Built on People. Powered by Education.
The SAIA Education Foundation invests in the professionals who strengthen and sustain the scaffold and access industry through safety training, scholarships, workforce development, and the development of new training initiatives.
We believe the future of our industry depends on people, their skills, their growth, and their access to meaningful education.
About the Foundation
The SAIA Education Foundation exists to advance the scaffold and access industry by investing in its people. Through support for safety training, education, scholarships, and workforce development, the Foundation helps remove barriers to advancement and creates opportunities for current and future industry professionals.
Our mission is rooted in the belief that talent and dedication, not financial limitations, should determine how far someone can go.
Our Mission
To advance the scaffold and access industry by investing in its people through funding for safety training, education, scholarships, and the development of innovative training initiatives that empower the next generation of skilled professionals and strengthen our workforce for the future.
Our Vision
A thriving scaffold and access industry built on a highly trained, safety-focused, and continually educated workforce where financial barriers never prevent a dedicated professional from advancing their skills.
Our History
The SAIA Education Foundation was founded in 1989 by SAIA members who wanted to advance the education of scaffold and access workers.
They recognized that education and training were essential to improving safety, strengthening the workforce, and supporting the long-term future of the industry. Their vision created a foundation dedicated to expanding access to educational opportunities and investing in the people who move the industry forward.
That commitment continues today. While the needs of the industry have evolved, the Foundation remains focused on the same core belief: education drives safety, progress, and workforce sustainability.
What We Support
The SAIA Education Foundation supports initiatives that strengthen the scaffold and access industry, including:
- Safety training programs
- Workforce development initiatives
- Scholarships for industry professionals
- Education that removes barriers to career advancement
- Development of new training initiatives to meet emerging workforce needs
By supporting both people and programs, the Foundation helps ensure the industry has a skilled, safety-focused, and continually educated workforce.
Why It Matters
The scaffold and access industry is not built on steel alone – it is built on people.
As the industry continues to grow, so does the need for trained professionals, stronger workforce pipelines, and greater access to education. The SAIA Education Foundation plays an important role in meeting those needs by investing in the workers, students, and future leaders who will shape the next generation of the industry.
Board of Directors
Harold Gidish
President
Julien Riga
Vice President
Dean Cook
Secretary
Jeff Jack
Treasurer
Chris Moody
Director
Tom Brewer
Director
Wendy Larison
Director
Jackie Davis
Executive Director
Get Involved
Support the SAIA Education Foundation and help expand education, training, and career opportunities for scaffold and access professionals.
Together, we can invest in the people who build the future of our industry.
Make a Contribution
Invest in the workforce that builds our industry.
Your contribution helps fund safety training, scholarships, workforce development, and new educational initiatives that strengthen the scaffold and access profession.
