Connie Fabré, president and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance, has been named president and CEO of the Louisiana Construction Education Foundation. GBRIA will now function as the managing organization of LCEF.
GBRIA is a nonprofit comprising more than 66 industrial facilities in and around the Baton Rouge and New Orleans metros. The organization’s stated goal is to “develop innovative solutions to common industry issues” with one voice. Its focus areas include craft workforce development; public affairs and community outreach; and safety, health and security.
LCEF, meanwhile, is a nonprofit aimed at securing funding and other resources to provide training for careers in construction. The organization partners with public and private training entities to support Louisiana’s construction industry.
Fabré says the new leadership and management structure will serve to benefit both organizations.
“The alignment of work we do at GBRIA and the purposes of LCEF will provide new opportunities to fund Louisiana educational programs in construction that lead to careers in industry and many other sectors of our economy,” a statement from Fabré reads.
According to LCEF, the burgeoning sustainable energy industry is sure to increase demand for skilled construction workers in the years to come.
“The growth is enormous,” Fabré says. “These new investments will drive construction not only for industry but also for municipal, infrastructure, housing and commercial development to support the growth.”
Fabré stepped into her role as president and CEO of GBRIA in 2019 after serving as the organization’s executive director for over 15 years. Prior to joining GBRIA, she held leadership positions at the Louisiana Chemical Association and Monsanto.