Building a foundation for professional growth takes diligence, effort and hard work. Meet Berne-Knox-Westerlo Class of 2020 graduate Reagan Smith. During the 2019-20 school year, Ms. Smith became a graduate of the Construction/Heavy Equipment program on the BOCES Career & Technical School – Schoharie Campus. It’s within that program that she created her own personal pathway into the construction workforce. As of today, she’s currently employed as a project coordinator at DWM Comprehensive Solutions in the Construction Renovation Division in Latham. According to its website, DWM Comprehensive Solutions is a leading international facility solutions provider for some of the world’s best brands.
With the month of October recognizing Careers in Construction Month – we thought we would highlight Ms. Smith’s story to reflect her entry into the construction trade industry.
“Capital Region BOCES helped me develop the needed skills and abilities to pursue my career, helped me seek the right path to accomplish tasks needed in this field of work,” she said. “BOCES allowed me to jump out of my comfort zone and explore new ideas with other students that I had never met before and learn something hands-on.”
Her BOCES instructor shared his sentiments on her ability to adapt and pursue her career goals. “Reagan was a good student who had a plan when she came here and took the right steps to achieve those goals,” said BOCES Instructor Matt Millard. “She showed up every day, worked hard and had her eye on the prize from the start.”
After graduation from BKW, Smith attended Hudson Valley Community College where she earned a two-year degree in construction management, a degree partially paid for with scholarships she earned during her time at Capital Region BOCES.
Smith said that while she works in an industry largely populated by men – only 10 percent of construction workers identify as women – and was one of only two women in the construction program at BOCES, she never felt out of place or not welcome.
In fact, she said she welcomed the challenge.
“Construction is definitely a stereotyped field of work and being able to ‘break barriers’ is an awesome feeling as a woman,” Smith said. “I hope I can influence more females to get into those male-dominated trades!”
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