd, owner of New South Roofing and former Construction Education student, said, “Mr. Harrell was a big part of my success and I credited him everyday for it.” He also said to current and future students to “find a trade that you like and enjoy, because there is a big opportunity and a shortage of manpower” in the construction industry today. Not only is Greg Harrell a teacher, but he is also a mentor to many students. From helping find careers and job opportunities, he also helps these students find the tools they need to succeed whether that is appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to vehicles to and from their jobs. This is just one of the many hats that he wears as an educator. Jeb Logue, a junior at BHS and current construction education student, said “He (Mr. Harrell) has been there for me no matter what in and outside of school and always looks out for my best interests, like helping me find a summer job.”

CEFGA was created in 1993 as the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. It was founded by leading construction presidents and CEOs who recognized a need for quality construction skills training in Georgia. Skilled labor was then—and remains now—a primary need of the construction industry. Today, CEFGA is a thriving organization supported by hundreds of leading construction companies, trade associations, including our General Partner, AGC Georgia, and other organizations throughout the state. CEFGA has realized vital talent pipelines by cultivating a long-term workforce with youth through our K12 Pipeline and CareerExpo, while simultaneously addressing immediate labor shortages with adult Construction Ready participants who are screened, trained, drug-free and ready to work.

“It was an absolute honor to be recognized by my colleagues and former students that I’ve taught,” Harrell said. “I’m very proud that I’ve been able to have such a positive impact on so many teenagers in the past 20 years.”