The Key to Every Successful Build Team: Communication!

At the NIACC Student Build Competition, we caught up with one of the team mentors and student builder Graham Hanson to hear about their experience constructing a custom bench and tackling new challenges along the way.

For many of the students, this was their first time using power tools and working through advanced building techniques. One of the biggest challenges was creating the waterfall miter detail using heat bending methods, but through teamwork, problem-solving, and persistence, the team successfully completed the project.

When asked what made their team successful, Graham didn't hesitate with his answer: communication. From understanding each step of the build to coordinating responsibilities, effective communication helped the entire team work together toward a common goal.

In This Video:

• Student and mentor perspectives from the competition
• Building a custom bench project
• Learning to use power tools
• Overcoming waterfall miter challenges
• Teamwork and communication on the jobsite
• Hands-on construction education

This competition gives students the opportunity to develop real-world construction skills while learning the importance of collaboration, craftsmanship, and problem-solving.

Key Takeaway:
"It's not just one person building there—it's the entire team. Communication for sure."

Chapters

• 00:00 - Mentor Interview
• 00:11 - Challenges During the Build
• 00:26 - Meet Student Builder Graham Hanson
• 00:35 - Learning New Techniques
• 00:46 - The Importance of Communication
• 00:57 - Final Thoughts