About TradesBridge

We're a nonprofit that connects high school seniors and young adults interested in the skilled trades with local trade businesses for job shadowing and mentorship. The goal: help motivated young people explore real careers firsthand, and help local trade businesses meet the next generation of workers.

The problem we're solving

America doesn't have a shortage of opportunity in the skilled trades. It has a shortage of young people being exposed to those opportunities before they leave high school.

92% of construction firms report difficulty finding qualified workers. 45% say those shortages are directly causing project delays. 78% experienced at least one delayed project in the past year. (AGC 2025 Workforce Survey)
The construction industry needed roughly 439,000 new workers in 2025 and needs another 349,000 in 2026. Most of the 2026 demand is now driven by retirements rather than growth. (Associated Builders and Contractors)
The median construction worker is 41 years old. Roughly 1 in 5 is 55 or older. Workers under 25 make up only 10% of the construction workforce, versus 14% of the overall labor force. (BLS, CPWR)
33% of U.S. adults now recommend trade or vocational school as the best path for graduating seniors. That's more than the 28% who recommend a four-year college. (ASA / Harris Poll, June 2025)
42% of Gen Z are working in or pursuing a blue-collar or skilled trade job. Top drivers: job security, avoiding student debt, and lower risk of AI replacing their work. (Resume Builder / Pollfish, May 2025)

The trades are struggling. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders, carpenters, heavy-equipment operators, and many other fields all need workers right now. The pipeline gap is on the people side. That's what we exist to fix.

Where we work

We are launching in Washington and Idaho, with plans to grow into a national program. As we expand, additional states will be added.

Who can participate?

Most of our program is for adults 18 and older, including high school seniors. A limited number of shadowing opportunities are available to high school seniors under 18, with parental consent and appropriate safety arrangements.

What is shadowing?

Shadowing means watching a working professional do their job for a day. You don't operate tools or equipment. You observe, ask questions, and see what a real trade actually looks like day to day.

How much does it cost?

Nothing. Participating is free for both participants and businesses. We are funded by workforce-development grants, trade associations, and community partners.

A note from the founder

I have lived in the Inland Northwest for 45 years. In 1987, my wife and I started a tenant-screening company in Spokane and built it into the largest of its kind in the area. From there I founded Employment Screening Services, Inc., which we grew with three partners into an international pre-employment background-check firm representing more than 12,000 clients across 17 countries. We sold the company and retired in 2023.

After decades of working with employers, I kept hearing the same thing: they could not find good qualified candidates straight out of high school. I started TradesBridgeto do something about that. We are a free, neutral bridge between young people who want to see what a real trade career looks like and the local businesses who would love to meet them. We aren't a recruiter or a placement agency. We don't charge anyone a dime.

I've served on nonprofit boards before. I was co-chairman and then chairman of First Tee of Spokane for four years, a youth development program that uses golf to teach kids life skills. I also served on the board of Genius Institute, a Christian counseling group in Spokane.

My wife and I have four children and five granddaughters. I currently volunteer with the freshman boys in our church youth group, which is where the daily reminder comes from that this generation is hungry for direction and real-world exposure. They just need someone to make the introduction.