What We Do

A study conducted by the Carolinas Association of General Contractors concluded that although students have not decided upon a career direction by the fifth grade, they have begun to eliminate certain career pathways from consideration in their future plans. Among the pathways that students tend to eliminate early in their decision making process were careers in the construction trades.

In November 1998, some Durham construction contractors met with representatives from Durham Public Schools, the Durham Workforce Partnership, and the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce to examine proactive strategies that might help address this issue. The group formally named themselves the Durham Careers in Construction Committee (DCIC).

Durham Careers in Construction has provided students the opportunity to creatively solve a realistic building design problem. Students apply knowledge from all academic subject areas in this problem solving process. Building upon this success, four area projects will be supported in the current academic year, including Southern High School's new Construction and Architectural Design Academy.

Our Founder: James Beasley

Mr. James Beasley was one of the original employees for Bryant-Durham Electric when it began in 1960.  However, it was not long before his technical expertise as an electrical engineer and his quick thinking as a general superintendent made him invaluable to the company.  Today, Mr. Beasley serves as the Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Board.  Directing Bryant-Durham through five decades of growth and maturation is an honorable challenge—a challenge that Mr. Beasley meets head on, guided by his years of experience and his natural business savvy.  His tremendous work ethic and dedication to his customers make him a steady leader that his employees can respect and admire. 

Mr. Beasley is personally licensed as an electrical contractor in seven of the Southeastern states, and he is faithful in maintaining high standards of education in his trade.  As an active member of many boards and organizations, Mr. Beasley has given countless hours of his time to the industry.  This involvement greatly benefits his customers, as he networks with other companies and continually improves Bryant-Durham.  A Southern gentleman who is dedicated to his community, Mr. Beasley founded Durham Careers in Construction, a program that focuses on educating school-age children about the skill and craft of working in the construction industry.