Donor Spotlight
Joe Allen
Founder
JAS Wireless
Joe Allen founded JAS Wireless in 2003 with one clear mission: to help smaller companies lower their costs when dealing with the major wireless carriers.
But Joe’s impact goes far beyond business. Joe is an active volunteer and loves giving back to the community as a youth mentor.
“Trades work isn’t just honorable, it’s essential,” Joe says. “The world doesn’t run without skilled tradespeople”. That belief is what drew Joe to support Explore The Trades. A proud donor since 2007, he sees the organization’s mission as perfectly aligned with his own values: giving people the tools and opportunities to succeed.
A special thank you to those who supported Explore The Trades from April 1 – June 30, 2025.
Aiello Home Services*
Aux Home Services
Beltz Home Service Co*
Brandon Early Childhood Center
Elevate Market Research
Hickey Plumbing, Air & Electrical
James Gerdsen
JAS Wireless*
Lapeer High School
Maven Asset Management*
Nathan Hoff*
Pink Callers*
Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling*
Rosalie Elementary
Thornton & Grooms*
*A special thank you to our monthly donors for ongoing support!
Interested in renewing your gift or joining our community of monthly donors?
In Case You Missed It
Photo credit to Saginaw Career Complex (Saginaw, Michigan), a 2023-2024 HVAC Skills Lab recipient.
Explore The Trades and Ferguson Expand Skilled Trades Education with Equipment Grants to 10 Schools
The “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants were announced on May 7, 2025, in celebration of National Skilled Trades Day.
Ten schools are the newest recipients of the Skills Lab equipment grants, which are projected to reach over 1,500 students this upcoming school year. This dynamic program has experienced rapid growth since it began in 2021 and has now delivered equipment to 32 high schools and three middle schools in 17 states across the country.
Is there a Skills Lab near you? If you’re a home service company located nearby, we encourage you to reach out and connect! Your industry expertise can help schools bring CTE instruction to life for the next generation of trades professionals.
View the list of recipients, including our first ever electrical lab, at the link below!
Explore The Trades News
Explore The Trades Welcomes New Connections Coordinator
Explore The Trades welcomes Rosa Dunn to the team as the new 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. 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 Andrew Brown to Board of Trustees
Explore The Trades is proud to welcome Andrew Brown to the organization’s board of trustees. He will play a valuable role in guiding the strategic direction of the organization.
Andrew is the founder of Toolfetch 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.
The organization is thrilled to have Andrew on board.
Welcome, Andrew!
This past May, our team traveled to Bemidji, Minnesota to visit Bemidji High School—a 2023-2024 Skills Lab equipment grant recipient.
The school hosted a special event, showcasing students’ incredible year-long work: the construction of a full-scale home in the Bemidji community.
Learn more about the school visit in the blog linked below
Giving Back is Good for Business
Giving back isn’t just good for the community—it’s good for business.
Our partners at Business Modification Group put together blogs highlighting how supporting causes like skilled trades education can elevate your brand, build trust, and create a legacy of impact.
At Explore The Trades, we believe every business has a story worth sharing—especially when that story includes investing in the next generation of plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians.
Check out the blogs at the link below to learn how supporting workforce development can elevate your business.
Explore The Trades Participates in Industry Podcasts
Explore The Trades Executive Director, Kate Cinnamo, was welcomed onto the CMMS Radio Podcast, and Contracting Business‘ HVAC CHATS Podcast to discuss the state of skilled trades awareness and how industry can play a role in helping schools grow their trades programs.
Tune in with the link below!
Your Impact
With the generous support of donors like you, Explore The Trades continues to expand the reach of its skilled trades classroom resources across the country.
Since 2021, Explore The Trades’ resources have made their way into classrooms in 2,251 public school districts, equating to 16.9% of all U.S. public school districts. This impacts nearly 850,000 students.
With your support, we began distributing our NEW Spanish and kids’ posters. These new classroom resources have already made their way into 161 schools in 41 states across the country!
Explore The Trades strives to have a presence in 25% of all U.S. public school districts by December 31, 2025!
Request our new resources or make a contribution to help us reach our goal with the link below!
