September is Workforce Development Month, and the third Friday of this month marks National Tradesmen Day. There are currently more than 400,000 open roles in the trades nationally. Industry leaders like Home Builders Institute (HBI) and 100 Black Men of America (Atlanta) are helping The Home Depot prepare skilled tradespeople for these opportunities.
Today, The Home Depot Foundation is highlighting two women pursuing a career in the skilled trades and an experienced tradesman with over four decades in the business.
Sharnise recently graduated from the HBI program, whose training curriculum prepares students for careers in the building industry. She was accepted to Tuskegee University on a full scholarship to study architecture. The Path to Pro program has given Sharnise the tools she needs to help refine her focus and achieve her career goals. She champions other women considering this career path and feels they should be confident in their pursuit.
Johnny is a retired business owner and current construction technology instructor. With 43 years in the trades industry, he teaches his skills to the next generation of tradespeople. Johnny’s father was a carpenter, and his six brothers were also in the construction industry, so he grew up working alongside his family. After starting school to become a cabinet maker, he realized the benefits of this career path. Now he enjoys pouring into his students and connecting them with real-world opportunities.
Natalie grew up loving construction and is a recent graduate of the HBI program. She was hired at Georgia Power after an internship and apprenticeship with the company. The Path to Pro program prepared her for a meaningful career in the skilled trades. She now encourages other women to join the industry.
The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation are committed to educating more people in the skilled trades and helping them find careers in the home improvement industry through our Path to Pro programs.
Since the program’s inception, the Foundation’s trades-focused partnerships have trained more than 29,000 participants and introduced more than 126,000 people to the skilled trades, surpassing its commitment to train 20,000 people six years ahead of schedule. Learn more at PathtoPro.com.
