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Learn more about the career paths in the building industry
Brick Masonry
Masonry workers use bricks, concrete, and concrete blocks, as well as natural and manmade stones, to build walkways, walls, and other structures.
Skills:
• Mix mortar and grout
• Lay lines and grades
• Erect block and brick walls, partitions, and precast masonry panels
• Lay brick floors and stairs
Carpentry
Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
Skills:
• Read blueprints
• Frame floors, walls, ceilings, and roofs
• Build forms of concrete
• Lay roofs with plywood and shingles
Electrical
Electricians install, connect, test, maintain, and repair electrical equipment and wiring systems.
Skills:
• Install circuits
• Maintain lighting power, climate control and security systems
• Repair circuits and electrical equipment
• Install electrical conduit and wiring for homes and commercial sites
Building Construction Technology
Building Construction Technology (BCT) workers performs basic maintenance and installation to keep machines, mechanical equipment, and the structure of an establishment in good repair.
Skills:
• Replace windows, doors, plumbing, and electrical fixtures
• Repair floor, wall, and ceiling surfaces
• Install drywall and painting
• Maintain buildings, properties, and landscaped areas
Heating Ventilation and Air Condition
Heating Ventilation and Air Condition technicians install, maintain, and troubleshoot heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems
Skills:
• Install system wiring and circuits
• Maintain and clean heating and air conditioning systems
• Install air filtration systems
• Test systems using industry standard methods
Landscaping
Landscaper ensures that the outside areas of houses, businesses, buildings, and parks are attractive, orderly, and healthy.
Skills:
• Plant, transplant, prune and maintain trees, shrubs, and flowers
• Mow, edge, rake, seed, fertilize, and treat lawns
• Build retaining walls, patios/terraces, fences, and bed borders
• Install and maintain water features like ponds and fountains
Plumbing
A plumber installs and repairs plumbing fixtures and systems.
Skills:
• Cut and join pipe
• Install, repair, and maintain plumbing systems
• Install and repair waste disposal and drainage systems
• Install and repair fixtures like showers, diverters, sinks, faucets, and toilets
Solar Installation
Solar installers harness the power of sunlight to generate electricity or heat in homes or buildings. Solar installation for electrical applications is called photovoltaic installation or PV.
Skills:
• Repair and seal roofing components
• Cut, assemble, and install pipe
• Install system wiring and circuits
• Mount and maintain solar modules and collectors
Paint Brush Logo - HBI
Painting
Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, bridges, and other structures.
Skills:
• Prepare and finish surfaces like wood and drywall
• work with different types of paints like water- and oil-based paint
• Work with stains and coatings like varnish and lacquers
• Apply specialty finishes like texturing, wall coverings, or epoxies
Weatherization Logo - HBI
Weathererization
Weatherization specialists make upgrades and repairs to a home to enhance energy efficiency and lower overall energy consumption
Skills:
• Repairing or replacing heating and cooling systems
• Insulation
• Repairing roofs
• Mold remediation

Contacts Us

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MARIO GONZALEZ
Vice President of Workforce Training & Employment
Mario joined HBI as a Regional Career Development Coordinator of HBI’s Military Services in 2019 and was promoted to Associate Vice President of WTE Community & Corrections Programs in 2022.
 
Now serving as Vice president of WTE (2024), he oversees the daily operations of HBI’s WTE Community & Corrections, Military Services, & Academies programs, working with partners to advance HBI’s expansion and enhance job placement opportunities for graduates. Mario serves as the liaison between HBI and external stakeholders to include military installations. He ensures successful outcomes for HBI graduates from transitioning service members & veterans to justice involved adults & youths. Internally, he provides strategic operational perspective to HBI’s senior leadership team.
 
Prior to joining HBI, Mario served for 21 years in the U.S. Army across multiple locations globally & nationally and has an MBA from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN.
 
