About four months ago, Grant Childers was operating heavy equipment at Land Lab Day while enrolled in the ICONIC program in Boise. He was just days away from graduating and earning his certification. Little did he know, he would meet his future employer that day.
Grant Childers stands proudly in his vest at Land Lab Day in November 2025.
“When I first arrived to the field day, the program director immediately introduced me to a few of the instructors at the program. I asked each of them about who they felt were their top candidates and Grant’s name was consistently at the top,” Manager of RivHab Engineering and EarthWorks Zack Billingsley said. “In fact, I specifically remember one of them saying that while there were quite a few candidates that he’d recommend, Grant was in a league of his own.”
After that introduction and speaking to Billingsley, Childers was called in for an interview and was selected to work at RivHab. He has been working at his new job for about a month and a half.
“I have been loving my job. I was hired on as a heavy equipment operator and laborer. I went with being both, because I heard from an experienced operator, that good operators were laborers before they were a heavy equipment operator because they put in the time to learn about the grade, materials and all that stuff that goes into being a heavy equipment operator,” Childers said.
As a laborer at RivHab, Childers is currently working on the project at Discovery Park by Lucky Peak in Boise. The company is currently installing boat ramps, a picnic area and a walking path to the parking area.
“I am doing a lot of labor work at Discovery Park. I am the one who is telling the heavy equipment operator if things need to be moved a little bit, if things need to move to the river a bit, be dropped down, etc.,” Childers said. “There is a lot to it. There is a lot of grunt work. But I am having a great time with it.”
Childers talks to Billingsley about the opening at RivHab Engineering and EarthWorks.
The ICONIC program gave Childers the experience, steppingstones and connections to gain employment quickly in the industry. The Idaho Career Opportunities – Next in Construction (ICONIC) program is for Idahoans wanting to pursue a career in heavy equipment operation, but it is also for residents looking to refine their skills and continue with a career path they are passionate about.
For Childers, this was an expansion of the skills he acquired when he lived in California before moving to Idaho. At the start of his career path, he did cabinet work, construction and electrical work. But when he worked for the City of Los Angeles, as a special projects assistant, he discovered the career path he wanted to take.
“I did some heavy equipment operation out there (in California) loading trailers with equipment and such and I fell in love with it. I couldn’t get enough of it. So, when I moved out here, I did a few jobs here,” Childers said. “Then my fiancé found this program for me, and I was like ‘Oh my gosh.’ So, I just had to hop on it.”
Childers ultimately decided he didn’t have anything to lose pursuing the program because that meant obtaining a certification in a career with great pay and an opportunity to provide for his family – including his two-year old son.
“I don’t want to be doing anything else,” Childers said.
Childers was one of a large number who applied for the Boise program, and through a competitive interviewing selection process, he made the cut.
“I was shocked, but at the same time I was super ecstatic. I was so excited,” Childers said.
His experience in the program blew his expectations away.
“I couldn’t have asked for anyone better then all my classmates and instructors because I will never forget this experience – ever. Because everyone is super skilled, very well mannered, very nice and everyone just lifts everyone else up,” Childers said.
Childers said the instructors of the program are full of knowledge and advice, which helped the class understand what job opportunities are out there in the industry.
Not only that, Childers reflects on this experience with a sense of happiness.
“I still wear the vest they gave us on day one of the ICONIC program. I think BTI is doing a really great job and they need to keep doing what they are doing,” Childers said. “They are literally changing lives.”
Childers believes this program is a great opportunity for anyone and highly recommends it.
“This certification is good to have in your toolbelt. A lot of these certificates – they don’t go away. You can take it anywhere you want, whatever state and you can find work,” Childers said. “If you are having hard time with money, you can have something to fall back on.”
***
The next cohort will be in Boise from April 13 to May 15. Apply to participate in the program at iconic.idaho.gov. The ICONIC program is 100% funded by FHWA and administered by the Idaho Transportation Department in partnership with the Idaho Department of Labor and Baker Technical Institute.
Lindsay Trombly, Public Information Specialist
Idaho Department of Labor