BRICK Program Assists Brevard High School Students Pursue Careers in Construction Industry

By  //  July 18, 2019

'BRICK PROGRAM': Brevard's internship and construction knowledge

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: A new initiative called the BRICK program is helping give Brevard students an opportunity to get a leg up in pursuing careers affiliated with construction. Michelle Masline, president of the Home Builders & Contractors Association of Brevard and Matt Susin, vice-chair of the Brevard County School Board were among those who discussed the program with Space Coast Daily.

Brevard School Board Vice Chair Matt Susin: Students will receive specialized training in addition to work experience

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – A relatively new initiative is helping Brevard County students get a leg up on careers in the construction field. 

The BRICK (Brevard’s internship and construction knowledge) program, the result of a collaboration that includes the Home Builders and Contractors Association of Brevard and Brevard Public Schools, among others, gives local high students experience in a variety of positions with local companies.

“The BRICK program was just an idea of trying to address the idea the issues that contractors, trades are having in the workforce,” said Michelle Masline, president of the Home Builders and Contractors Association of Brevard.

“We don’t have enough workforce to fill the needs of today.”

Masline also discussed the benefits of the program for both employers and students.

“The beauty of this whole program is that the kids do not go on the payroll, they don’t go on worker’s comp., general liability, any of that for the employer so it’s really the employer’s time and they get students that possibly want to have a career in being an electrician, working in air conditioning, maybe doing something clerical within an office or design work,” Masline said.

“There are so many opportunities within the construction industry. There’s too many to list.”

Cynthia Honick, Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, Named FWC Prosecutor of the YearRelated Story:
Cynthia Honick, Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, Named FWC Prosecutor of the Year
Brevard County School Board Vice-Chair Matt Susin said students will receive specialized training in addition to work experience.

Brevard County School Board Vice-Chair Matt Susin also pointed out that students will receive specialized training in addition to work experience.

“Basically, what ends up happening is that our students sign up in Brevard on these internship programs,” Susin said.

“The employers end up signing up on the other end and then what they do is they go through OSHA training, CPR training, they go through a bunch of different things so that they’re ready for the job site and then they get those real-work life skills that they need inside of the community.”

How Does the Florida Prep Garden Grow? Culinary Director Eric Schappert Discusses the School’s New GardenRelated Story:
How Does the Florida Prep Garden Grow? Culinary Director Eric Schappert Discusses the School’s New Garden

The Home Builders Association of Brevard is celebrating its 60th anniversary as it was chartered by the National Association of Home Builders n 1959.

The program started “a few years ago,” Masline noted.

“We have been able to put over 30 students to work last summer,” Masline said.

“We’ve got over 30 students working this summer. They’re working with different construction companies around the county.”

“We can make a lot of kids’ dreams come true,” Masline added. “….We see it growing. We would love to see it grow to other home builders associations throughout the state.”

BREVARD SCHOOL BOARD VICE CHAIR MATT SUSIN: “The employers end up signing up on the other end and then what they do is they go through OSHA training, CPR training, they go through a bunch of different things so that they’re ready for the job site and then they get those real-work life skills that they need inside of the community.”
Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard County’s Best and Most Read MagazineRelated Story:
Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard County’s Best and Most Read Magazine

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS