The Fix

Oatey Ambassadors Evan Berns (@re.plumb) and Shay Lorette (@that.plumber.dude) share their experiences in the plumbing industry and as influencers within the trade community. The pair touched on the significance of developing regular content that resonates with their values and aligning with like-minded brands. They discussed the importance of advocating for trade careers to the younger generation, emphasizing their potential as rewarding professional paths.

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Follow Shay on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube

Keith Williams, the CEO of Skill Stadium, discusses his innovative platform that links job seekers and employers in the skilled trades industry. The platform leverages video technology to enable users to present their skills and abilities in a unique manner. Williams' ambition is not only to transform the industry through Skill Stadium, but also to dispel stereotypes and promote these trades as respected professions offering equal opportunities to all.

Learn more at www.skillstadium.com.

This week on The Fix we are joined by our friends and partners Joe Herkowski and Steve Stickler from Herkowski Stickler and Associates (HSA).

They talk about the challenges faced by the plumbing industry, succession planning, shortage of skilled labor in trades, career advantages of pursuing trades, diversity, community efforts, and building strong relationships in the industry.

Follow HSA on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter.

Angela Coldwell, founder of Honour the Work, joins us to share her inspiring journey of promoting and supporting skilled trades in Canada, the importance of exposing children to diverse career paths, and overcoming misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding the trades.

Follow Honour the Work on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

This week on The Fix, we were joined by Bruce Pilbeam and Thomas Ponting from Winsupply.

We covered a range of topics from Winsupply's role in the plumbing industry, the changes and constants in the industry over the years, the transition from vendor to customer perspective, and Winsupply's support for addressing shortages in the trades.

The Fix podcast welcomes Kristen Fallon, co-founder of Let's Build Construction Camp for Girls, which aims to empower young women in the AECM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing) industries.

Kristen shares how her background in construction led her to create the camp, which offers hands-on experiences, technical education, and confidence-building, as well as the camp's impact on promoting diversity and bridging the workforce gap in the trades.

Related Resources:

www.letsbuildcamp.com

Questions or Feedback:

[email protected]

In this podcast episode, Spencer Brown, the Director of Sales for Pfister Faucets, joins Katherine and Doug to discuss the American Plumber Stories initiative. The conversation focuses on supporting and inspiring tradespeople, particularly those in the plumbing industry. The goal is to break down stereotypes, showcase diverse stories of plumbers, encourage the younger generation to consider trades careers, and emphasize the role of storytelling in changing public perception.

Katherine and Doug interview Jennifer Green, Director of Competition for Skills Ontario. Jennifer, who became a Red Seal Industrial Mechanic millwright at 21, is the Director of Competitions at Skills Ontario, an organization that encourages youth to explore and pursue careers in the skilled trades and technologies. In 2021 she completed an Appointment with the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development as an Apprenticeship Youth Advisor. In direct response to the Advisor’s final report, the Ontario Government invested $90 million to promote the skilled trades to young people further.

For more information, visit www.skillsontario.com.

In this episode of The Fix, we're joined by Oatey Ambassadors Germaine Nelson and Rob Broccolo to talk about all things family and work-life balance, or lack thereof.

They each share some of the struggles that come with having active families, running successful plumbing businesses, and how they take time for themselves.

We're joined by Oatey Ambassadors Colin Luttrell and Nick Parlet during Ambassador Fest to talk about how social media and plumbing go hand-in-hand in helping to learn new things, develop friendships and grow your business.

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Follow Colin on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook