Keith Augustine always knew he wanted to get into construction. His father was a bricklayer, and Augustine was eager to follow in his footsteps. But deep down, he had doubts that he could make his dream a reality. “I never knew that it was reachable for me. I thought I was going to need more schooling,” he says. 

Augustine spent ten years in Louisiana, working in the oil industry. But after the BP oil spill of 2010, his company moved overseas, and he had to start over. That’s when a friend, who was already a laborer for Local 6, introduced him to the CEC. He says he is grateful for the personal support he’s received, which has been life-changing for him and his family. “I’ve been able to change the narrative with the kind of work I can do. I didn’t have to resort to anything illegal,” he says.

He adds that the valuable tips he’s received have helped him stay employed as a laborer in an industry that can be uncertain, including the importance of being punctual. “If I had an interview, I would get to the site 30 minutes or an hour early,” he says. “Employers realized they could depend on me, and when I wasn’t working, they were looking for me.” 

For Augustine, it’s all been worth it. His work in construction has enabled him to purchase vehicles and start a moving and cleaning service. “Life is good. I feel so blessed to be able to work throughout the pandemic. I was blessed to meet Ms. LaFrancis and Ms. Rachel. They’re the ones who made it possible,” he says. And the father of six and grandfather of two has no plans of slowing down any time soon. He hopes to have a construction company of his own someday. “I want to be able to open doors and provide jobs for my family and friends,” he says. 

When he’s not working, Augustine says he enjoys traveling. “I love California. I like the vibe and the people. You see so many different nationalities and lots of different people. I like that,” he says. 

Augustine’s advice for people looking to get into the trades is to work hard and stay persistent. “You have to want this. I’ve had to get up lots of early mornings in blizzards to get to a training class. I’ve had to do a lot of things I didn’t want to do to be where I am now,” he says.