Everything They Don't Tell You

Today I sit down with a wonderful person by the name of Bethany Locke. Beth is an apprentice powerline technician in Nova Scotia. She grew up in a mining town and a place where women in the trades are actually pretty common. In fact, unlike most of the people I talk to, Beth was actually presented with and educated on the skilled trades as a viable career option while she was still in high school....

Today's guest is Calvin Sharrer, Marketing & Career Representative for the Hobart Institute of Welding. Calvin grew up like so many. He was told that if he wanted to succeed the surest path was to spend four years in college, so that's exactly what he did and has a Political Science degree to show for it. Like so many more, his degree did not get put to use in the manner that he originally envisio...

Today we sit down with a truly innovative entrepreneur in the technology space. What is a tech founder doing on a skilled trades podcast? Well, meet Kassidy Hazelton, CEO of Hard Hats. An on-demand recruiting platform connecting construction workers and contractors to combat downtime & labor shortages with available jobs. Now you see why I asked her to be on the show. I talk a lot about all the av...

Today's guest is someone I've had the pleasure of knowing virtually for some time now. Although we met at a RFMA conference a couple years ago, we didn't really begin talking until our mutual acquaintance Rich Malachy, shout out to Rich, Malachy Parts & Service, the matchmaker, connected us via Food Equipment Digital Disrupters. Mr Taz Sutherland, Facilities/Project Manager for Walmart. Taz remind...

Today, we have a very special guest, referred by our former guest Joanna Osawe. Her name is Amie Schellenberg and she is an electrical instructor at Thompson River University. Amie didn't always want to be a teacher, nor did she even want to be in the trades, but as happens so often, she found her calling. Thinking she was going to be in theater, she went to university for about 2 semesters before...

Today I have an opportunity to sit down with someone I truly admire. One of the biggest advocate of the trades out there. And someone who will change the landscape of the industry forever. Over the past several weeks you have heard from all the amazing ambassadors for Kick Ass Careers. Today, I sit down with their founder, their fearless leader, the great Jamie McMillan. Talk about an incredible j...

Got another KickAss Careers ambassador joining us today. An apprentice powerline technician that is intent on succeeding in her own right, Mackenzie Gillan. Like me, she hated being in class in high school. She spent most of her time playing hockey until a few unfortunate injuries caused her to take a good look at her future. Fueled by an intrigue for hands on work and how electricity is delivered...

Today's guest is another awesome ambassador for KickAss Careers. Her name is Kate Parr and she's an industrial mechanic millwright in Ontario Canada. Coming from a family of university graduates, she never pictured herself in the trades. She always got good grades and was an excellent student. So naturally she was always told she was "too smart" for trade work. She knew herself better than that th...

Today, I sit down with another inspiring young woman. Dee Durant got her first taste of the skilled trades when she was in high school. But she was fascinated with the weather and still intended on setting out to be a meteorologist. Discussing a more practical career path with her parents, she ended up pursuing a career in the trades despite being told she was too smart. Hmmm, where have we heard...

Our guest today is nothing short of impressive. Joanna Osawe started in the renewable energy sector about 15 years ago as one of only a few women in the industry. After working her way up to developing windfarms in Canada and launched WiRE, Women in Renewable Energy, in 2013. WiRE focuses on Advancing the roles and recognition of the women in the energy sector. Over the past 7 years WiRE has grown...

Today, I get to sit down with such a great personality. Brandi R. Ferenc is an HVAC technician by trade and absolutely loves what she does. She grew up in a blue collar family, but admittedly didn't desire to pursue that path in high school. It wasn't until she realized that what she went to school for wasn't what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, that she switched gears. Many people don'...

Today, we sit down with Jennifer Green, Director of Competitions and Young Women's Initiatives for Skills Ontario. Jennifer originally had an interest in Forensic Criminology, but before long found herself completely immersed and enthralled in being an Industrial Mechanic Millwright. This allowed her to be her true self by problem solving, working with her hands, and learning every single day. She...

