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  • Inside Aircraft Maintenance Careers: Pay, Pathways & the Fight to Keep Talent (with AMFA)

    Inside Aircraft Maintenance Careers: Pay, Pathways & the Fight to Keep Talent (with AMFA)
    2026/05/05
    Aircraft maintenance technician careers start at $75K and climb past six figures — but a 40,000-person shortage is threatening aviation. Rob Cush of AMFA joins Andrew Brown.By 2028, the aviation industry is expected to hit peak retirements — and the average aircraft maintenance technician is already 56 or 57 years old. The wave is coming. At the same time, new A&P graduates are being poached between school and their first job by oil and gas, because a $500–$1,000 testing cost creates a 60–120 day gap that other industries are happy to fill. The pipeline is leaking at every stage.Rob Cush is the Director of Government Affairs at AMFA (Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association) and an aircraft maintenance controller at Southwest Airlines. He's spent decades on the floor turning wrenches — and now he takes that firsthand experience directly to Capitol Hill, advocating for workforce funding, veteran transition programs, and pathways to bring more young people and women into aviation maintenance.If you're a trade-minded person looking for a career that pays well, offers real advancement, and keeps planes in the sky — or if you work in workforce development and want to understand what aviation maintenance needs right now — this episode is for you.IN THIS EPISODE(00:00) – The 40,000 Technician Crisis: Rob breaks down the scale of the aircraft maintenance shortage and the retirement wave hitting peak in 2028.(05:00) – Why Gen Z Is Choosing Oil & Gas: Work-life balance is beating pay — how airlines are rethinking day shift access to compete for new graduates.(12:00) – The Testing Bottleneck Nobody Talks About: The $500–$1,000 cost of DME oral and practical exams is creating a 60–120 day gap where other industries poach new A&P graduates before they get licensed.(20:00) – Veterans and Women: The Untapped Pipeline: Only 8.3% of military AMTs continue in civilian aviation, and only 2.8% of technicians are female — and in both cases, awareness is the biggest barrier.(30:00) – Building the Pipeline Earlier: From Choose Aerospace high school programs to military SkillBridge partnerships, how AMFA is reaching future technicians before they choose a different path.(38:00) – Career Ladder and Mentorship: Rob's journey from apprentice to Capitol Hill — and why passing on tribal knowledge before the retirement wave hits is the most urgent challenge in the industry.Key TakeawaysThe aircraft maintenance industry is facing a shortage of 40,000 technicians by 2028, driven by a retirement wave among a workforce whose average age is already 56–57.New A&P graduates are being lost in the gap between finishing school and getting licensed — a $500–$1,000 DME testing cost creates a 60–120 day window where oil and gas steps in and takes them.Only 8.3% of military veterans with aviation maintenance experience continue into civilian AMT roles — and the primary reason is that most of them didn't know the pathway existed.Aircraft maintenance careers are far from a dead end: from line mechanic to maintenance control, inspection, management, or government affairs, the ladder is long — and Rob Cush is proof of how far it can go.About the GuestRob Cush is the Director of Government Affairs at AMFA (Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association) and an aircraft maintenance controller at Southwest Airlines. He entered the industry through the Southwest apprenticeship program in 1996, spent 11 years as a line mechanic, and has spent the last two decades in maintenance control. AMFA represents approximately 6,600 technicians across Southwest, Alaska, Hawaiian, Spirit, Sun Country, WestJet, Jazz, and other carriers in the US and Canada.Rob leads AMFA's advocacy on Capitol Hill, where he helped secure $20 million for aircraft maintenance training in the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill, works to improve veteran transition pathways, and is building awareness programs to bring more women and young people into the A&P pipeline.Keywordsaircraft maintenance technician, A&P mechanic, aviation workforce shortage, aircraft mechanic career, AMT shortage, A&P license, 147 school, DME testing, oral and practical exam, A&P school, aviation apprenticeship, aircraft maintenance training, aviation career pathway, avionics, Rob Cush, AMFA, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Southwest Airlines, Choose Aerospace, FAA reauthorization 2024, military to civilian aviation, women in aviation, skilled trades career, Gen Z tradesRESOURCE LINKSRob Cush on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-cush-55b1a936/ AMFA National Website: https://www.amfanational.org/SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you found value in this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep telling the stories of the skilled trades.
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    41 分
  • What SkillsUSA Builds That Employers Actually Need | Serenity Satterfield

