School is back in session, and so is a special edition of Trades Talk!
This month, we’re sharing extra resources, stories, and opportunities to help inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
Join Explore The Trades at
Future in Focus!
There’s still time to join us for Future in Focus on September 17, 2026 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.
Meet the Leaders Shaping the Future of the Trades
Connect with members of our featured Leading The Trades panel, including Evin Jarrett, Construction Trades Instructor at Mayfair School; Judaline Cassidy, founder of Tools & Tiaras and member of Plumbers Local Union No. 1; and Andrew Brown, founder of Trades Media, host of The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades podcast, and Explore The Trades Board Trustee.
Seats are limited. Register today to connect with industry leaders and help build the future of the skilled trades.
Kids Poster Series Now
Available in Spanish
Explore The Trades’ popular Kids Poster Series is now available in Spanish! Designed for children ages 5-11, these colorful posters introduce students to the skilled trades and the important roles technicians play in keeping our communities running.
Perfect for classrooms, career exploration activities, and community programs, these free resources help spark curiosity and build awareness of skilled trade careers at an early age.
Visit our website today to download the English and Spanish poster series!
Ready for Career Day?
We’ve Got You Covered
Businesses, are you being asked to participate in career days or classroom presentations but aren’t sure where to start?
Let Explore The Trades help. Our Contractor Toolkit is designed to take the guesswork out of student engagement by providing practical resources, tips, and tools to help you confidently connect with the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
Download the Contractor Toolkit today and start building your future workforce.
Turn Customer Feedback Into Business Growth
The best home service businesses know that delivering an exceptional customer experience goes hand in hand with building a strong team.
Join Explore The Trades and pulseM + Customer Lobby on Thursday, September 10 at 1 p.m. ET for a free webinar exploring how customer feedback can help strengthen your business today while investing in the future of the skilled trades.
You’ll discover how to use customer feedback to enhance the customer experience, develop and retain employees, identify the metrics that drive growth, and support the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
Reserve your spot today and learn how customer insights can make a lasting impact on your business and the industry as a whole.
Donor Spotlight: Zoeller Pump Company
For more than 85 years, Zoeller Pump Company has been a trusted leader in the wastewater and water pump industry, helping ensure clean, reliable water systems for communities across the country. As a family-owned company built on quality, innovation, and integrity, Zoeller understands the critical role skilled trades professionals play in maintaining the infrastructure that supports everyday life.
Through its support of career and technical education, Zoeller is helping inspire the next generation of plumbing and water systems professionals. By connecting students with rewarding, hands-on career opportunities, the company is investing in the workforce needed to keep essential water and wastewater systems running for years to come.
Read the full Donor Spotlight on our website to learn more about Zoeller Pump Company’s commitment to the next generation of the skilled trades.
Skills Lab Spotlight: Northeast Metro 916 Career & Technical Center
Exciting progress is underway at Northeast Metro 916 Career & Technical Center in Minnesota, where a new Skills Lab is coming together through the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program.
Last month, members of the Explore The Trades team visited the school as equipment arrived for the lab and had the opportunity to meet with instructor Brian Linzmeier and principal Michelle Baland. Their enthusiasm for creating hands-on learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in the skilled trades made it clear that this lab will have a meaningful impact for years to come.
Brian Linzmeier, Instructor at Northeast Metro 916 Career & Technical Center (White Bear Lake, MN)
(L to R: Tom Quinlan, Market Branch Manager, Ferguson; Brian Linzmeier, Instructor, NE Metro 916 Career & Tech Center; Michelle Baland, Principal, NE Metro 916 Career & Tech Center; Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director, Explore The Trades)
Made possible through the support of Ferguson, the Skills Lab will help students gain real-world experience and develop the skills needed for successful careers in the skilled trades trades.
Interested in bringing a Skills Lab to a school in your community? Learn more about the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program on our website and watch for the next application cycle, which opens October 1.
Thank you to our 2026 Partners!
The Campbell Family
James Gerdsen
Anthony Cooper
John M. Cullen
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.