On June 21, 2016, Quincy YouthBuild students and staff had the opportunity to tour CertainTeed’s Roofing facility located in Norwood, Massachusetts. CertainTeed is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain Corporation.
Students and staff were greeted in the reception area, escorted to the conference room where they were introduced to key CertainTeed staff, and given a brief overview of CertainTeed/ Saint-Gobain history. They also received an overview of CertainTeed Norwood’s layout, products, and manufacturing capacity. Additionally, they were introduced to the various roles employees at CertainTeed Norwood perform.
Following a safety orientation, students and staff were given a tour of the facility beginning with the very first steps of making a shingle all the way to the point where the finished product is placed on pallets for distribution worldwide. “The tour was great and there were a lot of shingles!” said YouthBuild student Jacob Bennett.
The group was treated to a delicious lunch and joined by several CertainTeed employees who provided students more information about the various opportunities that the company offers, the benefits of being a union member, and the importance of hard work and punctuality. In turn, students shared their education and employment goals. According to YouthBuild student Derek Tellini, “We had a great time and I learned a lot.”
"This was a wonderful opportunity for Quincy YouthBuild students and staff to view the process and procedures for making a product that they encounter in their worksite training. We appreciate CertainTeed's employees for taking time to meet and greet the students and to make the tour a great learning experience," said Nathan Stowell, TRA-Quincy Manager.
The event was made possible by Kristine Skutt, CertainTeed Norwood Roofing’s Human Resources Supervisor who said, “I think this is the beginning of something great for CertainTeed Norwood Roofing and YouthBuild!”
Training Resources of America, Inc. (TRA) operates YouthBuild programs in Quincy and Worcester, Massachusetts. TRA and Saint-Gobain Corporation have enjoyed a long-term partnership that spans over a forty-five year period. Connecting to CertainTeed Norwood is the newest extension of this collaboration.
