CIEF Chapter of Northern California (NorCal)
While workforce programming started in 1986 in the Northern California region, the CIEF Chapter of Northern California was officially chartered in February of 2024. The Chapter exists to empower students to pursue careers in the built environment.
Contact us at: 5370 Elvas Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95819 | 916.465.8350 | [email protected]
Contact us at: 5370 Elvas Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95819 | 916.465.8350 | [email protected]
Upcoming Events
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Sacramento Trades Day
October 2, 2025 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Cal Expo 1600 Exposition Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95815 Click Here for more information. |
CREATE® Competition
December 9, 2025 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m CSU, Sacramento 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819 Click Here for more information. |
2026 NorCal Design Build Competition®
Wednesday, May 6 - Thursday, May 7, 2026 Cosumnes River College 8401 Center Parkway Sacramento, California 95823 Click Here for more information. |
CIEF NorCal Board of Directors
Officers
President
Kelley Cowan S+B James Construction |
Vice President
Bryan Bozzuto Bozzuto Insurance Services |
Secretary
Kyle Glankler Rudolph & Sletten |
Member at Large
Denton Perreault DesCor |
Directors
CREATE Competition Chair
Chris Garcia Studio W Architects |
Events Chair
Randy Gregg Enterprise |
Marketing & Communications Chair
Allen Henry Eaton |
Maria Balbierz
Swinerton Builders |
Roger Godfrey
California Bank of Commerce |
Brooke Higman
The Boldt Company |
Ellen Kelton
Landmark Construction |
Jordan Kennedy
Hensel Phelps |
Shawn Krogh
Krogh & Decker |
Robert Maxey
Teichert |
Michelle Nolen
University of California, San Francisco |
Marsha Perry Taras
Roebbelen Contracting |
Steven Tankersley
Tankersley Construction |
Scott Tibbetts
Kaiser Permanente |
Jason Wehausen
Ferguson Waterworks |
Want to get involved and support the future workforce in Northern California?
Design Build Competition®
ARCHITECTURAL MENTORS
Support the students while they design their plans, between January and February. You are introduced to a school to help either
in-person or virtually for a maximum of two hours to help them with their preliminary plans. The level of experience that the students and teachers have will vary.
in-person or virtually for a maximum of two hours to help them with their preliminary plans. The level of experience that the students and teachers have will vary.
PRELIMINARY PLAN REVIEWERS
You receive two or three sets of plans to review and provide feedback to the schools. This can take a couple hours in the month of February and is a learning opportunity for the students.
JUDGES
Join us at the competition on the first or second day to walk the job sites and score each team’s structure that they have built over the course of the two days. The times will vary depending on the judging role and can take a few hours to complete.
IN-KIND MATERIALS
Ask about the materials needed for the competition and provide in-kind donations or materials at cost. All donors will be recognized at the competition.
TEAM SPONSOR
Engage with a high school team by sponsoring their team. This includes signage on team shed, logo on t-shirts, team photo with logo, opportunity to visit and interact with student team prior to the competition, and recognition in SRB-Xpress and SRB-Xtra.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Join us in planning the Design Build Competition®. The time commitment is fairly minimal with one-hour virtual meetings, four times leading up to the competition.
ATTEND THE INDUSTRY LUNCH
Come have lunch with other industry professionals on the second day of the competition from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Then walk the team’s job sites, interact with the students, and see the structures the students are building.
Then walk the team’s job sites, interact with the students, and see the structures the students are building.
Trades Day
BE AN EXHIBITOR
Introduce and inspire local youth to a variety of career opportunities in the industry, including general construction, subcontracting, suppliers, heavy equipment, engineering, and related trades. Be a part of an exciting opportunity to pass along the things that excite you about your work!
DONATE/SPONSOR
This event is made possible through the generosity of sponsors who underwrite the expenses associated with renting the event facility.
VOLUNTEER
We are always looking for volunteers to lend a hand the day of the event!
CIEF Summer Camp
GIVE A SITE TOUR
Introduce students to careers in construction, redevelopment, engineering, architecture, or the skilled trades. Give students an insight into what a day-to-day life in your world looks like.
DO A HANDS-ON ACTIVITY FOR STUDENTS
Host a welding workshop, or how to put together a bird house!
DONATE/SPONSOR
Teach students to build something with their own hands or teach them how to use a tool or piece of equipment. Be a part of making this experience a reality for deserving students.
Create Competition
MENTORSHIP
Become a lead mentor or a support mentor for high school students as they work through an RFP (Request For Proposal) during the duration of the 10-week program. You can be a lead mentor (commit to 10 meetings) or a support mentor (commit to 2 meetings).
