This Fall, PBA announced that Chris Warren was named the new Director of the Endorsed Trade Program following Dave DiPasquale’s retirement.
Since 2009, Chris has been an active member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) in Centre County, participating in the Builders Association of Central PA (BACP). He also served on the PBA Workforce Training and Education Committee, including as both a member and Chairman.
His introduction to the Endorsed Trade Program (ETP) left a strong impression, as it provides an industry-recognized certification from the Department of Education and sets a standard of excellence for construction programs by integrating academics, workforce readiness, and connections to local, state, and national associations.
In 2009, Chris began serving as an ETP auditor, drawing on his experience as a self-employed builder and contractor since 1986, as well as his background in teaching Building Construction Technology at the State College Area School District’s Career and Technology Center (CTC) and Penn College. This role as program evaluator allowed Chris to meet many dedicated instructors and observe first-hand the impactful programs offered in various schools. Today, he works as an Education Program Specialist at Penn State University, where he continue collaborating with CTC directors and instructors across Pennsylvania.
In the past two decades, working alongside now retired ETP Director, Dave DiPasquale, reinforced that the program’s success is rooted in the strong relationships among schools, instructors, and industry – especially through local association members. Local industry members serve as the program’s backbone, providing mentorship, career opportunities, and serving on program advisory committees. They enrich the classroom experience as guest speakers, offer field trips to job sites, and engage with schools in ways that work best for them, which leads to the most successful ETP programs.
Moving forward, Chris Warren’s focus will be on expanding these collaborative efforts, creating more platforms to connect schools and industry partners and deepen these essential relationships.
Chris can be reached at endorsedtradeprogram@gmail.com.