    What SkillsUSA Builds That Employers Actually Need | Serenity Satterfield
    2026/04/28

    What are employers actually looking for in the next generation of tradespeople? According to Serenity Satterfield, it’s not just technical skill. It’s confidence, communication, professionalism, and the ability to step up before you feel fully ready.

    That is what SkillsUSA is building.

    Serenity Satterfield is the SkillsUSA National High School President, and her own story shows why the organization matters. She went from a small chapter in San Bernardino, California, to advocating for career and technical education on Capitol Hill and serving in national office — all because she kept saying yes to opportunities that pushed her outside her comfort zone.

    Through competitions, leadership development, community service, and a framework that blends personal, workplace, and technical skills, SkillsUSA is preparing students for far more than a first job. It is helping shape the kind of young professionals employers actually want to hire.

    This conversation is for employers looking for talent, students exploring the skilled trades, and educators who want to understand how leadership, soft skills, and technical training come together in one of the country’s most influential workforce development organizations.

    IN THIS EPISODE

    (00:00) – From Small Bubble to National Office

    Serenity shares how one decision to get uncomfortable took her from a small chapter in California to national leadership and advocacy on Capitol Hill.

    (01:45) – What SkillsUSA Actually Builds

    Serenity breaks down how SkillsUSA develops students through competitions, community service, and leadership development — not just technical training.

    (04:15) – The Soft Skills Employers Notice First

    Why handshakes, eye contact, confidence, and professionalism stand out so clearly in SkillsUSA students and matter so much in the real workforce.

    (08:06) – Where Companies Find Their Next Superstar

    Andrew explains why employers looking for welders, plumbers, carpenters, and other trades talent should be paying attention to SkillsUSA competitions.

    (13:03) – SkillsUSA Goes Bigger Than Atlanta

    How WorldSkills turns career and technical education into a global stage — and why students chase the chance to represent their country.

    (15:21) – Say Yes Before You Feel Ready

    Serenity reflects on fear, confidence, and what happens when students choose growth before certainty.

    Key Takeaways

    Employers are not just hiring for technical ability: they are looking for communication, professionalism, initiative, and confidence — and SkillsUSA is intentionally building those traits into student development.

    SkillsUSA works because it combines technical training with leadership practice: competitions, community service, and real responsibility give students a chance to apply what they learn instead of just hearing about it.

    The skilled trades pipeline is full of talent when people know where to look: from welding and carpentry to electrical, plumbing, and media, SkillsUSA creates visible pathways into real careers.

    Confidence grows after the decision, not before it: Serenity’s journey shows that many of the biggest opportunities come after saying yes while still feeling nervous.

    About the Guest

    Serenity Satterfield is the SkillsUSA National High School President, representing one of the largest student-led workforce development organizations in the United States. Through her leadership and advocacy, she promotes career and technical education, workforce readiness, and leadership development across the skilled trades.

    Her journey began in a smaller chapter in San Bernardino, California, before growing into state leadership, national office, and advocacy work in Washington, D.C. Today, she speaks about the power of saying yes to growth, building confidence through discomfort, and creating stronger pathways for students entering the workforce.

