As part of this transition, Rising Stars will establish a board of directors comprised of both internal leaders and external industry experts to ensure the program remains aligned with its core mission. Founding director David Hutchinson will now serve as executive director of the program, continuing to champion its vision of inspiring a new generation to pursue careers in construction.

“Becoming a nonprofit allows Rising Stars to access greater funding opportunities, enabling us to expand our locations and provide even more impactful programming,” Hutchinson says. “This transition solidifies Rising Stars as a permanent fixture in the construction industry, ensuring we continue to deliver meaningful pathways to success for young people nationwide.”

With the additional funding and resources afforded by its nonprofit status, Rising Stars is poised for significant growth. Two new locations are anticipated to launch later this year, one of which will be Brockton, Mass. This expansion builds on the success of existing programs like Achieve Green, a pre-apprenticeship partnership in Boston that has already provided certification and career readiness training to numerous participants interested in sustainable construction.

The Rising Stars Program will continue to operate with the support of Tremco CPG while leveraging its nonprofit status to secure grants and foundation funding, which will be instrumental in driving staff growth and enhanced programming opportunities.

“Tremco CPG has proudly supported Rising Stars from the beginning, and this transition to nonprofit status only reinforces our commitment to its long-term success,” says Krista Gnatt, president of Tremco Roofing & Building Maintenance. “It will enable Rising Stars to continue building a skilled and diverse workforce for the future of the construction industry.”

Rising Stars remains steadfast in its mission to create a pipeline of enthusiastic, skilled young professionals for the construction industry. By offering hands-on training, industry certifications and valuable mentorship opportunities, the program equips participants with the tools they need to succeed while addressing the industry’s ongoing labor shortage.

To learn more about the Rising Stars Program, visit www.tremcocpg.com/our-values/rising-stars.