Construction Ready Awarded Doug Hooker Award for Excellence in Workforce Impact

Construction Ready has been named the recipient of the Doug Hooker Award for Excellence in Workforce Impact, presented at the CareerRise Workforce Excellence Summit. The honor recognizes organizations that are advancing a more equitable workforce by creating meaningful connections between education, industry and opportunity.

Award recipients celebrated at the summit include businesses, nonprofits and partnerships that align employers, education and workforce development entities, and economic development organizations as key economic drivers across Metro Atlanta and the state.

Construction Ready was selected for its measurable impact through initiatives such as its annual CareerExpo and its newer “See It to Be It” program. Together, these efforts open doors for students and adults to explore careers in the skilled trades while building clear and attainable pathways into the construction workforce.

The “See It to Be It” program reaches hundreds of students who attend schools without full-time construction programs, offering immersive exposure to construction careers through hands-on learning and direct interaction with industry professionals. The program helps students see themselves in roles they may not have previously considered.

Construction Ready also was recognized for its commitment to creating real pathways for justice-involved individuals while strengthening families and communities across Georgia through workforce training and career placement.

One of the organization’s most visible initiatives, the Construction Ready CareerExpo & SkillsUSA State Championships, continues to scale its impact statewide. In 2025, the event delivered hands-on learning experiences to more than 9,000 Georgia K-12 and college students and connected them with more than 1,500 professionals across the skilled trades, education and construction industries.

The award is named for Doug Hooker, Chairman of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, and honors organizations demonstrating sustained workforce impact and long-term community benefit.