Post-secondary education wasn’t emphasized for Tyler Vierra during what he describes as a rough upbringing. This posed some challenges for him as he entered adulthood and sought a way to make a living for his own growing family. He’d worked for smaller, non-union contractors in construction but didn’t see much of a future in it. Motivated to create a better life for his children, Tyler joined the Apprenticeship, knowing the training was top-notch, and the compensation packages and benefits of a Union career were second to none. Early in his training, he was drawn to pile driving. He found that he loved the messy and heavy labor involved in the craft, and eventually landed a job at St. Johns Bridge in North Portland.
Tyler has a different perspective on education now, which is something he is achieving as a second-term Apprentice. He is now aware of the valuable opportunity to build and improve skills in a craft while making a good living.