Things like this do not cross the average person's mind regularly, but Brian Pasek's interest has always been piqued by the way things are built and designed, and that fascination inspired him to make a successful career for himself in the construction industry.
Brian, a graduate of Cuyahoga Valley Career Center's construction trades program, attended VCC during his junior and senior years of high school. He was able to use this educational foundation to further his schooling at Bowling Green State University, earning a bachelor's degree in construction management. Now, he is working on his MBA (Masters of Business Administration) specializing in Operations Management at Cleveland State University.
Currently working as a general contractor, some highlights on Brian's impressive resume include managing larger scale projects with multiple contractors, historic renovations on multi-family units, and a personal favorite, completing the African Elephant Exhibit at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
"The African Elephant exhibit was one of the highlights of my career, and one of my favorite projects to work on," Brian explains. "It was a unique large-scale project that enabled me to get an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience in my field."
Brian credits CVCC for providing him with the tools necessary to succeed in the construction trades industry.
"CVCC helped me to learn the ins and outs of construction trades, and it was a great stepping stone that provided me with basic knowledge that I still use in my career to this day," Brian says.
Students in the construction trades program at CVCC are instructed in the building, remodeling, maintenance, and repair of public and private buildings and homes. During the course of the academic yer, students will get the opportunity to build a house. Skills learned in the construction trades program include: carpentry, wiring, drywall installation, roofing, masonry, and integral related skills such as safety, mathematics, blueprint reading, and estimating.
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center is located at 8001 Brecksville Road in Brecksville. CVCC offers a training program in construction trades that is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER). Students also have the opportunity to acquire an OSHA 10-hour safety certification and an apprenticeship. For details, call 440-526-5200.
By Kelli Comer
mimivanderhaven