BEST workexchange

Denver’s Road Office

About Us

In 2006, we began with the idea of partnering Denver’s Homeless initiative with a corporate sponsor and a non-profit in an effort to bring a new concept of CAD training to the disadvantaged.

With a grant from Mile High United Way, a computer lab at Volunteers of America and in-kind donations of software and services from Bentley Systems Inc, we bought hardware and began operations as a pilot with a small group.

The concept was to train our participants in phases, first in basic computer skills and then using Bentley LEARN. Bentley LEARN is an online, self-paced subscription training tool used by thousands in the engineering industry for Microstation and ProjectWise and a host of Bentley products. Upon achieving Bentley star accreditation, our participants were assigned “donated” work to be used as industry training.

When our participants, who had initially entered the program as homeless and unskilled, began to be interviewed as legitimate candidates and placed as draftsmen, we knew we were onto something good.

One participant, Thomas Crickenberger, has even taught introductory Microstation InRoads sessions at several front range community colleges after being recommended for the position by Bentley Systems.

Thomas now serves as our Lead Trainer and Site Administrator.