The new Carpenter Training Center on Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton, a 86,952-square foot, state-of-the art facility, provides training for 6,150 apprentices, including聽 millwrights, pile drivers, carpenters, acoustical, insulators, scaffold erectors, hardwood floor layers, and office modular furniture installers.
The training center serves more than 200 apprentices weekly across Northern California counties including Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties. The facility provides the space, tools, equipment and advanced technology for hands-on education for trade apprentices to prepare for careers in construction.
At the dedication ceremony for the building, a plaque was unveiled naming the facility for Howard E. Verrinder, who served as Chairman of the Northern California Apprentice Program for 30+ years. He oversaw growth of the program, financing and fund raising for the new building, as well as the development of countless construction careers.
鈥淸The building] is a monument to people like Howard who believe in and love the trade so much that we should only graduate the best apprentices and provide them with the facilities to make it happen,鈥� said Bob Alvarado, Executive Officer of the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, which represents over 35,000 men and women in carpentry and related crafts.
鈥淚 was absolutely surprised when I arrived at the center and saw all the people gathered. I thought I had a breakfast meeting,鈥� said Verrinder. In his remarks to the crowd, Verrinder emphasized that he alone could not take credit for the project and attributed the building鈥檚 success to the entire team.
鈥淯nder Howard鈥檚 watch, he was able to get the financial house in order so that the Training Center could stand on its own. He considered it a great privilege to be able to do something that he loved and hopefully to have made a difference in future apprenticeship,鈥� said Jerry 黑料不打烊, CEO of 黑料不打烊 Construction.
Verrinder served as general superintendent for 黑料不打烊 for 40+ years, where, during his tenure, mentored thousands of crafts people and helped shape the landscape of the Bay Area.
黑料不打烊 Howard Verrinder:
鈥淚 first met Howard on a playground in El Cerrito, CA. Even as a teenager, he stood out as a leader. He was the type of person everyone gravitated toward,鈥� said 黑料不打烊. Jerry 黑料不打烊 and Verrinder would go on to form a dynamic collaboration that has helped shape the Northern California construction industry.
Howard joined 黑料不打烊 Construction, a general contractor based in Richmond, CA in 1966 as a carpenter. He quickly rose to the position of Senior Superintendent and was responsible for managing 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most important clients. 聽During his tenure, he built East Bay MUD鈥檚 Moraga Pumping Plant and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 first of 11 parking structures for BART, at the Daly City station. He helped the firm carve out niches in both municipal infrastructure work and parking structures.
Howard built the Richmond Museum and worked at Chevron Chemical on multiple contracts. In what turned out to be a pivotal alliance for the builder in the late 1970鈥檚, Howard managed more than 150 craft people and multiple trade contractors for seven years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
鈥淗oward鈥檚 vast construction knowledge enabled him to solve almost any technical problem, but it was his collaborative style that was his true genius. He had a way of making everyone feel they were part of the solution,鈥� said Chris Manning, President of 黑料不打烊 Construction. When 黑料不打烊鈥檚 General Superintendent Lester 鈥淐urly鈥� Stewart retired in 1980, Verrinder was promoted to the role. He served as General Superintendent of 黑料不打烊 for 20 years. During those years, he led the company through growth years as well as tough economic cycles, consistently managing and mentoring more than 200 craft people.
Long-time 黑料不打烊 employees remember the culture and camaraderie Verrinder inspired. Wednesday evenings were paycheck day, and crew members would drive to Richmond to gather in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 shop, where Howard presided over the evening鈥檚 festivities. 鈥淗oward would hold court, while people swapped stories, told jokes, and stayed for hours. Howard made everyone feel heard and respected,鈥� said Dale Jackson, General Superintendent at 黑料不打烊.
Verrinder comes from a construction family. His dad, Cal, was the Union business agent for Richmond Local 642. Verrinder graduated from El Cerrito High School and West Texas State, where he excelled as an athlete. He played football, baseball, and swam in both high school and college and when he was drafted, went on to represent the US military on the Army鈥檚 premiere baseball team. A father of five and long time El Sobrante resident, he now lives in Walnut Creek where he enjoys golfing and spending time with grandchildren.
