It takes a lot to surprise Rosella Scott, but Community Services Agency and Building Futures Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program staff managed to pull it off last Friday morning when they presented Scott with a cake “and a reasonably in-tune rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’” as he prepared tocelebrate his 80th on July 2. Scott is the program site coordinator and instructor for the Building Futures program, and works with the program’s students intensively during the 6-week classes, which are hosted by Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 891, where Scott is a longtime instructor with the local's apprenticeship program. Scott has been a member of the local for 53 years, and has seen a lot of changes over the years, not only in the construction industry overall, but in the union movement. “I try to convey some of what I’ve learned along the way to the Building Futures students,” he said. “No matter what else changes the basics stay the same and they gotta learn those to succeed.”
photo (l-r): BF Case Manager Jennifer Gajdosik, Birthday Man Mr. Scott, BF Job Developer Tia Watkins, Local 891 Apprentice Director Rodney Carson, BF Program Coordinator Sylvia Casaro-Dietert, and CSA Assistant ED Matt Losak; photo by Kathleen McKirchy
photo (l-r): BF Case Manager Jennifer Gajdosik, Birthday Man Mr. Scott, BF Job Developer Tia Watkins, Local 891 Apprentice Director Rodney Carson, BF Program Coordinator Sylvia Casaro-Dietert, and CSA Assistant ED Matt Losak; photo by Kathleen McKirchy