Cincinnati Reds, FX Facility Group Workmanship Program builds on first-year achievements
The groundbreaking Workmanship Program, a partnership between the Cincinnati Reds and FX Facility Group (FXFG) to create economic opportunities for minorities, is gearing up for its second year.
“There was a conversation about what can we do tangibly to bridge this gap,” Reds President Phil Castellini told the Cincinnati Business Courier in January 2022 when the program was announced. “This was intentionally created to make sure we’re creating (minority) jobs.”
This historic partnership is the first of its kind in the MLB, and organizers are hopeful it will inspire other professional sports teams to incorporate a similar format within their organizations.
Recent trade school graduates or individuals who have one to two years of experience in the HVAC, electric, painting and plumbing fields hone their skills through an immersive, four-month training. They’re employed by FXFG, a construction and facilities management company, and work at Great American Ball Park, home of the Reds.
The program provides more than a job: It offers participants a path toward one of three promising kickstarts to their career:
1) Management with FXFG
2) Management with an FXFG-affiliated organization
3) Full-time employment with the Reds
“The inaugural year of the Workmanship Program was a success for our side,” said Tim O'Connell, senior vice president of facilities and operations at Great American Ball Park. “I cannot be happier with the individuals selected, their performance and how our partnership has evolved. I look forward to the 2023 class.”
Monica Foxx, FXFG’s COO, said she is pleased with the success of the first year, too, and the program has already expanded for 2023 with two additions: the inclusion of the plumbing trade and employment opportunities with FXFG partners.
“We’re really happy that the Reds found such success from the program and that’s almost entirely attributed to the talent of the program. They only come out of it better,” Foxx said. “It’s a guarantee that their career is going to be starting in a positive trajectory. We’re really excited to help people develop their skills and kick off their careers with a great organization, whether with the Reds, FXFG or one of our partners.”
Through the Workmanship Program, participants gained:
1) Exposure to working in a premiere, major league sports facility
2) An immersion in the unique culture of the Cincinnati Reds
3) The opportunity to stand out professionally by having graduated from this one-of-a-kind mentoring and training program
Derick Chapelle, a graduate of the inaugural class specializing in the painting trade, said he enjoyed working with a large organization like the Reds.
“The mentorship aspect of the program is what really stood out. I got very close to all the people who work there, and I became really close with my mentor, Phil Stall,” Chapelle said. “It’s an experience that I wish I could participate in again.”
Foxx said that FXFG is proud that the combined vision with the Reds has manifested. The Workmanship Program has demonstrated that outstanding mentorship and cross training leads to a positive impact on the personal and professional development of the participants.
“I was exposed to some electrical and plumbing work and was able to really hone-in on mudding, so my finishing got a lot cleaner,” Chapelle said.
If you or someone you know is interested in one of these fields and are curious about the experience of working at Great American Ball Park, we’re looking for you to join our 2023 program.
For more information about this opportunity or to apply, visit fxfacilitygroup.com.
FXFG is a construction and facilities management organization. Through its Gap ServicesTM program, as an extension of an organization’s facility’s team, it manages the projects in the gap between what that organization’s team and the occasional outside vendors do.
d.e. Foxx & Associates, the parent company of FXFG, is the second-largest Minority Business Enterprise in greater Cincinnati.