By J.A. Jones
Faye Watson, Executive Director of Developing and Building Community Services (DAB Community Services, Inc) is working to bring DABCS’ workforce development initiative to St. Pete. Venture Philanthropy Fund’s shared services is helping her spread the word to raise awareness and financing for a new Land Surveying Technician program she developed in partnership with Rohland Bryant’s Public Works, Inc.
On a crisp fall morning, students are learning the applications of drone technology for land surveying from industry professionals at the new program, currently housed at Pinellas Technical College in St. Petersburg, FL.
Now Watson is looking to bring the program greater support and resources from the industry professionals who encouraged her to begin the journey. She turned to Venture Philanthropy Fund to help tell the story of the program and its students, as well as helping DAB Community Services’ market and share its expertise in bringing an industry-driven approach to workforce development training (IDA-WDT).
Watson shared how returning to St. Pete after over a decade working as a corporate auditor in the northeast led her to a career in community development.
“Back in 2014, Workforce Development became of interest to me after watching families and seeing a relationship between unemployment – or, the lack of a living wage – and poor health, education, and mental conditions. I began to understand that nothing really happened without a job.”
“At the community service organization level, there’s a lot of engagement with individuals in the community, and organizations in the community who want to serve.” After working with a variety of community organizations, Watson realized that unemployment and an inability to sustain a living wage to provide basic needs was often the ‘common thread’ that brought families and organizations together. “So, I wanted to do something to actually produce jobs.”
Watson decided to seek out an industry that was facing an impending jobs crisis to see if DAB Community Services could help address the issue in St. Pete. After her brother, a former military employee who worked in the surveying industry, told her that sector was facing a severe lack of skilled employees she decided to start there.
Research and discussion with survey industry employers and academic institutions confirmed that there was indeed a shortage — and a lack of training to address it. One of the organizations she contacted was Tallahassee’s Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS); excited about her idea, FSMS encouraged her to find an academic partner.
Watson approached Pinellas Technical College about developing and implementing a survey technician program; they directed her to Rohland Bryant of the Public Works Academy, which offers community training programs at the college.
After presenting Bryant with statistical data on the industry, he agreed that it was a viable training area, and the two moved forward on developing the program together. The first step was holding a meet-and-greet with over 20 industry employers — including corporate providers and city and county representatives — to discuss the scope of the training necessary.
The curriculum was developed along with industry professionals over several weeks. Nine months after Watson first came up with the idea for the program, the date was set to launch a pilot class in November 2018.
Watson acknowledged the support of equipment manufacturer GPServe who donated the first set of instruments, and Superior Surveying Services out of Tampa who donated another set of equipment for classes.
For the pilot program, they selected five individuals, with instruction provided by subject matter experts from the industry.
Aidan Anderson was happy with the program so far. “I actually really enjoy it, I love being hands-on, and I know it’s a great industry. Before I was in welding so I’m already familiar with measurements but it’s my first time doing anything with measuring properties.”
Tyrone Johnson Jr. said he was searching online when he saw an article featuring Bryant and the program in the news. “I wanted to give it a try because I used to do audits on the computer, but I got tired of sitting in an office. I really like being outdoors. I’m liking it; it’s keeping me focused because I’m interested in it.”
Mitchell Schauerman was also intrigued while reading about it in the paper and says he is loving the program so far. “I was in insurance since high school, so I was on the computer for about four or five years. I’m still working in that job, but the change in environment, being outdoors, really interested me, so that’s what drew me in.”
All three students already have paid internships line up through the program.
For more information on the Survey Technician Program and to find out what else DAB Community Services, Inc is planning for 2019, contact Faye Watson at 727-692-9570.
Faye Watson with Tyrone Johnson Jr., Aidan Anderson, Mitchell Schauerman