workforce development program
Building to Scale
Empowering individuals for career success in the building industry
Upcoming Session:
June 22 — August 1, 2026
Location: 9040 N Burgard Way, Portland, OR 97203
Hours: 8am – 4pm
About the Program
Gain hands-on experience of mass-timber construction in a modular facility
The 2026 Craftsmanship Core Series: Session 2 is a 6-week program focusing on the shop-based construction of a modular, mass-timber single-family home.
Participants will work full time with professional builders to fabricate a complete middle housing residential unit using mass-timber structural systems.
The cohort emphasizes shop fabrication, including…
volumetric modular systems
mass-timber connectors
dimensional coordination
tolerances
installation planning
By training on a real unit destined for installation and occupancy, participants gain applied experience directly transferable to entry-level roles in modern residential construction.
Program MissionDevelop the next generation of passionate builders by giving them access to the building community.
the program
What to Expect
Hands-On Training
Participants will spend the majority of their day working on-site, applying their skills in real-time.Real-World Experience
The class takes place at MODS PDX, an active modular building facility, allowing participants to work alongside professionals in a real production environment.Industry Networking
Participants will be given the opportunity to grow their personal network within the industry, with potential to lead to job opportunities.Industry Expertise
The program is led by experienced instructors, with guest experts—including Structural Engineers, Electricians, and Plumbers—providing specialized training.Apply to the Program
the application for the summer 2026 cohort has closed.
This program is ideal for:
Individuals seeking a career in construction or modular home building.
Those looking to gain hands-on experience and industry connections.
Anyone passionate about sustainable and modern home design.
Building to Scale Team
Building to Scale is a program of the Home Building Foundation, and training is led by the HONE / MODS PDX team, the only residential construction team in Oregon currently delivering single-family homes built with mass-timber systems, a practice they have implemented for the past three years.
Nathan D. Young
Program LeadNathan is a career builder with a degree in Environmental Economics and Political Science from Willamette University. He founded Nathan D. Young Construction, Inc. in 1998 and MODS PDX INC in 2008.
MODS is a Portland-based modular builder that crafts energy-efficient, beautiful buildings of the highest technical quality. Their start-to-finish custom approach has been proven to work across all sectors — custom single-family, multi-family, commercial, institutional, and transitional housing.
Passionate about building science and quality relationships, Nathan has contributed to the industry through leadership roles, including serving as Portland HBA president in 2020 and as a builder captain for the Homebuilders Foundation.
Pete Victoor
Program LeadPete is an artisan in all things building! He as an innate ability to figure out complex situations, analyze difficult details, and establish the intent of a design. He has been in the trades for decades, working on every facet of the industry throughout his career. He is a great leader of our company and a fabulous teacher of our younger artisans moving up through the ranks. Pete is our “detail” guy, always looking 10 steps ahead to and thinking about how each element of the design or structure will effect the next. Nothing is left to chance with Pete at the helm!
drew shreiner
Program AssistantDrew started his career as a designer in New York City working on high end residential projects. An interest in the building process caused him to pursue projects through a design/build approach, providing a more integrated process to each project. After working on the East Coast, Drew pursued his Masters in Architecture from the University of Oregon which brought he and his family to Portland, Oregon.
He is Principal at Base Design + Architecture, a design studio whose work is centered on sustainability, context and design. Base focuses on residential and commercial projects with an emphasis on modular construction. Drew has pursued the design build model on many homes in the Portland area and takes pride in being able to take projects from the initial design stage through construction.
Kegan Flanderka
Program AssistantKegan is Principal at Base Design + Architecture, a design studio whose work is centered on sustainability, context and design. He is a registered Architect in Oregon and Washington with extensive experience in multiple typologies including multi-family, commercial, and adaptive reuse. He has worked on modular, multi-family projects from small 6-plexes to over 80 units at all levels of development. Kegan is an avid outdoorsman where the natural environment influences his design aesthetic. Clients appreciate Kegan’s strong communication skills and collaborative approach to design which has resulted in many successfully built projects.
Regan Schutz
Program DirectorRegan is the Executive Director of the Home Building Foundation, where she leads efforts to build and renovate shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness while supporting pathways into residential construction careers. She brings a strong background in leadership, volunteer coordination, and fundraising, along with a deep passion for community building.
Regan comes to the Home Building Foundation following a distinguished career leading nonprofit organizations through periods of growth and transformation. A Hillsboro native, she recently returned to the Portland area after more than a decade living and working across the country, including in New York, Tennessee, and California.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and completed both her master’s and doctorate degrees at The University of the South. She has received advanced certifications in project management and leadership from Cornell University.