Our guest today is an excellent entrepreneur and coach. His name is Mick Carbo, with Carbo Coaching. He helps blue collar businesses increase productivity and profitability with leadership training. Mick shares his incredible journey that starts off shortly after high school. Immediately jumping into having a family and starting a business, Mick thought he knew it all. Right up until he didn't. He...

Today, we sit down with a truly remarkable person. Not only is he vocal about the skilled trades, but he's someone who actually takes action in bringing these rewarding careers to the forefront of America's youth. Brandon Patterson spent his early years at the parts counter, on job sites, and the like. So he was one of the lucky ones that had a true appreciation for the trades before many of his p...

Today, we sit down with someone absolutely vital in the future of the skilled trades. He is transforming, not only the way the skills are taught, but how they appeal to today's youth. Doug Donovan, Co-Founder and CEO of Interplay Learning, is the dynamic leader behind the world's first online training platform designed for the skilled trades he launched in 2011. Doug's mission is to solve the crit...

Today, Kenneth Midgett  (or Coach as he's known by his students) is returning to the show. Ken is an instructor at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute. Earning instructor of the year honors in 2019. To find out more about Ken, check out the first episode I did with him. Along side him is a recent graduate and remarkable young advocate of the skilled trades. Her name is Paige Knowles. Paige just...

Today, we have someone I had the pleasure of first meeting this past spring at the RFMA annual conference. Jeff Victory is a Sr National Account Sales Manager for Allpoints Foodservice Parts & Supplies. Jeff is an awesome, intelligent, down to earth guy who never thought he would be in the trades. He grew up in the world of sports and was hoping for a scholarship to propel his career. After a few...

Today, we have a very special guest on the show. An incredible person, teacher, and advocate of the skilled trades. Mr Kenneth Midgett , or "coach" as he's often referred to by his students, is a plumbing and heating instructor at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute and the NAPHCC plumbing instructor of the year for 2019. He is also a huge supporter of women in the trades, which we get into a bit...

Next up is Ray Clark, Head of Sales for Schedule Engine. I had the pleasure of meeting Ray though a virtual trade show hosted by XOi Technologies. If you want to see where the trades can lead, be sure to listen to this episode. Ray had an appreciation for the trades through high school and eventually went to school for Chemical Engineering. After college he landed a job with Carrier and was sent t...

Today, I sit down with a very driven and motivated woman. Elizabeth Moses is a machinist for Windsor Mold Inc. and has been hooked on the trades ever since she reluctantly took a woodworking course in high school. As soon as she got a taste for working with her hands, there was no stopping her. She then got involved with First Robotics and eventually decided to a pursue a career in the skilled tra...

Today, we sit down with a truly inspiring human being. Those who don't know Stephen Christopher should start following him immediately. He is constantly providing motivational and positive content, which the world needs more of. Stephan started his first business when he was 14 years old doing mobile car detailing, and has had several businesses between then and now. Eventually he got into digital...

Today we talk with someone who has done his fair share of talking. Chris Yano is the CEO of RYNO Strategic Solutions, a leading Digital Marketing company that has focused on the home services industry since 2008. He is also the host of the popular Home Services Podcast, To The Point. Chris is an experienced business owner, investor and philanthropist with a heart for the trades. He's done 1000's o...

Today we sit down with a couple of guys that many of you already know from their own podcast, Blue Collar Nation. Eric Sprague and Larry Wilberton join me to talk all about their journey through the trades. I love talking to them because their experience is like so many others; they went to college because they wanted to come to the party, quite literally. But the bulk of their knowledge didn't co...

Today we sit down with a well traveled, well rounded individual who I consider to be one of the brightest minds in the industry. Todd Breiner, Sr VP of Middleby Marshall has tackled the business from almost every angle, giving him a birds eye view of the skilled trades & the restaurant world.  Doing everything from working as an equipment dealer at Concept Services, creating his own restaurant con...

You all know him, and most of you love him... This week I sit down with the one and only Rich Malachy of Malachy Parts and Service and founder of #FEDDNation.  It's been a while since we've had Rich on the show so I thought it would be great to chat with him about his experience over the last few weeks. He's had to make some incredibly tough decisions, like so many others, but hasn't taken the exp...