Last week, the Explore The Trades team traveled to Milwaukee for PHCC CONNECT 2026, the annual conference of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association, held October 19–22. Over two days, we connected with contractors from across the country who care about the future of the trades as much as we do. And before we left town, we got to see that future up close at Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, one of our Skills Lab recipient schools.
On the Show Floor
Among contractors across the country, the same sentiment remained: how does the industry bring in the next generation?
We talked with owners and industry partners about how Explore The Trades supports students and schools, from our poster kits to hands-on learning like our Skills Lab program.
It was also inspiring to see the PHCC Educational Foundation’s Plumbing Apprentice Contest on-site, a reminder of how much talent is already coming up through the industry and how much more is possible when young people are given the chance to discover it.
Inside Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education
The highlight of our trip came off the show floor. Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, part of Milwaukee Public Schools, received an Explore The Trades HVAC Skills Lab this past spring, and Antonio Washington, CTE instructor, welcomed us in for a tour to see how it’s being put to work.
Walking through the building, it was clear that the lab isn’t just equipment in a room. It’s a place where students get their hands on real tools, build confidence, and start to picture a career they may never have considered. That’s exactly what Skills Labs are designed to do.
Thank You
A big thank you to PHCC for a terrific week in Milwaukee, to everyone who stopped by our booth, and to the staff and students at Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education for opening their doors to us.
Want to help bring a Skills Lab to a school in your community? Learn more about Skills Labs or support Explore The Trades today!