    Keywords

    SkillsUSA, skilled trades, career and technical education, workforce development, soft skills, leadership development, student success, trades careers, workforce pipeline, welding, carpentry, HVAC, electricians, plumbers, construction, WorldSkills, Serenity Satterfield, Andrew Brown

    RESOURCE LINKS

    Serenity Satterfield on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/serenity-saterfield-692222323/

    SkillsUSA Website: https://www.skillsusa.org/

    SUPPORT THE SHOW

    If you found value in this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep telling the stories of the skilled trades.
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    49 分
  • Everyone Talks About Supporting the Trades. SupplyHouse Actually Does It

    Everyone Talks About Supporting the Trades. SupplyHouse Actually Does It
    2026/04/21
    The trades don’t have a shortage of interest — they have a bottleneck at the point of entry.Christine Boehm of SupplyHouse.com breaks down how skilled trades scholarships and trade school scholarships are removing the barriers most people never see — and opening doors that were never accessible to begin with.For years, workforce development in the trades has focused on awareness: getting more young people to consider careers in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and construction. But interest isn’t the problem. The real gap shows up after someone decides they’re in — when cost, access, and lack of support stop them before they ever get started.Christine leads communications and content at SupplyHouse.com and works closely with the Supply House Foundation to expand access into the trades through scholarships, partnerships, and industry advocacy. Her work focuses on building a system that doesn’t just attract attention — but clears the path for people to actually enter, stay, and build long-term careers.This conversation is for contractors trying to hire in a tight labor market, for career changers looking for a real path into the trades, and for companies trying to understand what it takes to turn interest into a workforce.In This Episode(00:00) – Beyond AwarenessAndrew introduces Christine Boehm and reframes the trades conversation: the issue isn’t attention — it’s access.(05:18) – How the Scholarship Model StartedThe origin of SupplyHouse.com’s skilled trades scholarships and why financial barriers stop more people than lack of interest.(11:22) – The Access GapWhy career changers struggle to enter the trades — and how workforce development efforts often miss the people who need them most.(18:40) – Women in the TradesWhat’s driving growth, what’s still missing, and how representation directly connects to opportunity.(26:55) – Building an EcosystemHow the Supply House Foundation is expanding beyond trade school scholarships into partnerships, nonprofits, and long-term support.(36:10) – Mentorship and MomentumWhy mentorship, contractor involvement, and real-world guidance determine whether someone stays in the trades or leaves early.Key TakeawaysAccess — not awareness — is the real barrier into the trades.Interest in trades careers is growing, but without financial support and structured entry points like skilled trades scholarships and trade school scholarships, most potential workers never make it past step one.Workforce development requires more than recruitment.Bringing people into the trades is only the beginning — long-term success depends on support systems, mentorship, and clear pathways that help individuals build sustainable careers.Expanding participation strengthens the entire industry.Increasing representation, especially among women in the trades, is not just about inclusion — it directly impacts the size, resilience, and future of the workforce.Scholarships are a starting point, not the solution.Programs like the Supply House Foundation show that real impact comes from combining financial support with partnerships, education, and ongoing industry engagement.About the GuestChristine Boehm is the Communications and Content Team Lead at SupplyHouse.com, where she leads initiatives focused on strengthening the skilled trades through scholarships, storytelling, and workforce development programs. She works closely with the Supply House Foundation to expand access into the trades, support women entering the industry, and build partnerships that help the next generation of tradespeople succeed.Keywordsskilled trades scholarships, trade school scholarships, workforce development in the trades, Supply House Foundation, women in the trades, skilled trades, trades careers, contractors, workforce pipeline, advocacy, education, HVAC, electricians, plumbers, construction, craftsmanship, problem-solving, Andrew Brown, Christine Boehm, SupplyHouse.com, Lost Art of the Skilled TradesResource LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-boehm-marketing/SupplyHouse.com: https://www.supplyhouse.comFoundation Contact: foundation@supplyhouse.comSupport the ShowIf you found value in this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep telling the stories of the skilled trades.
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    45 分
  • What the Trades Don't See (But We Do) | Aaron Witt, BuildWitt

    What the Trades Don't See (But We Do) | Aaron Witt, BuildWitt
    2026/04/14

    What the Trades Don't See (But We Do) | Aaron Witt, BuildWitt

    Aaron Witt of BuildWitt has visited job sites on 5 continents. His take: the trades' biggest problem isn't negative perception — it's invisibility.

