ONE MILLION STUDENTS IMPACTED!
Because of generous donor support, more than ONE MILLION students have discovered the trades!
Thanks to donors like you, Explore The Trades’ classroom resources now reach 21.7% of U.S. public school districts
— that’s 2,893 nationwide.
Join us as fellow trades advocates in your communities to help us reach our goal of 3,330 districts by December 31, 2025.
Whether you’re a home service company, an industry partner, or someone who loves the trades, you can help us reach our goal by:
Requesting a free poster kit to share with local schools.
Downloading our classroom resourcesto introduce students to plumbing, HVAC, and electrical careers.
Introducing local schools to our ‘More Than an Elective’ program and becoming a partner to bring trades education to the classroom.
Make a gift, become a monthly supporter, or partner with us to support our programs!
Together, we can build awareness and inspire the next generation of trades professionals.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Kristyn Kelley Director of Operations and Innovation
State Energy Inc.
State Energy Inc., a family-run air conditioning company serving South Florida since 1986, was founded on honesty, integrity, and “The Mark Standard” – a commitment to doing the right thing, every time.
Today, Kristyn Worrell Kelley carries forward her parents’ legacy while modernizing operations and strengthening the skilled trades pipeline. An enthusiastic supporter of Explore The Trades, Kristyn champions workforce development, especially for women, and leads local STEM initiatives that connect educators with real-world experiences. Through these efforts, she is bridging education and industry, ensuring students see HVAC and the skilled trades as purposeful, future-forward careers.
Follow the link below to learn more about Kristyn!
A special thank you to those who supported Explore The Trades from
July 1 – September 30, 2025.
Aiello Home Services*
Avoca AI
BEC Group
Beltz Home Service Co*
Daniel Annamanthado
Davis Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Electric
Elevate Market Research
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.
General Air Conditioning & Plumbing
Hickey Plumbing, Air & Electrical
HD Supply
Healing Through Compassion
JAS Wireless*
John M. Cullen
Maven Asset Management*
Michael Bergstrom
Mike Williams Plumbing, Heating, Cooling
N H Ross
Nathan Hoff*
Pink Callers*
Rainaldi Home Services
Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling*
Ryan Kiscaden
ShuBee
SkillCat
State Energy, Inc.*
Teresa & Jamie Gerdsen
Thornton & Grooms*
*A special thank you to our monthly donors for their ongoing support!
Interested in renewing your gift or joining our community of monthly donors?
EXPLORE THE TRADES ON THE ROAD
Explore The Trades to Attend Service World Expo
Explore The Trades will attend the 2025 Service World Expo in Las Vegas, NV from October 26-30.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the event will bring together thousands of residential contractors, suppliers, and industry leaders for five days of learning, networking, and innovation.
Come visit us at booth 2214! Our team is eager to connect with attendees to spark meaningful conversations about workforce development and the future of the technical talent pipeline.
Learn more about the conference at the link below.
EXPLORE THE TRADES NEWS
Skills Lab Equipment Grant Applications Now Open!
Explore The Trades is thrilled to announce the return of the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program, proudly built in partnership with Ferguson. This initiative helps schools across the country create hands-on learning spaces that introduce students to the plumbing and HVAC trades..
Since its launch in 2021, this program has equipped 35 schools in 17 states with real-world training tools, impacting over 3,500 middle and high school students!
As a valued partner in the home services industry, this is your opportunity to help grow the next generation of skilled trades professionals. Whether you’re looking to support a local school or spread the word to your network, your involvement is needed to support the technical talent pipeline of the future.
Applications opened Wednesday, October 1st.
Learn more about how you can get involved and support the program at the link below.
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(L to R) Photo courtesy of Mayfair School, a 2023-2024 Skills Lab grant recipient. Photo courtesy of Bemidji High School, a 2023-2024 Skills Lab grant recipient.
Turn a Demo into a Donation!
Explore The Trades is proud to partner with pulseM + Customer Lobby and EverConnect to support the next generation of skilled trades professionals. Now through the end of the year, when plumbing, HVAC, or electrical contractors complete a demo with either company, a $50 donation will be made to Explore The Trades—at no cost to you!
These partnerships make it easy to grow your business and make a difference:
- pulseM + Customer Lobby: Automate customer touchpoints, generate 5-star reviews, and drive retention—all while supporting trades education.
- EverConnect: Get a steady stream of qualified leads with EverConnect’s exclusive lead generation and suite of digital marketing services.
Your demo helps fund classroom resources, equipment grants, and school partnerships that introduce students to plumbing, HVAC, and electrical careers. Let’s build the future of the trades—together.
Explore The Trades Welcomes New Board Member!
Explore The Trades is proud to welcome Matt LaMartina to the organization’s board of trustees.
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.
His responsibilities include executing long-term business strategy, hiring exceptional people, providing the best “total solution” through highly personalized service and advice, and strategically marketing to customers who place significant value on a company’s reputation.
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.”
Learn more about Tony LaMartina Plumbng Company below!
Help Build the Future of the Trades by Partnering with Schools
A key part of Explore The Trades’ mission to bridge the technical talent gap is supporting partnerships between businesses like yours and local schools to create strong talent pathways. Explore The Trades created a survey designed to help us understand how businesses like yours are willing to engage with educational institutions or what challenges might be preventing you from doing so. Your insights will help the organization strengthen connections between industry and education, creating more opportunities for students and future tradespeople.
If you’re ready to be part of the solution and connect with future skilled trades professionals, fill out the interest form today and start making a difference.
Follow the link below to get started!
Donors of Explore The Trades support the next generation of tradespeople and the legacy of the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical trades.
To our supporters, we thank you.
To learn more about supporting Explore The Trades and its donors, click the link below.