Building Futures: Highlights from Our First Career and Industry Day
On May 21, the Hood River–White Salmon Bridge Project hosted its first Career and Industry Day in Hood River. The event connected over 200 local students with the people and work shaping infrastructure projects in our region.
Held in partnership with the Building Trades Unions and industry partners, the event focused on introducing students to careers in the trades and construction industry through hands-on learning and direct interaction with professionals.
Connecting Students to Careers
Students explored various career paths through demonstrations, asking questions, and having conversations with professionals across multiple trades. Hands-on activities, heavy equipment demos, simulators, and trade exhibits offered a practical view of daily work and required skills in these fields.
For many students, the experience helped make these careers feel more real and attainable. By talking directly with professionals, they were able to see how their interests and strengths could translate into meaningful work.
The event also highlighted apprenticeship programs and alternative pathways that offer accessible, well-paying careers without requiring a traditional four-year degree. It gave students clearer insight into the steps they can take now to begin building a future in the trades.
Real Connections with Industry Professionals
One of the most impactful aspects of the even
t was the opportunity for students to connect directly with people working in the field. Trades representatives and industry experts shared insights into their careers, answered questions about apprenticeships, and highlighted the skills needed to succeed.
Participating trades included:
Glaziers Local 740
Operating Engineers Local 701
Sprinkler Fitters Local 669
Ironworkers Local 29
Cement Masons Local 555
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 598
Laborers Local 737
SMART Local 16
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 10
Students also interacted with a variety of agencies, contractors, and workforce development organizations, including:
Construct a Career
Build Up
Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority (HRWSBA)
HNTB
Kiewit
Oregon Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
Hood River County
Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries
Hood River Sand & Gravel
Advanced American
Barnhart
REIC/ERS Equipment Rental
Hood River Electric Co-op
Hood River Fire & EMS
Yakama Nation
Nez Perce Tribe
Bishop Sanitation
Sunrise Dental
Together, these partners demonstrated how collaboration across trades and agencies supports large-scale infrastructure projects and strengthens communities.
Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority Commissioner Jacob Edwards speaking with students and attendees during Career and Industry Day.
Building a Local Workforce for the Future
As the region looks ahead to the replacement of the Hood River–White Salmon Bridge, events like Career and Industry Day play a critical role in preparing the next generation of skilled workers. A project of this scale will require a wide range of trades and technical expertise, including equipment operators and laborers, as well as welders, electricians, and engineers, not only during construction but also for ongoing operations and maintenance.
By introducing local students to these career pathways now, the project is helping build a pipeline of talent that can support the bridge for decades to come. Investing in youth exposure to the trades helps ensure that these future jobs can be filled by people who live in the communities these projects will serve, strengthening both the workforce and the local economy.
Encouraging students to pursue careers in the trades also creates opportunities for long-term economic stability. When local workers are trained and employed on regional projects, the benefits stay within the community, supporting families, local businesses, and continued growth.
Image right: Local students gathered to discover careers in the trades and their importance to the regional workforce.
Thank You to Our Partners and Sponsors
This event would not have been possible without the support of our incredible partners and sponsors. We extend a special thank you to HRWSBA Co-Chair Eric Wilson, Representative Jeff Helrich, Senator Christine Drazan, and Randall Friesen of the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades for sharing their time and expertise with students.
We are also grateful to the sponsors that helped make the day a success:
Port of Hood River, REIC Rentals, Tum-A-Lum Lumber, Home Depot, Walmart, Bi-Mart, Rosauers Supermarkets, Dog River Coffee, Sheppard’s, Hood River Electric Co-op, Hood River Sand and Gravel, and Ace Hardware.
Future makers and builders with their giveaway prizes of new hand tools and shop lights.
Looking Ahead
Career and Industry Day was more than just an event. It was an investment in the future of our communities. By connecting students with real-world opportunities and hands-on experiences, we are helping build a stronger, more prepared workforce.
The Hood River–White Salmon Bridge Replacement Project is itself an investment in our communities: in how families live, travel, and stay connected, and in how businesses move workers, customers, and goods across the bridge and down the Columbia River. It is also an investment in the people who will build and sustain our future.
As we continue planning and advocating for the final piece of federal funding to construct the new bridge, we see clear connections between today’s student engagement and tomorrow’s workforce. Inspiring young people to explore careers in the trades today helps ensure that local talent will be ready to help build, operate, and maintain this essential regional asset. Career and Industry Day demonstrates that major infrastructure projects can do more than improve transportation - they can help create career pathways and strengthen communities.
We look forward to growing this event in the years ahead and continuing to inspire the next generation of builders, problem-solvers, and leaders who will help shape the future of the Columbia Gorge.