    Most people in the trades blame the younger generation. They say Gen Z is lazy, college-obsessed, or soft. But Aaron Witt — who showed up to his first construction job at 18 with zero background — says the real problem is structural. The industry built its entire training model around workers who grew up in the trades. Now a whole generation is showing up without that baseline knowledge, and the industry is yelling at them for it instead of teaching them.

    Aaron Witt is the founder of BuildWitt, a media and workforce development company that travels the skilled trades world — from Arctic diamond mines to Saudi Arabia — to tell the stories of the people keeping the world running. He's spent 13 years inside the industry as an outsider, and that vantage point gives him a clear view of what the people inside the fishbowl can't see.

    This conversation is for employers who keep losing workers within 90 days, for 17-year-olds trying to figure out their path in an AI-disrupted world, and for anyone who wants to understand why the trades pipeline is broken — and what actually fixes it.

    IN THIS EPISODE

    (00:00) – The Fishbowl: Why being outside the trades gives Aaron and Andrew a clearer view of what the industry is missing.

    (06:00) – Not Even in the Race: The trades don't have a perception problem — they have an invisibility problem, and the industry doesn't realize the difference.

    (15:00) – 5 Continents, One Truth: How BuildWitt went from Instagram posts on a road construction site to visiting a diamond mine near the Arctic Circle — and what Aaron sees that's the same everywhere.

    (26:00) – The Old Model Is Dead: Why the "trial by fire" approach to training worked for 40 years — and why applying it to today's workforce is a guaranteed way to lose people.

    (36:00) – Who Raised Gen Z?: The real retention crisis, the 50% turnover rate for workers under 25, and why the generation complaining about Gen Z raised them.

    (47:00) – Trades vs. AI: Why data centers can't be built without skilled trades, why white-collar work gets disrupted first, and what Aaron would tell a 17-year-old today.

    Key Takeaways

    The trades don't have a perception problem — they have an invisibility problem. The next generation isn't choosing against the trades; they never knew the trades were an option.

    The old training model was built for workers who grew up around the trades and arrived with 15 years of background knowledge. That worker no longer exists — and the industry has to build a new model for the worker that does.

    Over 50% of workers under 25 who enter the trades leave within months. Before blaming Gen Z, employers need to ask: Do these workers know what day one looks like? Do they have a mentor? Do they have a reason to stay?

    Skilled trades may be the safest career bet in an AI-disrupted economy. Law gets disrupted before welding. White-collar offices get disrupted before equipment operation. Every data center being built right now requires skilled trades workers.

    About the Guest

    Aaron Witt is the founder of BuildWitt, a media and workforce development company dedicated to the skilled trades and civil construction industries. He started BuildWitt in 2018 by sharing photos on Instagram from a road construction job site — and has since traveled to over 30 states annually and across five continents, visiting construction and mining operations from the Saudi desert to a diamond mine near the Arctic Circle.

    Aaron's work focuses on changing how the next generation sees the trades — not through marketing spin, but by showing the raw, real, unfiltered reality of the work. BuildWitt produces workforce training content, storytelling media, and leadership resources for the companies building the world.

    Keywords

    skilled trades, workforce development, civil construction, Gen Z in trades, trades career path, trades workforce shortage, equipment operator, welding, HVAC, apprenticeship, trades retention, Aaron Witt, BuildWitt, SkillsUSA, Andrew Brown, Lost Art of the Skilled Trades

    RESOURCE LINKS

    Aaron Witt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwitt/

    BuildWitt Website: https://buildwitt.com/

    SUPPORT THE SHOW

    If you found value in this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep telling the stories of the skilled trades.
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    57 分
  • What Happens After 30 Years in the Trades? | Herb Sargent

