BMR Step-up: Eric Paukan

The village of St. Mary’s is nestled on the northern bank of the Andreafsky River, five miles from the confluence with the Yukon River. Located 450 air miles northwest of Anchorage, St. Mary’s – like many rural Alaska communities – is accessible only by air or water. Career opportunities for young people are limited to nonexistent. So when a housing project came to the village, Erik Paukan was one of the first in line for a job.

“I’d been doing seasonal construction work ever since I graduated from high school,” Paukan says. “What I didn’t know was what kinds of construction were available and which one I’d want to do.”

Paukan signed on to become a Building Maintenance Repairer (BMR) through a new apprenticeship training program developed by Alaska Works Partnership. With the cooperation of 17 different trade unions, BMR apprentices learn carpentry, electrical, plumbing, heavy equipment operation, and other skills needed to keep buildings and facilities in rural communities in good repair. In the course of Paukan’s training, AWP provided food cards, travel funds, and help with his first month’s rent and deposit to attend training in Fairbanks.

Through his work and training as a BMR, Paukan’s discovered that he has a talent for carpentry. “I fell in love with carpentry,” he says. “It’s hands on work and building from the ground up.”

The BMR apprenticeship has a Step-up component in which apprentices may transfer BMR training to a specific trade. Paukan attended AWP’s interview skills class to apply for a carpenter’s apprenticeship and became a top-ranking applicant to Northern Carpenters 1243. He was accepted and is now looking forward to continuing his training in the construction trade he loves.

“I jumped on this opportunity and it’s definitely paid off” Paukan says. “I’ve made a lot of good connections. I can go to any job site, sign up, and know I’m able to do a good job.”

As for Alaska Works Partnership’s role in helping him get started he says, “I couldn’t be more thankful.”