Getting Creative – CMRCC’s 2025 Hiring Combine
Work is booming in Central Indiana, so the Central Midwest Carpenters had to get creative with bringing in new members and strengthening ties within the surrounding community. Last year, the Greenwood campus held their first ‘Hiring Combine’, where people hungry for work could come show their skills and dedication to contractors looking to hire. The event was successful, but it could be better going forward. (You can read about last year’s combine in the last CMRCC magazine.)
The CMRCC started early, planning the combine in the later months of 2024 – plotting how to get more participants, contractors, and community members present. Additionally, they wanted to hone in the course so that people could truly show the effort and skillset they bring to the job site. So Central Midwest Carpenters Representatives got to work. They spread the word, worked on logistics, and made sure this year would be a step up from the inaugural event.
Nearly 200 participants went through the course. “This experience was great[…] Just getting in front of union [representatives] and local companies is a great opportunity,” one person said about the event. The course started out by moving various measurements of wood, tile, and scaffolding. It then moved onto drilling, measuring drywall, and leveling. It was designed to show contractors that the individual was driven and willing to learn.
From last year to this year, the CMRCC saw a 67% increase in registrations, a 108% increase in actual participants, and an increase of 166% in jobs offered on the spot at this event. Getting the community involved and interested is working – and this event is only going to grow in the future.
Work isn’t going to slow down any time soon, thanks to the hard work the council and its members are performing day in and out. Events like this are crucial to the long-term success of the organization. Creating compelling ways for the public to not only show their commitment to putting in the hard work it takes to be a UNION carpenter – but to create a better life for themselves and their families through their career is paramount to the CMRCC.
“We’re pleased with how this year went, but now we’re looking forward to next year, and the year after that. We want the area to get just as excited about this opportunity as we are,” Senior Representative Marcos Martinez said about the Hiring Combine. Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 hiring combine a success – here’s to next year. If you have any questions, or want to get involved, please reach out to a local union representative!
