Published September 11, 2025
CAPTION: Representatives from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, the Contractors
Education Trust Fund, pose with ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille and Director of the ULM School of Construction
Management Dr. Clint Martin.
MONROE, LA – The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and the Contractors’
Educational Trust Fund (CEFT) presented a $262,000 donation to the ULM Foundation
for the ULM School of Construction Management at a ceremony held September 11, 2025.
ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille thanked the groups for the donation and applauded
what it will be able to do for the school. “We are really proud of our School of Construction
Management,” said Castille. “It’s growing, and our goal is to make sure that we are
meeting the needs of the industry. This type of support is exactly what we need to
be able to continue to grow this program,” she added.
To date, the LSLBC and the CETF have donated more than $4 million combined to the
ULM School of Construction Management.
“We do this because we are the end-users of the ‘product’ that is the graduates of
this school,” said Ken Naquin, Secretary/Treasurer of the Contractors’ Educational
Trust Fund, as he presented the donation. “The better you can make that product, the
better it is for us. It is an honor that this industry I’ve worked in for over 45
years gives back to help prepare young men and women for the industry,” he added.
The funds for the donation come from licensing fees paid by contractors in the state
to the LSLBC, which is then distributed to accredited schools of construction in Louisiana,
including ULM, LSU, and Louisiana Tech, as well as a two-year accredited program at
Baton Rouge Community College.
The many years of support from these organizations have allowed the School of Construction
Management to improve facilities, technology, and student experiences.
Dr. Clint Martin, Director of the ULM School of Construction Management, says the
funds from the groups’ donations over the years have been used to purchase new software
and new computer labs, among other initiatives. “It’s really humbling to see these
groups give back to us, and we are very thankful for it. It’s our dedication to provide
the industry with the very best and brightest students and students who are going
to be leaders,” said Martin. He also noted that enrollment in the School of Construction
Management has grown 36% from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025.
Special guests at the presentation included State Representative Foy Gadberry and
Sandra Miller from the office of State Representative Adrian Fisher.
The School of Construction Management’s job placement rate is consistently high, with
many seniors accepting positions prior to graduation from some of the nation’s top
companies. The starting salaries of graduates are among the highest in the university’s undergraduate
programs.
To learn more about the School of Construction Management, please visit https://www.ulm.edu/cbss/construction/program/.
