Fired Up Podcast: A Trade Collective Production

Fired Up Podcast Ep.9 | Paid to Learn: How Abt Electronics Builds Careers From the Ground Up

We have talked a lot about getting the next generation into the skilled trades. In this episode we are thrilled to hear from a young person at the start of a promising career about his journey to Abt Electronics and what it is like to be young and finding your path into the skilled trades. Welcome to Episode 9 of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. Hosts Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes sit down with Stefan Johnson and Josh Eddy from Abt Electronics. Josh tells his story from high school to connecting with Stefan Johnson and finding his place working at Abt Electronics. He breaks down why the choice to go to a traditional college wasn't working for him and how he has been able to find community, excitement, and financial stability at Abt Electronics. Meet The Guests: 🎙️ Stefan Johnson: Stefan spent 28 years as a police officer in Glenview before joining Abt Electronics, where he now leads workforce development. Stefan went into Abt as a customer, had a conversation with the owner about a six-month project, and has been there for over nine years. 🎙️ Josh Eddy: Josh grew up in Evanston and graduated from Evanston Township High School. He had plans to go to Illinois State but life had other plans. After two years of working and figuring things out, Josh was introduced to Abt Electronics through The Trade Collective. He has been employed by Abt  for over a month.   He is getting paid to learn. He rates it 10 out of 10 and is talking about staying 20 years. In this episode, we discuss: 🔥 How do you know that the skilled trades are right for you? What unique career experiences do you get from working in the skilled trades? How do we show students all the paths available to them? 🔥 What does it mean to get paid to learn? How does Abt Electronics certify young people in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and more while they are already working and earning a paycheck? 🔥 How do you go from feeling lost after high school to finding community, financial stability, and a career you are actually excited about? Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Thursday — and we just moved to Thursdays! Stay tuned and make sure you are following so you never miss an episode. Follow our journey on social media! Contact & Support: General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥

Fired Up Podcast Ep.8 | Putting Your Stamp on the Workplace

We have talked a lot about getting the next generation into the trades so on this episode we are thrilled to hear from two young people with promising careers about their journeys and experiences into the skilled trades? Welcome to Episode 8 of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. Hosts Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes sit down with Tom, David, and Ewan from Ward Manufacturing to discuss what it is like to be a young person in metal stamping.  David and Ewan tell their story from high school to finding their place working for Ward Manufacturing. They break down why the traditional college path wasn’t working for them and how they have been able to find community, excitement, and financial stability at Ward Manufacturing.  Meet The Guest: 🎙️ Tom Ward: Tom is a third generation owner of Ward Manufacturing and is currently serving as Vice President. Tom believes in investing in young talent and the community. Tom wants the next generation to feel inspired by stories like David’s and Ewan’s to help find their direction. 🎙️David Abramson: David is extremely smart but did not like school at all. David did everything he could to just get through it. Somehow, he did learn things. (Begrudgingly, he took the ACT and scored a 31.) He had no idea what he was going to do in life. That was until he found his place at Ward Manufacturing.  🎙️Ewan Mclean: Ewan was a fantastic student. Got very high marks in high school took AP and was college ready. Ewan started the engineering program at Colorado School of Mines, but he wanted to start working.  In this episode, we discuss: 🔥 How do you know that the skilled trades are right for you? What do you get from working in the skilled trades that you don’t get from traditional four-year college? How do we show students all the paths available to them. 🔥 How do you add value to the workplace? How do you build a community and culture in the workplace? How do you add value to the community around you? Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Follow our journey on social media! Contact & Support: General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥

Fired Up Podcast Ep.7 | Blueprints and Bleachers: Building a Career in Construction and a Stadium

