When Fran Shefchik founded PortSide Builders nearly four decades ago, he stressed the importance of corporate involvement in community activities.  PortSide continues that tradition with its participation in the 2018 High School Home Construction Project, which provides local high school students looking to pursue a career in the construction trade with the unique opportunity to work side by side with local professionals in constructing a new home.

High School Home Construction Project is sponsored by the Door County Economic Development Corporation, with additional help from the Door County Home Builders Association and NWTC.   Employees from PortSide Builders and Van’s Lumber supplied additional assistance in the planning and construction phases of the project. 

This year’s Home Construction Project featured a custom four-bedroom, three-bathroom home, with a walk-out basement, three-stall garage, and has 2,770 total square feet of living space.  The home is currently for sale, with eventual sale proceeds going towards next year’s project.

The eleven students that participated in this year’s Construction Project include: Caleb Diller, Elijah Heimbecher, Erik Escalera, Jason Claybaugh, Jaeger Brusky, and Peter Anschutz from Sturgeon Bay High School, Eli Zielke and Tylor Dvorak from Sevastopol,  Jared Delwiche and Caleb Buchberger from Southern Door, and Ben Desotelle from Gibraltar.  These students worked under the supervision of Sturgeon Bay Technology Teacher, Seth Wilson. 

Lending additional assistance and experience from PortSide Builders, was Paul Shefchik, Joe Porten, Joel Daoust, Glenn Pieschek, and Dave “Pee-Wee” Michiels.   Also joining the crew were five former students that participated in the program while in High School, and are currently working as professionals in the construction field. 

PortSide Builders is proud to have been a participant in this great opportunity, and congratulate the students on a job well done.