    What Happens After 30 Years in the Trades? | Herb Sargent
    2026/03/31
    What if the real workforce problem isn't recruiting — it's that we're handing young people tools before we've taught them how to live? Herb Sargent, recently retired CEO and Board Chair of Sargent Corporation, has spent decades proving there's a better way.Herb watched a man named Freedom — a 70-year-old truck driver shuffling between offices and a trailer he lived in — and made a decision: nobody who works for Sargent Corporation would retire without dignity. That commitment turned into a full workforce development system that teaches budgeting, retirement planning, soft skills, and career pathways — before a single shovel hits the ground.Herb Sargent is the recently retired CEO and Board Chair of Sargent Corporation, a 100% employee-owned civil construction company founded in Maine in 1926. Under his leadership, Sargent grew to 550+ employee-owners, built a construction academy that helped grow their under-25 workforce from 10% to 25%, and achieved 1 million injury-free man-hours through a single five-second mindset shift.If you lead a trades company, run a workforce development program, or are trying to recruit and retain Gen Z workers, this conversation is exactly what you need to hear.IN THIS EPISODE(00:00) – Legacy Before We Begin: Herb opens with the question he asks every veteran worker — what do you want your legacy to be — and it reframes the entire episode.(06:00) – Life Skills Before Job Skills: Herb explains how COVID exposed a generation that never worked at McDonald's, and why Sargent Corporation decided to meet new hires where they are — budgeting, financial literacy, and retirement planning first.(13:00) – The Freedom Story: The truck driver named Freedom — shuffling to his trailer at 70 years old — became the moment that defined Herb's mission to ensure every employee retires with dignity.(20:00) – Take Five: How one question ("what else could I do that takes the guesswork out of it?") transformed Sargent's safety culture and drove a full million man-hours without a lost time injury.(30:00) – Welcome vs. Belonging: There's a difference between showing someone where the fridge is and making them feel like they belong. Herb explains the onboarding and mentorship system that keeps Gen Z workers engaged and growing.(42:00) – Sources, Not Resources: Herb shares how reframing veteran operators as sources — not just resources — and asking them about their legacy turned the most resistant employees into the best mentors on the jobsite.Key TakeawaysTeaching life skills — budgeting, financial planning, how to show up — before job skills is not soft, it's strategic: workers who understand how to build a life stay longer, perform better, and retire with dignity.The "Take Five" approach — asking workers to pause five seconds and ask "what else could I do that removes the guesswork?" — is simple enough to use every day and powerful enough to drive one million injury-free man-hours.Welcome and belonging are not the same thing: welcome is showing someone where the fridge is, belonging is sharing expectations, giving them a voice, and checking in at 30, 60, and 90 days so they always know where they stand.Legacy framing transforms resistant veterans into invested mentors — when you ask an experienced operator what they want their legacy to be, most have never thought about it, and the answer changes how they show up for the next generation.About the GuestHerb Sargent is the recently retired CEO and Board Chair of Sargent Corporation, a civil construction company founded by his grandfather in Orono, Maine in 1926. Over his career, Herb worked every role in the company before eventually buying it back and transitioning it to 100% employee ownership. Under his leadership, Sargent grew to 550+ employee-owners and became recognized across the Northeast for its workforce development and safety culture.Herb is the creator of Sargent's Construction Academy and the "Take Five" safety program, and has dedicated the later part of his career to ensuring every tradesperson — from laborer to superintendent — has the life skills, financial literacy, and mentorship they need to build a meaningful career and retire with dignity.Keywordsskilled trades workforce, construction workforce development, life skills for trades workers, Gen Z in construction, trades mentorship, employee ownership, construction safety, workforce pipeline, career pathways in construction, trades career development, labor shortage, jobsite culture, apprenticeship, employee retention, Herb Sargent, Sargent Corporation, The Lost Art of the Skilled TradesRESOURCE LINKSHerb Sargent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herb-sargent-29a791152/Sargent Corporation Website: https://www.sargent.usSUPPORT THE SHOWIf you found value in this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep telling the stories of the skilled trades.
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    39 分
  • 300,000 Welders Short and It's Getting Worse

