Construction Education, Workforce Development & the Next Generation (with Terry Clinefelter)

We all talk about labor shortages and workforce gaps — but what’s the real deal behind them, and how do we actually fix it? In this episode, we sit down with Terry Clinefelter, a veteran construction educator and workforce development advocate who lives where industry, schools, and real work collide.

Terry’s spent over 15 years teaching and shaping construction programs, leading curriculum work, and building bridges between classrooms and real jobs. He’s also Vice President of Construct My Future, an initiative that helps young people see construction as a viable, rewarding career path — not a fallback plan.

In this conversation we get into:

• Why the construction workforce gap is more than “no one wants to work”
• How higher education and hands-on training can actually keep young people and adult learners engaged
• The role of colleges, tech programs, and industry partnerships in building tomorrow’s workforce
• What happens when education and field expectations aren’t aligned
• Practical ideas for connecting students to meaningful, sustainable careers

Whether you’re an educator, contractor, superintendent, project manager, or owner — and especially if you’ve ever screamed “where are the skilled workers?” into the void —

This episode reframes the conversation around construction education, career pathways, and how we fill the pipelines that everyone talks about but few tackle.