Author: Kaitlin Carpenter, PDM Constructors and Durapods
The construction industry continues to evolve, requiring a workforce equipped with strong foundational skills and the ability to adapt through ongoing education.
Through my own career path—first with Thackray Crane and now within PDM Constructors’ and Durapods expanding prefabrication division—I’ve seen how essential continuous training is to long-term success. Exposure to heavy equipment operations, field coordination, and accelerated prefabrication workflows reinforced that education is a sector-wide priority, not just an individual one.
That perspective is further reinforced through my role on GBCA’s Education Committee, where I see firsthand how intentional learning strengthens both individual careers and the construction workforce as a whole. Across GBCA’s membership, one truth is clear: strong foundational competencies and ongoing education are critical to building a more capable, future-ready industry.
Building Essential Skills: Blueprint Literacy in Modern Construction
Blueprint literacy is one of the most fundamental and increasingly complex skills in construction.
As my role became more focused, a stronger command of construction drawings became essential, not only to understand project requirements but also to communicate effectively with project managers, engineers, and field teams. With prefabrication and technology-assisted planning continuing to expand across the industry, this skill has become more critical than ever. To take on greater responsibility in estimating and project coordination, I knew strengthening my blueprint literacy was essential.
Discovering GBCA Workbench
Through my work on the GBCA Education Committee, I was introduced to GBCA Workbench—GBCA’s centralized education platform offering Construction Fundamentals courses designed specifically for working construction professionals.
Workbench provides flexible, structured training in essential skill areas such as blueprint reading, estimating, project coordination, and field communication, allowing participants to build foundational knowledge while balancing full-time responsibilities. GBCA also offers tuition reimbursement for eligible courses, helping remove financial barriers and making continued education more accessible across the industry.
Applying Foundational Knowledge on the Job
Enrolling in the Construction Blueprint Reading course through GBCA Workbench allowed me to strengthen a core construction skill in a structured, practical way. The course broke down complex concepts into clear, actionable components that helped me better understand symbols, notation, scales, and drawing organization.
These skills translated directly to my daily work at PDM. Project conversations became more efficient, cross-team collaboration improved, and plan reviews were more efficient. Strengthening this foundational competency also made it easier to take on additional responsibilities and support the fast-paced coordination required in prefabrication.
Take Advantage of January GBCA Workbench
With Construction Fundamentals courses launching in January through GBCA Workbench, now is an ideal time for construction professionals at every experience level to invest in their development. As the industry continues to evolve through new technologies, delivery methods, and workforce expectations, strong foundational training has become a key competitive differentiator for both individuals and employers.
Continued education leads to stronger teams, safer jobsites, more efficient project delivery, and a more resilient construction workforce. When we invest in our people, the entire industry rises.
