Built and Led By Experienced Professionals
Our instructors bring decades of real-world experience in construction, education, and program leadership. Together they guide students from first day in the classroom to job-ready skills on site, using clear instruction, practical training, and steady support. Their backgrounds cover residential and commercial building, utilities, safety, and student development, so every lesson connects to real opportunities in the field. When you train with SPM Empowerment and Skills, Inc, you are learning from people who know what it takes to succeed and want to see you grow.
Founding Construction Leaders
Vincent Brown
Vincent Brown brings 45 years of experience in the residential and commercial building market, with a career spent running a construction company and guiding crews through all phases of a project. His background includes construction management training and licensure, along with hands-on work in carpentry and painting that matches the skills students are coming here to learn. Over the years he has trained many unskilled apprentices, helping them move from basic labor into dependable trade careers. At SPM Empowerment and Skills, Inc, he focuses on practical instruction, clear expectations, and real job site habits so students are ready for work, not just the classroom. His goal is to help adults support their families by learning trades that are always needed in the community.
Jimmy Dillahunt Jr.
Jimmy Dillahunt Jr. has more than 30 years of experience in commercial, industrial, and government construction, with roles that include Senior Vice President and Senior Project Manager on projects ranging from small renovations to multi-million-dollar facilities.
His work has covered schools, military installations, airports, housing authorities, hospitals, and public buildings, giving him a broad understanding of how different trades come together on complex jobs. He has managed teams, budgets, schedules, safety, and quality control from preconstruction through closeout, and holds licenses in multiple states for building and heavy highway work.
At SPM Empowerment and Skills, Inc, he draws on this experience to show students what professional standards look like, from safety and communication to craftsmanship and reliability. His focus is on preparing students to step onto a site, respect the process, and add value from day one.
Instructional and Student Support Leadership
Christina Turner Forney
Christina Turner Forney is an education professional with extensive experience in special education, gifted education, and school leadership roles across elementary, middle, and high school settings.
She has served as a teacher, program manager, dean of students, and coordinator for magnet and talent development programs, where she has planned curriculum, led professional development, and supported students with a wide range of academic and social needs.
Her background includes managing programs for advanced learners, coordinating support services, and working closely with families and community partners to help students stay on track.
At SPM Empowerment and Skills, Inc, she helps shape a learning environment that is structured, encouraging, and responsive to adults returning to the classroom. Her approach supports students not only in gaining trade skills but also in building confidence, focus, and long-term success.