    300,000 Welders Short and It's Getting Worse
    2026/03/24
    The welder shortage has never improved in 30 years. Kris Scherm of ESAB explains why — and what it will take to fix the pipeline.When Kris Scherm entered the welding industry in the nineties, the American Welding Society reported a 150,000 welder shortage. Three decades later, that number is projected at 320,500 by 2029 — and it has never once gotten smaller. With the average shipbuilder now in their late 50s, the pipeline problem is about to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.Kris Scherm is a 30-year veteran of the welding industry and Global Product and Business Director for Light Industrial Plasma at ESAB — one of the world's leading welding and cutting companies. He's worked at the Bay Bridge, SpaceX facilities, Ford manufacturing plants, Newport News Shipbuilding, and dozens of facilities across North America. This conversation was recorded live at ESAB in Denton, Texas.This episode is for anyone who works in the skilled trades, leads a manufacturing or welding operation, or is trying to figure out how to attract the next generation to a career with their hands. Kris breaks down the workforce crisis, the Blue Collar Tour bringing welding to high schools, and why — once you realize how much welding holds the world together — you'll never walk anywhere the same way again.IN THIS EPISODE(00:00) – Introduction: Andrew and Kris open live from ESAB in Denton, Texas, where Kris shares how a Norwegian grandfather who built PT boats in WWII set him on a lifelong path in the trades.(00:04) – Why Welding Captures You: Kris explains what makes welding unlike any other trade — and why "if you can weld, you're a demigod" who can join metal in ways no hammer and nail ever could.(00:09) – The 300,000 Welder Shortage: The AWS shortage number has never improved in 30 years. Kris breaks down what's driving it, why AI won't save us, and what happens when an entire generation of welders ages out at once.(00:14) – The Blue Collar Tour: Western Welding Academy is taking welding on the road to high schools across the country — and ESAB is alongside them. Kris describes what happens when a kid sees a live weld for the first time.(00:19) – Mentorship and Giving Back: Kris gets personal about why mentorship matters — and why the operator who's run that machine for 10 years knows more than any outside expert walking in the door.(00:25) – The Wildest Problem-Solving Story: A mystery that warrantied two power supplies, stumped a team for days, and was finally cracked by a cigarette break and a string of passing cars.Key TakeawaysThe welder shortage has existed for over 30 years and has never improved — the AWS projects a shortage of 320,500 welders by 2029 in the U.S. alone; globally, the gap is in the millions.Welding is a technology that touches everything from the Bay Bridge to smartphones to aircraft carriers — and once you start seeing welds everywhere, you can't stop.AI is not going to replace the welder: someone still has to perform the weld, spec the process, and solve the problem on the floor — and that requires a human with hard-won skills.The most valuable expert on any production line isn't the outside consultant — it's the operator who's been running that machine every day and knows every sound it makes.About the GuestKris Scherm is the Global Product and Business Director for Light Industrial Plasma and Engine Driven Welders at ESAB, one of the world's leading manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment. With 30 years in the welding industry, Kris has worked on-site at some of the most impressive manufacturing facilities in the world — from the Bay Bridge project and SpaceX to Newport News Shipbuilding, where the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers are built.Kris's work takes him across the globe to help manufacturers improve productivity, reduce costs, and introduce the next generation to the craft of welding. He is an active supporter of the Blue Collar Tour and Western Welding Academy's mission to bring hands-on welding experiences to students across the country.Keywordswelder shortage, welding career, skilled trades workforce, plasma cutting, welding jobs, workforce development, blue collar careers, trade careers, Gen Z in trades, apprenticeship, manufacturing jobs, shipbuilding, CNC plasma cutting, ESAB, Kris Scherm, American Welding Society, AWS, Western Welding Academy, Blue Collar Tour, Andrew Brown, Lost Art of the Skilled Trades, welding industry, industrial tradesRESOURCE LINKS Kris Scherm on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisscherm/ ESAB Website: https://www.esab.com American Welding Society Workforce Data: https://www.weldingworkforcedata.com Western Welding Academy: https://westernweldingacademy.comSUPPORT THE SHOWIf you found value in this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep telling the stories of the skilled trades.
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    34 分
  • Sarah Stork Started Welding at 32… Now She Builds Steel Sculptures

