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| Brett Enmeier always loved to do work with his hands. So as a junior at Stillwater High School, back in 1982, he decided to enroll in the residential and commercial construction program at Meridian Technology Center (MTC).  Several years
. . . and jobs . . . later, Enmeier is still using those carpentry
skills as he oversees Accent Homes, his own construction company.
Enmeier is someone who can easily be described as a Career Tech Champion. Career Tech Champions are alumni of the system's programs or student organizations who have found success in a career and attribute much of that success to their career tech experience. Enmeier says career and technology education played a major role in his professional success. His occupational education provided him with a broad knowledge of the construction industry. "If I did not have my occupational training I would not be where I am now," he said. During both years I was there (at Meridian) we built a house. We did just about everything in the construction field. It was a good foundation to start from." Enmeier said Don Boyles, his instructor at MTC, was a great mentor. He encouraged Enmeier's participation in Vocational and Industrial Clubs of America, (now known as SKILLSUSA-VICA), the occupational student organization for trade and industrial education students. As a student, Enmeier participated in several state and local competitions and was named Outstanding Overall Student at Meridian Technology Center in 1983. Enmeier later enrolled in the construction management degree program at Oklahoma State University and during the summer he worked on a framing crew to help pay his way through school. Not only did Enmeier's occupational skills help pay for his education, they were also an asset in his college classes. "Just having a basic knowledge of construction made me more confident as I went through college," he said. After graduating from OSU in 1988, Enmeier joined PCL Construction, a firm based in Arizona. He eventually worked his way up from field engineer to project manager. While at PCL, Enmeier worked on several projects such as school buildings, a police station and the concourse at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz. One of his biggest projects was serving as project engineer on the Hoover Dam's parking structure and visitor's center. In 1993, Enmeier returned to Stillwater and formed Accent Homes. As head of his own company, Enmeier says his carpentry and construction skills are even more useful now. "I used to do a lot of the carpentry myself," he said. Enmeier said the best thing he likes about career and technology education is that it is hands on learning and students actually see things happen. He said career tech is a great launching pad for a young person's career. "You can take what you learn and expand it further," he said. "It's a great stepping stone from high school to college." |
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| posted 1/04/2001 |
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