As Rashaad Smith approached graduation from the St. Louis Job Corps Center in January of 2021, he was confident he would be successful but wasn’t sure what that success might look like. Then he was introduced to the Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI), conceived and operated by Clayco, Inc. in both St. Louis and Chicago. CCDI works with young men and women who come from economically depressed areas, introducing them to careers in the construction industry. Clayco engages hundreds of its sub-contractors and supply houses to provide experiences for these individuals to engage in work, training and envisioning their futures. Before he graduated, Rashaad met Ms. Rachel Boemer, the CCDI Director in St. Louis, and she fast-tracked Rashaad’s participation. She introduced him to Dave Gralike and Rich Ledbetter with Guarantee Electric and they quickly recognized Rashaad’s potential. Today, Rashaad is an IBEW Electrician Apprentice, guaranteeing his own success.