Webinar: Developing Effective Foremen–Lessons from the Field

Wednesday, August 19, 2pm ET

Promoting your best craft professional doesn't automatically prepare them to become an effective foreman. As contractors look for better ways to prepare new foremen for success, structured leadership development is becoming a growing priority. Yet more than half of construction foremen report lacking training in key areas such as communication and quality control, highlighting a persistent gap in foreman preparedness.

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In this webinar, you'll learn:

  • Why technical expertise alone isn't enough to prepare effective foremen
  • How contractors are preparing new and existing foremen for success through structured training
  • How foreman development programs are improving productivity, quality and retention
  • Practical lessons contractors can apply within their own organizations

Join VP of Innovation & Advancement Jennifer Wilkerson, Master Trainer Mike Farrar, and Research Assistant Sam O'Brien for a discussion on the challenges of developing effective foremen and what contractors are doing to address them. The conversation will examine the challenges contractors face, findings from recent NCCER research, and lessons from contractors implementing structured foreman training, including a program in which 94% of participants reported applying new skills on the jobsite.
349K
workers needed in the industry just to keep up in 2026
49%
of the current construction workforce will retire by 2035
76%
of contractors are struggling to hire supervisors
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Learn from the industry experts

Your NCCER Hosts

  • Jennifer Wilkerson, VP Innovation & Advancement
  • Mike Farrar,  Master Trainer
  • Sam O'Brien, Research Assistant

Presenter Bios

Jennifer Wilkerson
Vice President, Innovation & Advancement
Jennifer Wilkerson has been with NCCER for over 16 years where she is currently the Vice President of Innovation and Advancement. Her background includes teaching high school English and serving as the acting business manager at the welding and fabrication company she and her husband founded and owned.

Mike Farrar
Master Trainer
Mike Farrar has more than 42 years of construction industry experience working with craft professionals, field supervisors and project management teams on commercial and industrial projects. A retired training leader and NCCER Master Trainer, Mike now helps develop the next generation of field leaders.

Sam O'Brien
Research Assistant
Sam O'Brien is a Research Assistant at the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), where he designs and conducts workforce research studies, produces industry case studies, and develops data-driven publications for practitioner audiences. His work draws on a background in psychology, statistics, and behavioral research.

Don't miss the live webinar, or your chance to receive the recording.

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