The Marr Companies has begun a new mentoring partnership with YouthBuild Boston (YBB), an organization that provides training and education to underserved youth with the credentials needed to successfully enter the construction industry.

YBB’s Construction Manager Kenneth Richardson and Pre-Apprentice Program Manager Nathan Polk worked with Marr’s Vice President of Safety & Training Eric Stalmon after being recommended by safety professionals in the area to assist in designing the most relevant program for YBB students. Their collaboration resulted in a Fall Protection Authorized Person program. Students receive a professionally guided, hands-on experience with the equipment, from inspection to safe use, as well as a classroom experience that includes a detailed workbook, inspection guidelines and video presentations. The program is conducted in Canton, at the Marr Center for Safety & Training, and is designed to provide students with a basic understanding and good working knowledge of personal fall arrest and rescue equipment. Students take away the necessary skills to work at heights safely. Instructor Stalmon conducts the Fall Protection Authorized Person Class with numerous inspection evolutions and suspension evolutions with assistance from Ted Bertram of 3M/B&B Construction Group.  The class is made to build on safety awareness and education that is taught throughout their pre apprenticeship training. 

In a recent correspondence with Marr management, YBB Executive Director Brian McPherson wrote of his appreciation for YBB’s partnership with Marr and the support it has received in training young people from the local community:

“Over the past several months Marr has stepped up to be a key supporter of Youth Build Boston (YBB) in more ways than one. Marr has generously donated their time and resources to teach our students the fundamentals of Fall Protection. This class is a safety requirement in the Boston building industry as all workers are exposed to many different types of falls. This class gives our students the much-needed awareness and skills they need to keep themselves and their coworkers safe from potential exposure to serious fall hazards.”

Marr looks forward to a long-standing partnership with YBB and to continue providing enriching training and educational resources to current and future members of the construction industry workforce.

YouthBuild Boston (YBB) was founded in 1990 with the goal of providing underserved young people with the support and credentials needed to successfully enter the construction and design industry. YBB empowers and assists young people of color with essential social, vocational, academic, and life skills necessary to navigate a positive pathway to self-sufficiency, neighborhood responsibility and careers in the building industry.