Veteran tradesman transforms career through apprenticeships

For Rolando Barcenas, returning to school at South Texas College has been the culmination of more than three decades of experience in the construction industry even though he had little formal training, and spoke little to no English when he started.

Often held back due to a significant language barrier, which often prevented him from gaining better employment opportunities in the field, Barcenas, 58, said entering and recently completing STC’s Construction Superintendent Apprenticeship Program, was key to helping him face and eventually overcome his challenges.

“I started from the very bottom, and from the beginning, it was always hard to adapt to English,” said Barcenas, who after receiving training as a quality control technician in Mexico, began with Excel Applicators Inc., a metal construction company in Pharr in 1999. “I had to learn through trial and error, but after being in this field for a long time, I realized that there were better opportunities and faster growth through STC. It was such a beautiful experience.”

The apprenticeship is a unique partnership between STC’s Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships (CATA) and the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of Associated General Contractors of America (RGV-AGC), and tailored to those already working in industry.

Starting with the apprenticeship earlier this year, Barcenas recalls initially speaking to the owner of Excel Applicators, who made him aware of the opportunity for additional training through STC. He knew he would have to adjust to the language barrier to succeed.

Before every class, Barcenas said he would utilize a tablet and a laptop, which would translate the reading material so he could easily understand the lessons being taught by instructors.

It was also through STC instructors’ support and availability that enabled him to complete the apprenticeship certificate in six months, he said.

“We think we know everything but no, we always need to keep learning. Now, when people find out I went to South Texas College, they see me more as a professional and that I put in the work and studied,” Barcenas said. “Many ask me why I came back even though I didn’t have to since I already had so much experience, but I tell them I learned so much. Having the practice but not the foundation, I think it’s just as bad as having an education and never practicing it. They go hand in hand.”

STC has established the apprenticeship course as a “hybrid-style” program, which means that it combines hands-on training and online classwork, with a certificate awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, that can be completed in four to six months with 2,000 hours of on-the-job training that is required before students earn their journeyman certificate.

A journeyman certification denotes a high skillset that can result in better pay and promotions.

The program covers essential aspects including blueprint reading, construction management and leadership, while providing students with the flexibility of an on-the-job schedule.

The apprenticeship seeks to address a crucial industry need by targeting professionals in construction-related careers, particularly those involved in public sector projects such as federal initiatives, schools and industrial endeavors. The program is designed for those already employed in the industry and who can meet the requirements for the apprenticeship, which includes an on-the-job schedule as well as completion of the program curriculum.

These days, Barcenas said he is employed as an office manager with Excel Applicators and oversees everything from billing to purchasing and hiring along with the various processes within the company.

“People shouldn’t have obstacles if they want to study, and I would tell anybody who would care to listen, that education is going to help. It may seem hard, but it’s going to help you to move forward,” Barcenas said. “People here in my office have noticed that now I do things better. We just started a project, and I prepared a plan on how long it is going to take, and how many people I need. They asked who it did, because they had never seen one done so well. They were surprised to know it was me, and it was because I had gone to school. It was a great feeling, for me and for the company, which is benefitting from training.”