    Sarah Stork Started Welding at 32… Now She Builds Steel Sculptures
    2026/03/17
    Welder and metal artist Sarah Stork went from farm chores to SkillsUSA national champion — and built a thriving sculpture business on her own terms.When the guys on her SkillsUSA team laughed her off on the spot, Sarah didn't sulk — she found a new event, taught herself welded sculpture from scratch, and placed second in the country on her first attempt. The year after that, she won gold. That's not beginner's luck. That's what happens when someone with the right instincts finally finds the right trade.Sarah Stork is a Georgetown, Texas-based welder, metal artist, and owner of her own sculpture studio. She holds an associate degree in welding technology from Austin Community College and certificates in plate, pipe, and structural fabrication. She's competed at the highest levels of SkillsUSA, built a wait-listed commission business, and has become one of the most recognized welded sculpture artists in the skilled trades community.This episode is for anyone who's ever been told they don't belong in the trades — and for anyone trying to turn a welding skill into a business. Sarah breaks down how she got started, what it really takes to build a welding career from scratch, and why the metal industry will always have a place for people willing to put in the work.IN THIS EPISODE(00:00) – Welcome & Sarah's Origin Story: Why a Texas farm wife enrolled in welding school in 2012 — and how a plan to build a simple fence launched a career in metal sculpture.(05:30) – Getting Laughed Off — Then Winning Gold: How being rejected from a team fabrication event led Sarah to discover welded sculpture, compete at SkillsUSA nationals, and win first place in 2016.(15:00) – From College Shop to Home Studio: The path from lab technician at Austin Community College to walking off a pipeline job and launching a full-time welding sculpture business in 2018.(23:00) – Women in Welding & The Metal Sandwich: Sarah's response to being told to "go make a sandwich" — and what she built instead. Why skilled trades work isn't about gender, it's about skill.(31:00) – Using LinkedIn and Social Media to Build a Client Base: How Sarah found her first commission clients online, why LinkedIn outperforms Instagram for serious buyers, and what posting consistently during COVID did for her welding business.(40:00) – The Craft, the Process, and the Blue Heron: What it takes to hand-form a six-foot steel bird with hundreds of individual feathers, why the best sculptures are "the ones that are done," and the one tool that changed everything.Key TakeawaysSkillsUSA competitions aren't just for high schoolers — college students compete too, and placing nationally can redefine your entire welding career trajectory.You don't need a website to build a thriving welding business — Sarah runs her entire client pipeline through LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok under her own name.TIG welding is one of the cleanest, highest-paid paths in the skilled trades — and states like Texas are actively investing in clean room welding training facilities right now.Mentorship is the fastest shortcut in the trades — Sarah credits her ACC instructor Thomas Hinkle for recognizing her talent and steering her toward welded sculpture before she even knew it was an option.About the GuestSarah Stork is a welder, metal sculptor, and business owner based in Georgetown, Texas. She holds an associate degree in welding technology and certificates in plate, pipe, and structural fabrication from Austin Community College. A two-time SkillsUSA competitor, she placed second at nationals in 2015 and won first place (gold) in welded sculpture in 2016. In 2018 she launched her full-time sculpture studio from her 14-acre Texas property, where she creates commissioned wildlife and abstract steel pieces for clients across the country.Her work is known for seamlessly blending welding technique and artistic finish — some clients mistake her welded steel pieces for cast sculpture. She is active on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok under her name, Sarah Stork.Keywordswelding careers, metal sculpture, skilled trades, women in welding, welded sculpture, SkillsUSA, welding school, TIG welding, Austin Community College, welding business, six-figure trades, fabrication, welding certificate, Sarah Stork, Andrew Brown, Lost Art of the Skilled Trades, Fabtech, metal art, trades entrepreneurship, Gen Z trades careers, welding salaryRESOURCE LINKSSarah Stork on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-stork-a8435a127/Sarah Stork on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_stork_/SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you found value in this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps us keep telling the stories of the skilled trades.
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    38 分
  • Why HVAC Technicians Can’t Afford to Skip Steps Anymore | Jay Henderek, ESAB

    Why HVAC Technicians Can’t Afford to Skip Steps Anymore | Jay Henderek, ESAB
    2026/02/24

    HVAC systems are changing. The margin for error is shrinking.

    Host Andrew Brown sits down with Jay Henderek, Sales Director at ESAB, to examine why process discipline in the Skilled Trades matters more today than it did even a decade ago. As HVAC industry trends push systems to become smaller, more complex, and increasingly influenced by A2L refrigerant legislation, shortcuts that once caused minor issues can now create serious safety risks.

    Jay explains why nitrogen purging for brazing is no longer a “best practice” but a baseline requirement. What some technicians still treat as optional directly impacts contamination control, joint integrity, and long-term system performance. Under modern refrigerant standards, HVAC technician safety is tied to every step of preparation and execution.

    The conversation also explores contractor tool buying research and why disciplined professionals evaluate tools with the same care they apply to installation. In today’s environment, preparation separates respected contractors from reactive ones.

    From HVAC to Plumbing, Electrical, and the broader Construction trades, this episode reinforces a clear reality: as systems evolve, standards must rise with them.

    IN THIS EPISODE

    (00:00) – Why Skipping Steps Carries Greater Risk Today: How modern HVAC industry trends increase system complexity and raise the stakes for HVAC technician safety.

    (02:45) – Nitrogen Purging for Brazing: Protecting Joint Integrity - Why nitrogen purging for brazing prevents contamination and failure in sealed systems.

    (04:40) – A2L Refrigerant Legislation and Flammability Considerations: How A2L refrigerant legislation shifts risk profiles and demands tighter execution standards.

    (08:25) – Contractor Tool Buying Research: Discipline Before the Purchase: Why professional contractors evaluate tools deliberately instead of chasing features or price alone.

    (12:05) – Long-Term Strength vs. Quick Fixes: Why proper brazing preparation outperforms temporary patches in durability and safety.

    (16:45) – Reinforcing Standards Across the Skilled Trades: How manufacturers, educators, and contractors share responsibility in raising industry standards.

    Key Takeaways
    1. Modern HVAC systems demand greater discipline because tighter tolerances and evolving refrigerant standards reduce the margin for error.
    2. Nitrogen purging for brazing protects system integrity by preventing oxidation and contamination inside sealed lines.
    3. A2L refrigerant legislation increases flammability considerations, making preparation and procedural adherence essential for HVAC technician safety.
    4. Contractor tool buying research reflects professionalism. The best contractors approach purchases with evaluation, peer insight, and long-term thinking.
    5. In the Skilled Trades, standards do not stay static. As technology evolves, responsibility must evolve with it.

    About the Guest

    Jay Henderek is Sales Director at ESAB, a global manufacturer of welding, brazing, and cutting technologies. Through brands such as TurboTorch, ESAB supports HVAC technicians, plumbers, electricians, millwrights, and contractors working in demanding field conditions.

    Jay focuses on advancing HVAC technician safety, reinforcing nitrogen purging for brazing standards, and helping contractors navigate HVAC industry trends and A2L refrigerant legislation through disciplined processes and education.

    Keywords

    HVAC Industry Trends, Nitrogen Purging for Brazing, A2L Refrigerant Legislation, HVAC Technician Safety, Contractor Tool Buying Research, Skilled Trades, Trades Industry, HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Construction, Contractors, Craftsmanship, Andrew Brown, Jay Henderek, ESAB, Skilled Trades Advisory Council

    RESOURCE LINKS

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-henderek/

    ESAB Website: https://esab.com/us/nam_en/

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