IMMOKALEE -- During the “Business, Construction and Engineering Career Pathway” event presented by the Immokalee Foundation on Dec. 7, Suffolk Construction leaders educated high school students on the many aspects of a career in construction and STEM-related jobs that go beyond swinging hammers.

Suffolk presented Spot (affectionately known as “Spot the Robot Dog”) which is a robot built by Boston Dynamics and used by Suffolk for site documentation purposes.

The robot is programmed to walk Suffolk’s job sites and complete image-capturing and laser-scanning capabilities that allow teams to better understand and visualize job sites in a safer, more efficient way.

Suffolk is one of the only general contractors in the country that owns this robot and uses it on job sites. Project management, estimating, business development and technology deployment professionals from Suffolk shared more on pathways to achieve success in construction careers.

Suffolk shared new pathways for careers in construction to help students gain success and financial independence with well-paying, in-demand professional careers in construction. 

Immokalee High School students experienced how Spot the Robot Dog is changing the way construction companies monitor and operate job sites to improve safety and operations through the capturing of valuable data.

With a 360-degree perception and athletic intelligence, Spot’s dynamic sensing platform provides valuable insights into the operations of a construction site collecting data and taking photos and scans.

“Our partnership with the Immokalee Foundation's youth empowerment programs demonstrates our commitment to educating young adults on construction and STEM careers,” said Pete Tuffo, president of Suffolk’s Florida West Coast Region.

“We believe it is our responsibility, as an organization and as an industry, to provide the resources and education for students to pursue careers in these thriving fields. We are thrilled to collaborate with the Immokalee Foundation to achieve this ambitious vision.”