DONATE/SPONSOR
Join us in making the CREATE Competition & Award Banquet possible and giving high school students scholarship opportunities.
Scholarships
CIEF SCHOLARSHIPS IN ARCHITECTURE
Founded in 1995, the CIEF Scholarships in Architecture is open to minority students pursuing a career in Architecture and is intended to help increase the representation of minorities in the Architecture profession. Two types of scholarships are offered including a five-year scholarship leading to a Bachelor or Master of Architecture and a Community College Scholarship for students who plan to transfer to a Bachelor or Master of Architecture Program.
BACHELOR OR MASTER'S IN ARCHITECTURE
This scholarship is offered to minority students with a permanent California address and accepted by a college with a Bachelor of Architecture or Master of Architecture program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB – www.naab.org). Each of the new or renewing scholarships has an annual $4,000 award per recipient to help defray tuition and expenses. Scholarship recipients who are progressing successfully toward their degree will continue to receive the $4,000 award annually, up to $20,000. Students accepted to an accredited architectural program in their first year or community college transfer students are eligible to apply.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is offered to minority students with a permanent California address who will be attending a community college full-time. Preference will be given to students attending a community college with an articulated architectural program. Each of these new or renewing scholarships have an annual $2,000 award per recipient for up to three years while attending community college to help defray tuition and expenses (distributed $1,000 per semester upon showing proof of enrollment).
BACHELOR OR MASTER'S IN ARCHITECTURE
This scholarship is offered to minority students with a permanent California address and accepted by a college with a Bachelor of Architecture or Master of Architecture program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB – www.naab.org). Each of the new or renewing scholarships has an annual $4,000 award per recipient to help defray tuition and expenses. Scholarship recipients who are progressing successfully toward their degree will continue to receive the $4,000 award annually, up to $20,000. Students accepted to an accredited architectural program in their first year or community college transfer students are eligible to apply.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is offered to minority students with a permanent California address who will be attending a community college full-time. Preference will be given to students attending a community college with an articulated architectural program. Each of these new or renewing scholarships have an annual $2,000 award per recipient for up to three years while attending community college to help defray tuition and expenses (distributed $1,000 per semester upon showing proof of enrollment).
DESIGN BUILD COMPETITION®
This scholarship is offered to graduating high school seniors who are actively involved in the Design Build Competition® during the current calendar year at the time of submission. Eligible candidates for the Design Build Scholarship shall demonstrate the intent to pursue a career in the built environment. One applicant for the Northern California Design Build Scholarship will be selected to receive the J. Wallace Building Trades Scholarship.
CIEF SUMMER CAMP
Current sophomores and juniors in the school year are eligible to apply for a $1,250 scholarship towards attending the 2025 CIEF Summer Camp. The CIEF Summer Camp is a five-day, four-night program that introduces students to careers in construction, re-development, engineering, architecture and the trades. Students will design and build a project for a local nonprofit, complete a needs assessment, meet industry executives, tour active job sites, explore the city, and stay at a university campus. Students are limited to receiving one scholarship in their lifetime for this category.
SRBX MEMBER SCHOLARSHIPS
This scholarship is open to high school seniors, two or four-year college students at any level, or students attending trade school who are the children or grandchildren of an SRBX member company employee. Scholarships are awarded to students pursuing continuing education in any subject. This program was initiated in 2005. Students are limited to receiving one scholarship in their lifetime for this category.
LAMBERT FAMILY TRUST SCHOLARSHIP
The Lambert Family Trust Scholarship was established by Jim Lambert and his family. The purpose of the scholarship is to support students who have a desire to further their education in the construction trades either through entering a formal approved apprenticeship program or through continuing education at any approved construction trade program within the Los Rios College District. Awards will be made in the amount of $500 per student on May 2nd during the Industry Lunch at Cosumnes River College. Construction Management students are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
CREATE MENTORING PROGRAM
This scholarship is offered to graduating high school seniors who are actively involved with the Create Mentoring Program at the time of submission. Eligible candidates for the CREATE Scholarship shall demonstrate the intent to pursue a career in the built environment.
CHICO STATE & SACRAMENTO STATE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS
This scholarship is offered to upper division students in the Construction Management Program at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) and Chico. Top CSUS candidates will be eligible to receive the Patrick McNamara Scholarship in Construction Management. Students are limited to receiving one scholarship in their lifetime for this category.
Questions??
For questions on the CIEF-NorCal Chapter, please contact Brittany Albaugh at [email protected].