On a weeknight in St. Rose, sparks fly across rows of welding booths as students in heavy gloves and face shields lean over steel joints inside ABC New Orleans/Bayou’s training campus.
Among them is Evelyn Galdamez, who first entered the program as a high school senior with no prior welding experience. “I really enjoy it here,” she said. “The teachers actually really care.”
Now in her third year at the campus, Galdamez says the program gave her direction at a pivotal moment in her life. Coming from a school focused primarily on health sciences, she entered the welding program unsure of what to expect, especially in a male-dominated field.
“I was pretty nervous starting,” she said. “But the women here have been the nicest people ever. And honestly, the guys are really nice too. No one hesitates to help each other.”
For Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) New Orleans/Bayou Chapter, stories like Galdamez’s are increasingly important to the future of South Louisiana’s construction industry.
Founded 56 years ago, the chapter serves 12 parishes across southeast Louisiana as part of a national network of 67 ABC chapters. The organization provides workforce training, safety programs, political advocacy and networking opportunities for commercial and industrial contractors throughout the region.
“The biggest challenge facing the construction industry right now is workforce,” said Jeb Bruneau, president and CEO of ABC New Orleans/Bayou. “There are more people aging out of the construction profession than there are people coming in.”
ABC leaders say demand for skilled trade workers is expected to continue rising statewide as industrial expansion, infrastructure projects, energy sector growth, and large-scale development continue across Louisiana.
In response, ABC New Orleans/Bayou has expanded its apprenticeship and craft training programs, preparing students for careers in welding, electrical, instrumentation, and other skilled trades.
At its St. Rose campus, classes run four nights a week from 6 to 9 p.m., allowing many students to work during the day while earning industry credentials at night.
“We firmly believe college is not for everybody,” Bruneau said. “This is a way to get into a great career, make a good living, and do it without massive debt.”
The organization currently serves around 400 students across its training programs and satellite locations throughout southeast Louisiana. Students range from high school seniors to adults changing careers later in life.
“We treat our training facility like you would be treated on a job site,” Bruneau said. “We try to prepare you to be job ready when you finish a program with us or get a credential from us.”
That emphasis on hands-on training and accountability is part of what instructors say sets the program apart.
Vice President and campus operator Chris Weber, who has more than 30 years of industry experience, said students are trained not only in technical skills, but also in the expectations of the profession itself.
“The rules are different here,” Weber said. “It’s run like the construction industry.”
Students are expected to follow safety protocols, show up on time, and develop the discipline needed to succeed on active job sites. According to Weber, many students move directly from the classroom into construction jobs.
There are four students here who graduated high school on May 15th. and went into the office on the 18th to do the application and get interviewed to go on the job site,” he said.
For some students, those opportunities can quickly become life-changing careers. Weber pointed to a former student turned instructor who, at 19 years old, was already working in the field, earning more than $40 an hour.
“What you put into it is what you’re going to get out of it,” Weber said. “You have to work for everything–safety, work ethic, showing up on time, and furthering your education.”
For Evelyn Galdamez, that culture of support and mentorship has been one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.
“I really feel at home here,” she said.
Though the physical demands of welding were difficult at first, she said the experience has pushed her to grow both personally and professionally.
“If you’re really passionate about something, it doesn’t really stress you as much,” Galdamez said. “I really find it’s worth it.”
Beyond workforce development, ABC New Orleans/Bayou also plays an active role in advocacy and economic development throughout the region. The organization works with state and local officials on issues affecting the construction industry, including workforce policy, infrastructure development, and public bidding processes.
Bruneau sees construction as deeply tied to the future growth of southeast Louisiana itself.
“If the business climate is good and we’re growing as a region, as a city, as a state, then construction will also follow that and grow,” he said.
For ABC New Orleans/Bayou, that future depends not only on major development projects, but also on changing perceptions around skilled trades and creating sustainable career pathways for younger generations entering the workforce.
“If you’re looking for a great way to find a trade or a craft and perfect it,” Bruneau said, “you can make a nice living debt-free.”
