In this episode of The Trades Podcast, hosts Jeff Mudd and Danny Torres welcome Erin Izen, Executive Director of The Home Depot Foundation®, for an uplifting conversation about service, opportunity, and the power of skilled trades to transform communities.

Erin shares how The Home Depot Foundation® is helping address the skilled labor shortage through its Path to Pro™ program, which provides free training, scholarships, and career resources to help individuals build meaningful careers in the trades. From supporting U.S. military veterans to empowering young people through partnerships with organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America®, Erin highlights how strategic investment and community collaboration can open doors to lifelong careers and generational stability.

This episode is a reminder that building futures is not just about tools and materials. It is about lifting people up, restoring purpose, and creating pathways to prosperity through skilled work. If you believe in strengthening your workforce, supporting your community, or inspiring the next generation of trades professionals, this is an episode worth sharing.

🔗 Learn More and Get Involved

• The Home Depot Foundation® — https://HomeDepotFoundation.org
• Path to Pro™ — https://www.pathtopro.com/
• Veteran Support Programs — https://corporate.homedepot.com/page/veteran-housing-grants

📌 Episode Highlights

• Nearly $600 million invested in veteran causes and skilled trades initiatives
• 400,000+ open skilled trade jobs nationwide
• How Path to Pro™ prepares the next generation of tradespeople
• Partnering with Boys and Girls Clubs of America® to inspire youth early
• Why community engagement and workforce development go hand in hand

🎧 Subscribe & Share the Mission

If you believe in empowering the trades, building stronger communities, and creating pathways to prosperity, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Chapters

 

00:00 Introduction to The Trades Podcast

01:23 Meet Erin Izen and Home Depot Foundation

03:15 Home Depot's Commitment to Veterans and Community

10:52 The Path to Pro: Addressing the Skilled Labor Gap

21:30 Engaging Youth and Parents in Skilled Trades

27:31 Diverse Pathways into the Trades

28:16 Investing in Youth: Path to Pro Updates

29:30 Focus on Key Trade Skills

32:37 Challenges in Trade Education

34:34 Community Engagement and Support

37:01 Addressing the Skilled Trades Shortage

38:37 Empowering Future Generations

40:00 Innovative Approaches to Trade Training

42:53 Influencing Young Minds

46:16 Partnerships with Boys and Girls Club

48:46 Creating Generational Wealth through Trades