Building education
HBA recognizes students, installs officers at banquet
In five to six years, according to Peter J. Bonargo IV, president of the Home Builders Association of Berks County, 60 percent to 70 percent of electricians will be of retirement age.
“When you cannot turn the lights on, we’re going to have a problem,” said Bonargo, application specialist with SAH Inc., Shillington.
As a result, Bonargo told builders and other home professionals recently that “there is a lot of work to do on membership and education.”
Accompanying Bonargo to the presentation and banquet were his children, Giovanna, 14 and Peter V, 11.
Bonargo spoke during a Friday, Nov. 8 banquet to install officers and recognize student teams from Berks Career and Technology Center, Bern Township and Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center, Muhlenberg Township, at the HBA installation banquet at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, 701 Penn St.
Jeffrey R. Miller, carpentry instructor from BCTC, was on hand to introduce seniors in cabinetry, carpentry and painting and decorating.
“The class’s creativity, enthusiasm and youthfulness make it very rewarding as an instructor,” Miller said. At 43 students learning different skills, “this is a large class,” he said.
Miller said the students worked on a newly built house, measuring about 2,500 square feet, under the auspices of BCTC in Oley Township, off of Friedensburg
Road.
Miller introduced Scott Moyer, a Caernarvon Township and Twin Valley senior, in carpentry; Trinity Shepley, who lives in Bethel Township, painting and decorating; and Ben Wood, from Exeter Township, enrolled in cabinetry.
Mark Holtzman, construction management instructor at Muhlenberg Reading, accompanied Reading School District students Guillermo Garcia, Reading, building property maintenance; Ashley SalasLopez, Reading, bricklaying; Freddy Pizano, Reading, building property maintenance; and Jeremy Salvador, Reading, building and property maintenance.
Salas-Lopez, an athlete at Reading High School, said she was the first woman to enroll to study bricklaying and now, she said, there are
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more females enrolled in the program. She believes the CTC instills a strong work ethic and allows students to grow as adults.
Ben Wood, with BCTC and a senior at Exeter High School, said his grandfather was an inspiration for his career choice with a shop
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Newly installed HBA officers are, from left, Jon Sukonik, Pennsylvania Builders Association president-elect; Lee Prussman, HBA secretary-treasurer; Kert Sloan, board director; Peter J. Bonargo IV, new HBA president; Bonargo’s daughter, Giovanna, 14; Brian Bogert, HBA past president; and John Schmoyer, board director. Not present in photo: board members James Gavin and Jason Jenkins.
in his basement. He plans to own his own remodeling business.
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