Join us for lunch and a tour of CEF.

Participants will learn what CEF is doing to contribute to the workforce shortage. Lunch will be provided along with a tour of the facility. 

Jane Hanna, President/Executive Director, Construction Education Foundation is in her fourth decade of workforce development for the commercial construction industry. Upon graduation from Texas A&M University, Jane began her career with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

In 1980 Jane was selected by the ABC Board to lead and work with industry to create the first craft professional/apprenticeship classes for open shop/merit shop contractors in the D/FW and North Texas market. In 1996 ABC combined its education/training courses with Associated General Contractors (AGC) and American Subcontractors Association (ASA) to create CEF. Jane was asked by industry to lead  CEF starting with two staff and  one hundred and twenty-five thousand in start-up capital.

CEF since its formation in 1996 has had over eighty thousand class registrations: facilitating an average of over 175 workforce development classes annually. CEF and Jane Hanna have won local, state, and national awards for creativity and sustainability of workforce development.

“It is our privilege to watch individuals come into our classes and obtain skills and knowledge needed to be successful in our industry. We know that they will build great careers, a better life for themselves and their families. And we know that the workforce development that we  facilitate has positive impacts on the present and far into the future for generations to come.”

A native Texan, Jane and her husband Robert have been married forty-three years and have two daughters Kristen and Meredith. Jane is a recognized speaker for Christian Women and Cancer Survivor Organizations. Jane is diiverse in interests from football fan to musical theater, to hydrangea grower!

Michael Linzmaier, Chief Operating Officer, Construction Education Foundation, (CEF) has been helping students change their lives for the past 24 years.  Mike’s passion is focused on helping students be successful in classes and in their professional careers. He has worked in many positions starting as an instructor, and then moving into local management roles and eventually into national executive roles at various college institutions.  At one point Mike was responsible for academic aspects of an institution with over 150 campuses and nearly 100,000 students. He chose CEF due to the unique partnership with the construction industry and Dallas College.  This public-private partnership focuses on training craft professionals for the industry and most importantly the training improves the professional career of every student attending CEF.

Mike has earned a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering and prior to entering the education world he developed novel techniques for producing therapeutic proteins.  These techniques could be used to create chemotherapy drugs as well create disease resistant plants. 

Growing up in the outdoors of Colorado and Montana he spent many years whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, and skiing.  Current he is an avid art collector spending leisure time in Art Galleries and Museums.