From Tradesman to Industry Leader: Hands-On Experience Addresses Construction's Workforce Crisis

Kelvin Enfinger Jr.'s career progression from tradesman to Vice President of Greenhut Construction and 2025 Chair of ABC Florida illustrates how hands-on field experience creates effective construction leadership capable of addressing the industry's most pressing workforce challenges. As the leader of Florida's largest commercial construction association, Enfinger brings practical knowledge from working in skilled trades to his current role overseeing multi-million dollar projects across healthcare, aviation, education, industrial and office sectors.

Enfinger's diagnosis of the workforce crisis is direct: society has pushed too many young people toward higher education when many would thrive in skilled trades. "We pushed a lot of kids into higher ed that probably didn't need to be pushed into higher ed," Enfinger notes, emphasizing that skilled trades offer good jobs without student debt. This perspective gains urgency as artificial intelligence automates some white-collar jobs while trades remain irreplaceable. "What we won't see in my lifetime, probably in anyone's lifetime, is artificial intelligence being able to take the place of a plumber, electrician, or HVAC tech, carpenters, anybody that works with their hands," he explains.

As a local contractor in Northwest Florida, Greenhut Construction leverages community knowledge and partnerships that benefit regional economies. "When clients contract with us, they're contracting with a local general contractor who's using local subcontractors who have local employees," Enfinger says. "We're circulating those tax dollars back in the community." This local expertise proves valuable on complex projects throughout the Pensacola market, where Greenhut has completed significant facilities including the original Pensacola Airport build, most of Sacred Heart Hospital's expansions, and recent 2025 completions like the Leonardo MRO hangar facility, Myrtle Grove Elementary School, and the American Magic Facility.

Enfinger's advocacy extends to policy through participation in ABC's Capitol Days, where he engages Florida lawmakers on industry issues. His primary concern is immigration reform, which he believes must happen at the federal level. He supports merit-based visa programs for construction workers, stating, "For the ones that are here that are not bad actors and don't have criminal records, I think we should be able to expedite their visas through a merit-based visa program." This position aligns with ABC National's focus on practical workforce solutions.

For aspiring construction leaders, Enfinger advises continuous learning, finding strong mentors, and listening more than speaking. His approach combines field experience with community commitment and workforce advocacy, offering a sustainable leadership model as Northwest Florida experiences growth in aerospace, manufacturing, and distribution sectors. "Northwest Florida is not just our home; it is our legacy," Enfinger reflects, emphasizing construction's role in building community infrastructure that serves future generations.