PETERSON REGISTRE Journeyman Construction and General Building Laborers Local 79 Construction Skills Class of 2001 School of Cooperative Technical Education Resides in Brooklyn Peterson Registre, a member of Construction and General Building Laborers Local 79, has been working in the unionized construction industry since he graduated from Construction Skills in 2001 at the age of 21. Originally from Haiti, Peterson graduated from high school in 2000 and began looking for career opportunities in the construction industry. He wasn’t sure how to go about pursuing this career until a friend told him about The School of Cooperative Technical Education (Co-op Tech).  After high school, Peterson enrolled at Co-op Tech where he took courses in building and construction work. While attending Co-op Tech, Peterson learned about Construction Skills and immediately applied to the pre-apprenticeship program. Peterson successfully completed Construction Skills’ pre-apprenticeship program and soon thereafter he became an apprentice with Local 79, where he has been ever since. Now a journeyman, Peterson has worked on projects throughout New York City including 7 World Trade Center, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs. Peterson credits Construction Skills with his improved communication skills and knowledge of how to deal with different challenges that arise on a daily basis in his professional and personal life. Peterson says, “Construction Skills has made me the man I am today. Construction Skills is in my heart and without the program I don’t know where I would be.” Peterson is a hard worker and never takes a day off.  He gets up every morning at 3:30 a.m. so that he can be at work by 5:00 a.m. to provide for his family. He enjoys getting up in the morning and working out the challenges that the day brings. Safety is always foremost on his mind and he always makes sure he and his co-workers are safe. Peterson is most proud of the fact that he is a union member, and he knows that the union has his best interests at heart. He understands that without the union he wouldn’t be where he is today, and without him and his fellow workers there would be no union. When asked about his advice to aspiring apprentices, Peterson says, “If you are a man of integrity and do your best everyday, you will be rewarded in the long-run. Be punctual, don’t live above your means, and don’t take business personally. It’s easy enough and it will get you far in life.” Peterson resides with his 10 year-old son, Peterson Jr., in the home he purchased a few years ago in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn.