The Fix

Lisa Alessandro and Alicia Chet join us from Remington College in Cleveland to discuss their dedicated trade program offerings, such as construction, building maintenance, and welding. They discuss Remington College's commitment to non-traditional students, providing rigorous hands-on training to equip them for entry-level positions in a shorter time frame than four-year programs.

Learn more at remingtoncollegetraining.com.

In this inspiring episode of "The Fix," we sit down with Perlla DeLuca, a trailblazer in the construction industry and the founder of the Pink Hardhat Foundation, Iowa School of Construction and Southwest Constructors. Perlla shares her remarkable journey, from cleaning houses and working in restaurants to becoming a seasoned construction professional and advocate for women and minorities in the trades.

This week on The Fix, Carol Phillips and Nichole Stephenson of West Virginia Women Work join us to tackle the vital topic of women's empowerment in skilled trades, sharing their personal journeys and the impactful work of West Virginia Women Work. They discuss the challenges women face in traditionally male-dominated fields, the importance of training and education, and the organization's strategies to promote diversity and inclusivity in the workforce.

Learn more at www.westvirginiawomenwork.org

Follow WV Women Work on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

This week on The Fix, we're joined by Oatey Ambassadors Nick Merritt and Justin Noftle from Canada, who share insights about their paths to working in the plumbing industry. They debunk plumbing myths, discuss the impact of technology, stress the significance of continuing education and share their diverse experiences and challenges in the trade.

Follow Justin on Instagram.

Follow Nick on Instagram.

Jeff Keller, a seasoned plumber, business owner, and #OateyAmbassador from Jefferson, Texas, shares his 17 years of experience in the industry. Starting at his father's company straight out of high school, he now runs the family business after earning his Master Plumbers license in 2020. We talk about the crucial role of customer service and building trust with customers in the service industry, his future ambitions and finding work-life balance.

Bart Bettiga, the Executive Director of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), joins us to discuss NTCA's mission to promote the use of high-quality products sold by trained distributors and installed by skilled contractors, helping drive an increased consumption of tile and stone in the market. We explore the association's commitment to improving the tile trade through education, training, and setting industry standards. Bart highlights the various training opportunities NTCA offers, such as in-person workshops and online NTCA University courses, aiming to enhance professional skills in ceramic tile installation and allied products.

Follow National Tile Contractors Association on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

This week on The Fix, we sat down with Doug Winston, board member of Bring Back the Trades!

Bring Back the Trades is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the skilled trades as a viable and rewarding career path. The organization provides scholarships to students interested in trade schools and organizes community events while collaborating with educators, leaders, and vendors to change the societal perception of trade careers.

Follow Bring Back the Trades on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

This week on The Fix, Kristina McMillan, Founder of Crew Collaborative, takes us on a deep dive into the organization's mission of strengthening the blue-collar workforce, particularly in the construction industry.

We learn how Crew Collaborative is changing the perception of construction careers with innovative tactics, such as the Classroom Talks, Ambassador Program, and Framework, designed to educate high school students, support small businesses, and foster innovation.

Learn more at https://crewcollab.org/, and follow Crew Collaborative on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

We're going down under his week on The Fix!

Hacia Atherton, the founder of Empowered Women in the Trades in Australia, joins us to discuss her organization's mission to transform the trades industry through the empowerment of women and non-binary individuals. EWIT collaborates with educational institutions and industry leaders to address the national skills shortage in Australia, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the industry.

Follow Empowered Women in the Trades on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Kate Cinnamo, Toni Bower, and Maddy Sorenson from Explore The Trades join The Fix to share their paths to the organization and talk about their passion for advocating for plumbing, HVAC, and electrical careers. They also delve into discussions on dispelling common myths about blue-collar jobs, fostering diversity in the trades, forming collaborations with schools, and partnering with industry allies. 

Follow Explore The Trades on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.