For years, a large vacated building — the former home of Comcast — sat along Van Dyke Avenue, its 92,000 square feet waiting for new life. At the same time, Keith Ledbetter, President and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Southeastern Michigan, knew the organization’s affiliate school, the Southeast Michigan Construction Academy, had outgrown its longtime home in Madison Heights.

Demand for hands-on training had skyrocketed, and the academy’s needs had surpassed its footprint. So when the dormant building hit the market, Keith thought it was too good to be true.

“The real estate agent sent me this listing four times. Three times I hit delete because I didn’t think we could afford it,” he said with a laugh. “It’s almost four times the size of our previous home. This is a perfect location, from the building itself to its central spot on the main thoroughfare.”

To understand his excitement, it helps to know the organization’s unlikely beginnings. ABC’s board created SEMCA more than 30 years ago after recognizing the need for advanced, hands-on training in the skilled trades.

“We have very meager roots,” Keith said. “When I joined SEMCA 10 years ago, our program had 186 students. We’re over 800 today.”

As Keith guides a tour of the new Sterling Heights facility — completed in just three months in order to open by fall 2025 — he beams while showcasing multiuse spaces for trade conferences, expansive classrooms and shop areas filled with steel-frame structures, threading machines and hydraulic benders.

“One thing you’ll notice is order, cleanliness and a high degree of professionalism,” he said. “We’re not operating out of a garage anymore, and that’s by design. We have high standards and want our students to have high expectations for us and for themselves.”

The construction industry’s demographics have shifted sharply since Keith arrived. A decade ago, most new students were in their mid-20s. Today, many enroll straight out of high school — a change he credits to evolving views on the necessity of a four-year degree.

“We’ve been saying for a long time that there are high-paying careers in the skilled trades,” Keith said. “Two-thirds of our students don’t have a job in construction when they walk through our door.”

With five locations across metro Detroit, SEMCA offers four-year programs in electrical and HVACR, a one-year carpentry program, a 16-week welding program, and an Introduction to Construction course for those still deciding their path.

“It’s career exposure while learning basic skills,” Keith said. “Ultimately, it teaches hard work, perseverance and accountability — valuable skills every trade needs.”

All SEMCA classes run at night so students can work during the day, accelerating their career paths. Many instructors still work full time in their trade and teach in the evenings.

“Finding the right instructors was one of our biggest challenges,” Keith said. “Finding someone who wants to come in after they’ve worked all day? That’s a challenge. We’re grateful to have so many amazing people.”

Keith said shifting societal attitudes, along with SEMCA’s supportive and professional environment, are helping change perceptions of skilled labor.

“Our mission is to get young people enthusiastic about construction, give them proper training and help connect them to the industry,” he said. “We’re glad to have people here who help us build America.”

Then, smiling wide, he added: “AI is not going to replace plumbers and electricians.”

For more information on exploring skilled trades careers, visit the Southeast Michigan Construction Academy at 36250 Van Dyke Ave., near 16 Mile Road.

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