We have talked a lot about getting interested in the trades, but what are the next steps when the interest is there? Listen to learn about what it takes to build a stable career in construction. Welcome to Episode 7 of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. Hosts Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes sit down with Turner Construction Company’s Geoff Moore to discuss all things construction including working on the construction team for the new Ryan Field Stadium. From construction opportunities for high schoolers to work ethic to safety, the three lay out the keys to having a successful career in construction. Meet The Guest: 🎙️ Geoff Moore: Geoff is a vice president and construction executive for Turner Construction, currently the largest construction company in the world. He is the principal in charge of the $800 million Ryan Field Construction Project. Geoff believes that there are different paths for everyone including stable, fulfilling career paths in construction. In this episode, we discuss: 🔥 What is the importance of teamwork in the skilled trades? A stadium is not built alone or overnight, how do you work within a construction team? 🔥 What is expected of workers in the skilled trades? Today the group discusses expectations and how to make yourself stand out in the workplace. 🔥 As a high school student, what are the first steps? Today the group discusses what certifications you can get in high school to prepare for a career in construction. Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Follow our journey on social media. Contact & Support: General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥

Fired Up Podcast Ep.6 | Proof of Concept: What Happens After the Trade Collective

We have talked a lot about the potential of careers in the skilled trades. In this episode, we show you what it actually looks like. Welcome to Episode 6 of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. Hosts Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes sit down with two young ETHS and Trade Collective alumni, Alan Muir and Mekbib Boarini, who have launched careers in HVAC and plumbing. This is a different kind of episode. No professors, no policy. Just two young men who didn't have a clear path after high school and found their way to the Trade Collective. Both Alan and Mekbib now have careers doing things they love as a direct effect of working with the Trade Collective. They are living proof of the Trade Collective’s mission and are ready to talk about it! Meet The Guests: 🎙️ Alan Muir: An ETHS graduate now working at AA Service in HVAC, heating, cooling, plumbing, sewer, and electrical. Alan started in the warehouse learning the trade from the ground up, and is now out in the field working alongside experienced technicians every day. 🎙️ Mekbib Boarini: A recent ETHS graduate now working at Abt, a respected appliance and electronics company that's been serving the community since 1936. Just weeks into his first real job, Mekbib is already showing up early and loving the culture. In this episode, we discuss: 🔥 From Graduation to the Trades: What life looked like before the Trade Collective, and how one conversation changed everything. If you could go back to your high school self, what would you tell them? 🔥 More Than You Think: Why plumbing isn't just about pipes, HVAC isn't just about filters, and how the skilled trades offer more variety and opportunity than most people realize. 🔥 AI-Proof Careers: Why the skilled trades are among the most stable career paths available, and what that means for young people making career decisions right now. Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Follow our journey on social media. Contact & Support: General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥

Fired Up Podcast Ep.5 | Building Opportunities in Construction

Today we’re talking about the blueprint for careers in carpentry and construction. Welcome to the fifth episode of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. In this episode, our co-hosts Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes sit down with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and John Kenny Jr. of Kenny Construction to discuss career pathways in construction and local opportunities such as the new Ryan Field Stadium project at Northwestern University. Meet The Guests: 🎙️Daniel Biss: Mayor Biss has been in public service for over a decade, as both a representative and a senator in the Illinois legislature, and now as the Mayor of Evanston. Throughout his career, he has been a champion for the community and advocate for local workers. 🎙️ John Kenny Jr.: John is the former CEO of Kenny Construction Company which has been working in the Chicagoland area for decades. He made a name for himself when he was called on by Chicago’s Mayor Daley to help stop the historic 1992 Chicago flood. He brings to the table over 30 years of construction and contracting experience. In this episode, we discuss: 🔥 How can we create local construction jobs at the government level? 🔥 How do we make construction careers more accessible? 🔥 From a local workforce and government perspective, how can a big project, like Ryan Field, create career opportunities in the community? Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday. (Special episode out today!) Review the full vision and follow our journey on social media: Website: https://www.thetradecollective.org/ Instagram: @the_trade_collective Threads: @the_trade_collective Facebook: The Trade Collective LinkedIn: The Trade Collective Contact & Support: General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