Christian Orellana

June 8, 2020 – Building Skills New York, a non-profit organization working to provide underserved New Yorkers with good paying jobs, announced today June Worker of the Month, Christian Orellana.  

Orellana was first connected with Building Skills in February of this year through a job fair event in the Bronx. At the time, he was actively seeking work and had applied for many jobs, but hadn’t been able to secure a position. He began working as a painter for OV Painting on the Kaufman Astoria Studios expansion in his home borough of Queens.

Over the next month, Orellana worked hard to earn the respect of his boss. Through the tips that Building Skills gave him, Orellana recognized the importance of reliability and punctuality in proving himself to his employer. After work on the Kaufman project finished, he began working on the 25 Park Row project in Lower Manhattan. Unfortunately, by mid-March the COVID-19 pandemic forced the site into shutdown.

A father of two, Orellana was worried about what the pause in work meant for his ability to provide for his family. However, his dedicated work had paid off, and his employer continued to provide him with a paycheck throughout the shutdown. As worksites began to reopen, Orellana’s employer not only gave him his job back, but they promoted him to the foreman level. Now, he’s working in his new position on The West, a condo development that spans 11th Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets.

“Not only did Building Skills connect me with my current employer, but they also gave me the tools I needed to succeed in the industry,” said Orellana. “By having a hardworking mindset and applying what I learned through Building Skills to my current job, I’ve been able to start building a true career in construction.”

Building Skills’ total number of 2020 job placements is 163, up 25 percent from 2019. The organization helps New Yorkers find work through free job training and job placement services. Additionally, Building Skills continues to provide on-the-job support to each worker as they seek to broaden their skillset and advance their construction career.

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Worker of The Month is a monthly series that highlights and honors workers placed in jobs throughout New York City.

About Building Skills New York
Building Skills New York provides an efficient and convenient process for finding a construction job for many City residents who have long been unable to gain access to careers in the construction industry. The organization achieves its goals through a well-designed and targeted program that places underemployed and underserved New Yorkers in construction industry jobs. BSNY transforms lives and helps residents revitalize communities by growing a skilled construction workforce that represents the diversity of New York City. BSNY partners with the city’s leading workforce agencies to recruit and screen eligible NYC residents and provide them with the necessary skills and safety training.