Financial Manager at Turner Construction’s Dallas office elected to Board of Directors for the Ace Mentor Program of DFW
Victoria Klopfenstein will help direct mentoring program for DFW-area high school students interested in architecture, construction and engineering
DALLAS, August 18, 2009 - Turner Construction Company’s financial manager Victoria Klopfenstein has been elected to the board of directors of the ACE (Architects, Constructors and Engineers) Mentor Program of Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), an after-school program that introduces DFW-area high school juniors and seniors to the many rewarding career opportunities offered by the architecture, construction and engineering professions. Turner Construction’s Dallas office has participated in the program annually since 2004. From 2006 to 2008, Matt Papenfus, vice president and regional manager of Turner’s Texas operations, held the position of president of its board of directors.
During her two-year term on the board of directors, Klopfenstein will help direct the DFW chapter’s efforts in addressing the shortage of qualified professionals in the architecture, construction management, and engineering industries and in providing scholarships to ACE graduates who plan to go into careers in design and construction.
“I am excited about being elected to the board of directors of ACE and working first-hand with the students within the organization,” said Klopfenstein. “By mentoring these students and by opening the doors of opportunity, we are investing in the future of our industry.”
In 2008, Klopfenstein and other Turner Construction employees, along with employees from other local architecture, construction and engineering firms, mentored students from Dallas Independent School District’s Skyline High School and Bishop Lynch High School. Turner Construction helped put together a program that included hands-on activities, office tours, videos, and field trips to introduce students to various disciplines within the industry. The students were also challenged with an actual design project. The mentors, along with the students, guide them through each stage of the project – meeting weekly, after school, for 1.5 hours throughout the duration of the school year.
Klopfenstein has been with Turner for more than 14 years, beginning as a project accountant and advancing through various positions to her current position of financial manager, in which she manages finances for Turner’s three Texas office (Dallas, Houston and San Antonio) and two Florida offices (Orlando and Miami).
Klopfenstein is involved with several DFW-based community organizations in addition to the ACE Mentor Program of DFW, including the Dallas Hearts and Hammers program, the Dallas-Area Habitat for Humanity, the Hispanic Contractors Association of DFW, the National Association of Women in Construction, the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), and the Turner School of Construction Management, which is an annual nine-week program that teaches minority and women-owned contractors the skill sets needed to run their own construction businesses.
Klopfenstein attended Wilmington College in Ohio and plans to begin her Master’s degree program in the spring of 2010. She and her husband Matt reside in Southlake, Texas.
In 2004, Turner made a commitment of $500,000 to the ACE Mentor Program nationally. This funding assists in the establishment of additional chapters in major cities across the United States. Since then, Turner has helped launch chapters in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Miami, Charlotte, Columbus, Boston and Detroit. Turner also coordinates its educational giving in several business units — including its Dallas business unit — providing funding to the ACE scholarship program.
ABOUT TURNER CONSTRUCTION
Turner is the leading general builder in the U.S., ranking first or second in all major segments of the building construction field. During 2008, Turner completed $10 billion of construction. Turner is the only builder offering clients a nationwide network of offices across the U.S. Founded in 1902, Turner Construction Company is a subsidiary of the Turner Corporation located in Dallas, TX. For more information, visit Turner’s website at http://www.turnerconstruction.com.
ABOUT THE ACE MENTOR PROGRAM
The ACE Mentor Program is the fastest-growing high school mentoring program focusing on careers in the design/build industry. It was founded by the principals of leading design and construction firms, to introduce high school students to career opportunities in the industry. The mission of the organization is to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in the design/build construction industry through mentoring, and to support their continued advancement in the industry through scholarships and grants. ACE makes a special attempt to reach students that otherwise may not become aware of the challenges and rewards of a career in the design and construction industry. For additional information see www.acementor.org.
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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmitheagency.com, (214) 329-9191
