This report highlights Explore The Trades’ key accomplishments in 2025. From launching the fifth
year of the “Skills Lab, Built By Ferguson” program, to increasing our reach and impact in school
districts across the country, including surpassing one million students impacted nationwide,
our work continues to grow and expand.
Your commitment makes this important work possible.
The organization looks forward to all we can accomplish together to help create the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
With gratitude,
Explore The Trades
Our
Mission
To bridge the technical talent gap to the services trades of plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical.
About
us
Founded in 2005, Explore The Trades is committed to developing the next generation of the
skilled workforce by changing the perception of the trades. The organization creates
awareness of the trades through key industry statistics, career resources and connections
between education and industry.
Kate Cinnamo
Executive Director
Rosa Dunn
Connections Coordinator
Toni Bower
Donor Engagement Specialist
Maddy Sorenson
Project Coordinator
Board Of
trustees
Phil Smitherman (President)
Owner
Aux Home Services
Bessemer, Alabama
Lauren Martin (Secretary/Treasurer)
Co-Owner
Seaside Plumbing
Berlin, Maryland
Mike Bergstrom (Vice President)
General Manager & Partner
Thornton & Grooms
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Lara Beltz (Past President)
Co-Owner & Vice President
Beltz Home Service Co.
Findlay, Ohio
Matt LaMartina (Trustee)
President & Owner
Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company
St. Louis, Missouri
Andrew Brown (Trustee)
Founder & Owner, Trades Media
Host, The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades podcast
Board Member, Skilled Trades Advisory Council (STAC)
Bailey Cullen (Trustee)
Financial Planning & Analysis
Any Hour Group
Treasurer
Cullens for a Cause Foundation
Garden City, ID
Julian Scadden (Ex Officio)
President & CEO
Nexstar Network
Bloomington, MN
Key
Accomplishments
In 2021, Explore The Trades dedicated its focus to bringing skilled trades awareness to students and educators across the country. Since then, Explore The Trades’ resources have made their way into classrooms in 3,103 public school districts, equating to 23.3% of all U.S. public school districts. This impacts over 1,100,000 students.
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2025
poster kit impact
Through partnership with Ferguson, the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” initiative provides equipment grants to create or refurbish plumbing or HVAC training spaces in schools to bring the trades back into the classroom.
Since 2021, 35 schools in 17 states have been recipients of equipment grants, impacting over 3,500 students by having the plumbing and HVAC trades as part of their middle or high school education.
Powered by Industry Partnerships
The success of the Skills Lab program is made possible through strong partnerships with industry leaders.
Ferguson, our founding partner, is a North American Fortune 500 company and leading distributor of
HVAC and plumbing products. Their continued support has helped expand the program nationwide, bringing essential tools and equipment to classrooms.
SkillCat joined the program in 2024 to provide digital training support. Their online, accredited platform
offers certifications like EPA 608 and OSHA-10, helping students build real-world skills. So far, students
have completed 1,352 SkillCat courses, logging over 4,151 hours of training—and counting.
2025
impact
2025
recipients
Abraham Lincoln High School – Plumbing (Denver, Colorado)
Atlantic County Institute of Technology – HVAC (Mays Landing, New Jersey)
Burlington County Institute of Technology – Westhampton – HVAC (Westhampton, New Jersey)
Craig Middle School – Plumbing (Craig, Colorado)
Lansing Technical High School – HVAC (Lansing, Michigan)
Lincoln County High School – HVAC (Eureka, Montana)
Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design – Plumbing (Newark, New Jersey)
Toms River High School South – HVAC (Toms River, New Jersey)
West Orange High School – Plumbing (West Orange, New Jersey)
New this year, Explore The Trades was proud to sponsor the first electrical lab in the Skills Lab program.
Cape May County Technical School District – Electrical (Cape May Court House, New Jersey)
(L to R) Photo courtesy of Bemidji High School (Bemidji, MN); photo courtesy of Lebanon County Career and Technology Center (Lebanon, PA);
photo courtesy of Mayfair School (Philadelphia, PA)
“This course has done wonders for the perception of the trades among students. This program continues to attract students from all walks of life, allowing them to gain appreciation for the trades and the opportunities that exist after high school. Students become familiar with a multitude of tools that they otherwise would have no exposure to. The hands-on experience equips them with practical skills that are invaluable in today’s job market. It also fosters a sense of achievement and confidence as students complete tangible projects that reflect their learning and effort.”
Matthew Mawn, Assistant Principal, Roxbury High School – Structural Design & Fabrication
Photo courtesy of Roxbury High School (Succasunna, NJ)
(L to R) Photo courtesy of Western School of Technology & Environmental Science (Catonsville, MD); Photo courtesy of Mayfair School (Philadelphia, PA); Photo courtesy of Bemidji High School (Bemidji, MN)
Trades Education In Action
In a standout moment this year, Explore The Trades hosted a compelling panel discussion featuring Mayfair School
(Philadelphia, PA) skilled trades educator Evin Jarrett and Jamiah Washington, a former Mayfair student, who shared their personal experiences in the skilled trades. Their stories brought trades education to life and emphasized the importance of community advocacy.
Moderated by Executive Director Kate Cinnamo and Trustee Lauren Martin of Seaside Plumbing Inc., the conversation was rich with insight, inspiration, and real-world perspective.
