In 1999, Vehicles for Change (VFC) opened outside of Baltimore with a vision to empower families with financial challenges to achieve economic and personal independence through car ownership and technical training. Part of their program includes the Full Circle Auto Repair & Training Center at 3419 Greenmount Avenue, which is a prison reentry internship program that trains automotive technicians. The garage operates under the care and supervision of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified master mechanics and Maryland state licensed inspectors and provides basic auto repair, brakes, tune-ups, tires, and oil changes.

VFC technicians are in high demand due to the skills and certifications they obtain through the program as well as their work ethic, passion, and gratitude. Program graduates are quickly offered positions from the region’s largest car dealerships and automotive facilities. While the state and national rates for recidivism (those reentering the criminal justice system) range between 45-70%, the rate is just 3% for VFC and their 20-year program history, signifying great success in a program that supports and trains individuals for success.

Southway proudly supports a variety of workforce development programs throughout the region, including VFC. Our team of volunteers was eager to learn more about ways to help and didn’t hesitate at the challenge of rolling up our sleeves, donning work gloves and dust masks, and breaking out in a full sweat to help clear out a parts loft at the Greenmount location full of outdated parts from the 1970s that were donated along with the garage several years ago. Old radiators and heater cores were unboxed and palletized to recycle the steel and cardboard. Smaller parts that were no longer in need were tossed into a dumpster, while other usable parts were saved. Southway volunteers ranged from the President of the company through summer interns, with all departments and positions represented in between, illustrating our genuine commitment and passion to give back and help others reach their maximum potential. VFC staff worked alongside, including their president and founder.

To learn more about Vehicles for Change and its programs: https://www.vehiclesforchange.org/vehicles-for-change-vision-values/

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Our internship program is integral to our mission/purpose of “building and transforming people” and “serving others to help them achieve their maximum potential.” The internship is also a critical component of our vision for being an industry leader in diversity, having a best-in-class training program, and having humble, hungry, and smart colleagues who power our success through collaborative and innovative thinking and problem-solving.

We at Southway proudly welcome all our interns and cannot wait to see everything they will learn and accomplish during their time with us!

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Brian’s first project with Southway was the Thomas Pumphrey House in 2000, where he was the Superintendent. When he initially joined the Southway team, Brian was clear to say that he was maybe going to work with us for only 1 ½ -2 years. Ultimately, that turned into 21 years. Brian’s skills at managing to a schedule and solving problems were unparalleled. His attention to detail and relentless pursuit of Southway’s values of Quality, Dependability, and Integrity were what made it easy for him to grow into becoming our first General Superintendent. In that role, he would always say that he was most proud of his “farm team,” the Assistant Superintendents in whom he saw great promise for rapid growth. He loved to mentor young people and was excited by the thought of watching them grow.

Brian loved construction; he thrived in being “in a hot kitchen” in the thick of activity. He was an exceptional leader, in that he commanded the respect of all who stepped on “his” jobsite, he was firm and fair, and he was always seeking ways to improve himself. He was nicknamed “MacGyver” because of his uncanny ability to craft unique solutions to difficult problems with simple parts and pieces.

Many of us have great memories of our time with Brian. He played a very important role in helping us become who we are as a company today. Brian talked about how proud he was of what Southway had grown to become, and he was very thankful for the career and life that our industry was able to provide for him and his family. Brian had a great mind for business and investing, and in Willy’s eyes he was in many ways the personification of the American dream. He was a self-made success. He worked hard, saved diligently, and was forever inquisitive. He loved to learn how things worked and researched things relentlessly until he had a complete understanding of the topic of his interest.

We have lost a mountain of a man.

He is survived by his wife Shari and the apple of his eye, his daughter Marilyn. Please hold Brian’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

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This year, Southway is up from #11 to #7- but even more spectacular is that all of the six companies ahead of us are multi-billion dollar companies! Congratulations to The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company for maintaining their status at the top of the list. Also, when it comes to Baltimore home-based contracting businesses, Whiting-Turner is number #1, and Southway is number #2!

We are proud to be a recognized leader in transforming Baltimore communities with our genuine engagement with community leaders and residents, emphasizing underserved areas. We build people, communities, and buildings on a foundation of Quality, Dependability, and Integrity.

The post Southway #7 on the BBJ ‘The List’ for Construction and General Contractors appeared first on Southway Builders.

The article is about us recently celebrating our 30th anniversary. Reading the article, you can find out how we started with a hunch on filling a particular need, how we made it to 30, what lies beyond, and our continuous commitment to people and communities. You can read it for yourself on the digital version of the Building Baltimore magazine, which you can access using the link below.

Our article starts on page 23! 

https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=14697&i=742435&p=1&ver=html5

The post Southway is the Building Baltimore Magazine Cover Story appeared first on Southway Builders.

Representatives from Green Street Housing and TM Associates were at the groundbreaking with local dignitaries, including the Maryland Secretary of Housing Kenneth Holt and Maryland Comptroller and gubernatorial candidate Peter Franchot.

See pictures from the groundbreaking taken by The Baltimore Sun by visiting their gallery here- https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-blenheim-run-affordable-housing-groundbreaking-vg-20220405-nsgnw66ofvh3dkf6hkiimodyim-photogallery.html

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In the United States, women make up 47% of the entire workforce. However, in the construction workforce, women only make up 10.9% as of 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This 10.9%, or over 1.1 million women, who work in construction are most likely to work in office or administrative positions. In the construction field, 45% of women work in sales and office, 31% in management, 21% in maintenance and construction, 1.6% in service occupations, and 1.4% in transportation.

Since our early days, Southway has always understood the benefits of a diverse employee base. Our second new hire 29 years ago was a woman and is still an integral part of our team today! Fact is, most gender-diverse companies are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability than companies with less diversity.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Randstad, jbknowledge

The post Women in Construction Week appeared first on Southway Builders.

The award for Quality went to Niyi A., the award for Dependability went to Matt N., and the award for Integrity went to Mariyah J.. We gave the President’s Award to John D., and the Unsung Hero Award was given to Sean S..

Congratulations also goes to the team at Baltimore Unity Hall for winning the safety award for last quarter! Great work, everyone!

You make all of us at Southway so proud.

The post Southway’s 2021 QDI winners appeared first on Southway Builders.

He writes about how the project once housed Odell’s nightclub is getting a new purpose- becoming the home of two non-profits, Arts for Learning Maryland and Code in the Schools. He discusses its outside paint color choices, its history, and quotes from the new tenants. 

Check it out here- https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-kelly-odells-20211113-uoahr4ztszdcviccn4kbi3n5oe-story.html

The post 21 E. North Avenue in the Baltimore Sun appeared first on Southway Builders.

To read the article, follow this link- https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/southway-rebuilding-historic-lexington-market-in-downtown-baltimore/54174

And see the Lexington Market page on our website here- https://southwaybuilders.com/portfolio/lexington-market/

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