Mario resides in Tennessee with his wife and children and spends time in Texas where his mother, adult children, and grandchildren reside. He enjoys the outdoors and serving in his community. 
JOSEPH F. LANDERS
Executive Officer of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts

Joseph F. Landers, 71, is the Executive Officer of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts having assumed that role in 2018 with a mandate from the Board of Directors to harmonize the five MA local associations, increase communications from the state to the membership, increase the public profile of the association, create a path to financial stability and elevate the states lobbying efforts. Prior to taking on the challenging state association role, Joe was Chief Executive Officer and founder of Customized Structures Inc., a custom manufacturer of single-family, multi-family and commercial modular and panelized structures which began operations in 1984. Joe has been involved in the building industry, both site-built and factory-built, since 1973 and has worked in all phases of construction from development through design and production including on site management and sales. Customized Structures produced on average 330 single family homes per year, had an employee base as high as 180 and was known as the innovator in the production and design of modular components.

 

After the sale of Customized Structures Inc. to a private equity firm in 2003 Joe remained on the Board of Directors of the Company and functioned as a consultant to the CEO. He further took on the role of helping failing building systems companies return to profitability and successfully oversaw the sale of those companies. Mr. Landers has lectured frequently on the benefits and utilization of systems-built construction to building professionals around the country and has utilized his substantial professional and industry background to provide consultation services to both national and foreign companies interested in the processes and pitfalls of building and developing utilizing building systems components.

Joe attended Northeastern University and St. Anselm’s College graduating with a B.S. in 1972. 

Joe has been a member of the National Association of Home Builders since 1974. He is past president of two local Home Builders Associations and has served two terms as President of the  State of NH Home Builders Association. Joe is also a past president of the Modular Building  Systems Council of the NAHB, has been Chairman of the National Building Systems Council (BSC)  and has served five terms as a Trustee of the BSC during which time he created the BSC logo and  wrote the brochure “Most Frequently Asked Questions about Modular Homes”. 

In 1989, Joe received the National Pacesetter Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership  and contribution to the housing industry and in 1991 was awarded the title of Builder of the Year  by the Home Builders Association of N.H. In 1992 he was appointed by the Governor to the NH  Board of Fire Control within the Department of Safety and since then was reappointed three times.  He has served as a member on the State of New Hampshire Building Code Review Board and was  appointed by the Governor of NH to the Shore Land Protection Commission. Joe was selected to  receive the 2000 S. A. Walters Chairman’s Award, the premier award in the U.S. Systems Built  Housing Industry and was installed to the New Hampshire Housing Hall of Fame for his significant  and lasting contributions to the housing industry in the State of New Hampshire.  

Joe is a Senior Life Director of the National Association of Home Builders; he is served six terms on the NAHB Budget & Finance Committee serving as Vice Chair for four of those years, he has served  as Chairman of the Resolutions Committee, the International Housing Committee and the Building  Products Issues Committee of NAHB serving on the NAHB Executive Committee multiple times. 

In 2001 Joe was elected an Area Vice President of the National Association of Home Builders  representing builders through out the northeast. 

Joe is active in his community having served as finance chairmen of his church, is a member of the  International Order of Odd Fellows, and has served on multiple boards and committees on a  volunteer basis.  

Joe and his wife, Denise, reside in Plymouth, MA, they have two children, Jessica and Brad and two  grandchildren, Lily and Jack ages 13 and 11.

Seth Appleton
President of U.S. Mortgage Insurers

The Honorable Seth Appleton is President of U.S. Mortgage Insurers. In this role, he leads USMI’s efforts to enable sustainable access to affordable mortgage credit for borrowers while protecting taxpayers. Seth previously served as President of MISMO, the real estate finance industry’s standards organization. Prior to that, Seth served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
a position for which he was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. In addition to his service as Assistant Secretary, Seth concurrently served as the Principal Executive Vice President of Ginnie Mae, a government corporation guaranteeing the timely payment of
principal and interest on more than $2 trillion in mortgage-backed securities.


Before joining HUD, Seth worked on Capitol Hill, including serving as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer for more than eight years. A native of Missouri, Seth is a graduate of Stanford University and is a co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Housing Council.

Zach Harris Story Card - HBI Build Strong Academy New Orleans Graduate