With over 500 attendees, the event sparked renewed energy and commitment to raising awareness of the trades —
driven by the voices of those making a difference.
2025
resources
To inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals, Explore The Trades has built a resource library that
includes digital downloads and videos. These resources are built to inform and spark conversations about
careers in the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical trades. The library includes:
Classroom Resources
STEM and the Skilled Trades
Spanish Resources
Industry Information
Video Resources
Together, these materials make career exploration engaging and relatable, helping students
recognize their strengths and discover fulfilling paths in the trades right when career
curiosity begins.
Together, We Made an Impact
This year, we were thrilled to see so many passionate supporters come together at our fishing fundraiser and Hunting with Jack event.
Your presence, energy, and generosity helped us create unforgettable experiences while advancing our mission to build awareness of
careers in the skilled trades. Every cast, every conversation, and every shared moment brought us closer to inspiring the next generation of
trades professionals.
Thank you for your support of Explore The Trades!
Explore The Trades Welcomes New
Connections Coordinator
In 2025, Explore The Trades welcomed Rosa Dunn to the team as our Connections Coordinator!
Rosa, a Southern Virginia native, began her career as a history teacher before transitioning into instructional support and discovering a passion for career and technical education (CTE). She has since focused on helping students explore hands-on, in-demand career paths in the trades. Before coming to Explore The Trades most recently, Rosa directed multiple CTE programs, collaborating with instructors, students, and industry partners to expand access to quality training and real-world opportunities.
Rosa will seek to connect education and industry in the spirit of fulfilling Explore The Trades’ mission of bridging the technical talent gap to the service trades of plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical.
Explore The Trades Welcomes New
Trustees
Explore The Trades is proud to welcome Andrew Brown, Matt LaMartina, and Bailey Cullen to the organization’s board of trustees.
Andrew is the founder and owner of Trades Media and a founding member of the Skilled Trades Advisory Council.
He dedicates himself to helping the next generation discover the skilled trades through content creation and his podcast, “The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades”, as part of a movement to bring awareness, respect, and new opportunities to the trades.
Matt joined Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company in 2013. As president and owner, Matt oversees the daily operations of the company and works with his leadership team to manage their projects from beginning to end.
Matt lives in St. Louis with his family and loves watching the city continuously re-invent itself. “I love thinking about how we, as a small family-owned plumbing company, can innovate and revolutionize residential plumbing services in St. Louis… and beyond.”
Bailey Cullen is a finance professional specializing in Financial Planning & Analysis at Any Hour Group and serves as Treasurer of the Cullens for a Cause Foundation in Garden City, Idaho.
She is committed to strengthening communities through sound financial stewardship and philanthropic leadership. Through her work, Bailey supports initiatives that create meaningful impact and expand opportunities for individuals and families, reflecting her passion for service and long‑term
community investment.
Industry Partnership
Spotlight
Thank you to our industry partners whose generous support is helping build the next generation of skilled trades professionals!
Your commitment to giving back to the industry demonstrates the power of collaboration and creativity. From innovative programs to impactful contributions, these partnerships fuel education, training, and workforce development—ensuring a
strong pipeline of technical talent for years to come.
Interested in learning more about how partnership giving can strengthen your business and the skilled trades workforce? Contact our team today to explore opportunities and join this movement.
Explore The Trades In The Spotlight
Explore The Trades was honored to be featured on four podcasts in 2025 hosted by respected industry leaders and
organizations. These conversations gave us the opportunity to share our mission, highlight the importance of skilled trades
careers, and connect with audiences passionate about shaping the future of the workforce.
Thank you to our podcast partners for helping us spread the word and inspire the next generation of trades professionals!
2025
grant awards
Explore The Trades was awarded grant support from the following grantmaking organizations. We are proud to partner in our aligned goals to bolster skilled trades awareness and education in communities across the country.
$30,000
The Yelp Foundation's mission is to support charitable organizations and activities addressing the needs of local communities, including access to information, education, local economic development, and freedom of expression, and to promote a culture of philanthropy among employees of Yelp Inc.
This award is for unrestricted funding to support Explore The Trades’ mission and programs.
$21,000
Industry Forward® is Bradford White’s signature charitable giving program. Through this initiative, the company provides grants to eligible organizations to advance public awareness of the importance and value of the plumbing and HVAC industry including skilled trades, manufacturing, and distribution. By aligning resources and investing in key programs, Bradford White is making a positive impact in communities to help build a stronger and sustainable future for all.
This award will support Explore The Trades’ poster kit program, which includes career path posters in English and Spanish, as well as a kids' illustrated series for ages five-11.
Thank You
donors
Thank you to all Explore The Trades’ 2025 supporters!
We are grateful to partner with each of you to create a brighter future for the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical trades.
“The Skills Lab initiative has already grown the program, which is at the state maximum number of students. Future classes are already scheduled and full as well. Because of this initiative, enrollment has increased as has students’ ability to do things they couldn’t do before, including building trainers and servicing equipment.”
Holly Slater, Executive Director, Ivy Academy – HVAC
Photo courtesy of Ivy Academy (Soddy Daisy, TN)
Your gift today impacts the tradespeople of tomorrow.
Learn about ways you can support bringing the skilled trades back into the classroom below.