Samuel Cuzman’s former high school construction teacher, Jake Slusher, describes him as “a quiet guy who just did his work — a teacher’s dream.” Now, Sam has turned that steady, no-nonsense approach into a career in heavy equipment operation with ER Snell Contractor, Inc. 

The recent graduate of Empower College and Career Academy in Jackson County, Georgia interned with ER Snell his senior year, learning road construction from the ground up. That internship has turned into full-time employment. And while some of his classmates are starting their first semester of college, Sam is earning steady paychecks and building skills in the field. 

His journey represents the kind of career path that HireSmart Cares supports through its “Foot Forward” program, which provides work boots and recognition to graduates entering the workforce directly after high school. 

This path was made possible partly through his connection with his former teacher, Slusher, who taught Sam basic construction during high school, then left teaching to work for ER Snell and later returned to share his experience with students. 

“When Jake left to go to ER Snell, a year later, he came back to my school and he was telling me all about it,” said Sam. “He was kind of telling the whole class about it. And so I was like, OK, that does seem really fun.” 

That presentation sparked Sam’s interest, but it was his experience in the heavy equipment class his senior year at Empower that solidified his career direction. 

“I got the heavy equipment class,” he said. “And after that, I was like, OK, I want to keep working with Snell.” 

Slusher, who now recruits young talent for ER Snell, noted Sam’s classroom demeanor during Empower’s recent Signing Day ceremony. 

“You knew he wasn’t going to get any problems,” he said. “You know he was going to listen and pay attention. He’s going to do his best work no matter what the circumstances are.” 

Sam started working with ER Snell during his senior year in August, beginning with basic tasks, such as shovel work. He’s now moving on to heavy equipment operations. 

“Operating machines is really fun to me,” he said. “It definitely takes a lot of practice and a lot of training. There’s a lot of hazards and you definitely got to know your surroundings. It just takes practice, and a class will definitely help you. Of course, you can’t just go into a machine right off the bat in a job.” 

He’s worked on two different crews with ER Snell, getting large-scale construction experience. 

“They (ER Snell) really take care of everybody. They take care of the interns, and it’s a family-owned business, and they’re all good guys,” he said. 

Sam has clear expectations for his career trajectory, saying he’d like to still be doing heavy equipment work in the next 10-to-15 years, working roads and bridges. 

“I would want to probably be a foreman and have my own little crew.” 

He said school “is not really my thing,” but “I definitely like getting a paycheck.” He plans to put money away for the future. 

“I’ll just put some into savings and just work,” he said. 

And he recommends hands-on learning opportunities to younger students interested in following a similar career path. 

“There’s a lot of competitions out there,” he said. “There’s schools that offer like classes, like heavy equipment, and I went to competitions like Skills USA, and just going to those, they’ll teach you and you learn a lot.” 

Sam said Empower’s instruction proved valuable when he started work.  

“I told my foreman about it. I told him about all the stuff I took for heavy equipment, and I went to competitions. And so he is ready to see what my skills are all about.” 

Beyond the valuable experience and mentorship, Sam has also received practical support for his career. Sam recently received work boots through HireSmart Cares’ “Foot Forward” program. Quality boots serve as essential safety equipment in construction work, helping prevent injuries and supporting long days on job sites. 

“I really appreciate it,” he said. “I mean, they’re definitely going to help me out a lot, because I needed a new pair.” 

Sam’s career path shows how students can transition from classroom learning to meaningful careers through programs that combine education with real-world experience. 

And HireSmart Cares is there to help them take their first steps on that journey. Click here to help HireSmart support young people like Sam.