In Florida, teens who show potential to become future leaders have a strong helping hand through the Student ACES program, which provides character education programs, mentoring, community service and life skills for high school student athletes.

Helping these future leaders along the way are volunteers from the Florida carpenters union. Last fall, Florida carpenters renovated computer, game, conference, study and lounge areas.

Just recently, the carpenters started another round of renovation to the Palm Beach ACES center to better accommodate the program’s growth. Their work will add 5,000 square feet and a STEM learning lab to the facility. This is the second of the three-phase renovation plan.

Buck Martinez, a former executive from Florida Power & Light, oversees ACES. He and his daughter, Krissy Webb, discovered a need to build a pathway for young men and women to achieve the highest standards of leadership.

Based on a long-standing partnership between Florida Power & Light and the Florida Carpenters, Mr. Martinez reached out to James Banks, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Florida Carpenters for help in getting the Palm Beach ACES center renovated and upgraded for the program’s needs.

“We are always happy to give back to the community, but this project is special to the Florida Carpenters because the training these young men and women is so similar to the leadership training our own carpenters receive as they climb their career ladder in construction,” said EST Banks.

“We applaud this program and are honored to be a part of it.”

Many thanks to union carpenters

Giovanni Maranda

Jose Moncada

Franklin Medina

Rodrick Clarke

Robert Washington and

Reed Whiteleather

as well as Council Representatives Miguel Saldivar and and Alex Jiron,

who volunteered their time to help out.

Thanks also to Skanska for managing the project, Merrick for supplying the materials, and Bank of America for donating the structure. 

Learn more about the ACES program: http://studentacesforleadership.com/.