Meet Richard Vincent, executive vice president of the Associated General Contractors of Kentucky, a commercial construction association representing more than 600 contractors and industry associates. Recognized locally as an employer champion and avid supporter of the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) framework, Vincent’s efforts have helped numerous Kentuckians secure employment and a home to live in.
As a result of natural disasters in the area, Kentucky was experiencing talent shortages and significant damage to its infrastructure. Jobs, homes, and other important physical structures including factories were lost, leaving local families with no option but to relocate. The Commonwealth was faced with a challenge: they needed to hire enough construction workers to make use of the federal funds they received to rebuild not only the local factories, but also the homes for workers. If they did not, the Commonwealth faced the possibility of losing future funding from the government.
Vincent helped launch Kentucky’s Central-Bluegrass Construction TPM® collaborative in 2019 to address the critical workforce needs facing the construction industry, with an initial focus on electricians. Recognizing the enrollment numbers were low at local schools offering electrical training, Vincent believed it would be beneficial to inform the local educators of the career opportunities, who would in turn encourage their students to follow those career paths.
Following Vincent’s input, the collaborative launched the “Educator’s Guide to Industry” initiative. Educators were provided with an in-depth look at various jobs and related skills, and students were brought on-site for company visits. As a result of the Educator’s Guide to Industry initiative, the 2023–24 school year saw a 25% increase in related student events and a 15% increase in total student engagement from the year prior. Vincent himself has been known to organize his own event including a construction career day, welcoming more than 3,000 Kentucky vocational and technical students to meet industry professionals.
The impact of Vincent’s work can be felt throughout the Commonwealth. During the 2023–24 school year, the “Educator’s Guide” initiative engaged 277 employers, 242 educators, and 17 industries. Vincent also helped launch “Construction at the Capitol”, inviting 150 high school students to the state capitol to interact with construction employers and their equipment. Continuing Vincent’s work, the construction partners developed apprenticeship programs that are now hiring 12–15 high school graduates per year from local high schools and tech centers.
Vincent’s efforts have helped rebuild Kentucky’s infrastructure and established effective talent pipelines. Recently, Vincent was inducted in the TPM Hall of Fame at the 2024 TPM National Learning Network Fall Summit to honor his contributions. When asked what makes the TPM framework effective, Vincent shared, “The TPM framework stands out because it combines strategic foresight with practical action. By prioritizing collaboration between employers, educators, workforce leaders, and policymakers it creates a seamless system for identifying talent needs, addressing them, and then measuring success. Its focus on data-driven decision-making ensures that workforce development aligns with industry demands."
Learn more about Talent Pipeline Management.
