by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Thompson Taylor never imagined he’d be in his position as training director for the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
Taylor is the new training director for the Apprenticeship program, taking over for the retired Laura Laseman. The program has 300 apprentices and seeks post high school and college students to enroll.
Taylor was born and raised in Jacksonville, graduated from Episcopal High attended Jacksonville University for two years.
After JU, he attended Florida State University and graduated in 1990. He worked construction during the summers while attending JU, mainly because of the friends he had in the business and the income potential.
You could even say the building and construction industry runs a little in his blood. His late grandfather, Gene Orr, had a development company with the late Finley Knight in the 1940s and early ‘50s and Taylor still lives in an Ortega house that was developed by his grandfather. Unlike his grandfather, though, Taylor decided that becoming a builder wasn’t in his future.
Instead, another aspect of the business appealed to him. In 1994, he headed to NEFBA.
Shortly after Thompson was hired, Arnold Tritt, NEFBA’s executive director at the time, offered him some words of encouragement.
“He told me, ‘If you come to work here, you can use it as a stepping stone or a career,’” said Taylor, who’s known as “Tompy” to friends.
He took on the role of activities coordinator, with responsibilities that ranged from coordinating local councils in Duval and surrounding counties to organizing charity golf tournaments.
“I did a little bit of everything,” said Taylor.
In 1998, after four years at NEFBA, Taylor moved on to become a warranty-coordinator with a custom builder. Four years later, he returned to NEFBA.
“This is what I want to do,” said Taylor, regarding his return to NEFBA.
Taylor returned to his role as activities coordinator, this time with some expanded duties until last year when his new role as training coordinator with the Apprenticeship program began. Last month, Taylor was promoted to training director with the Apprenticeship program and gives much credit to the now-retired Laseman for helping him get where he is today.
Though Taylor has been dealing with the apprenticeship program for a year, he already sees some of the perks.
“The best part for me is seeing an apprentice get into the program and enjoy that learning process,” said Taylor. “It’s just a good feeling to know it’s working.”