Angie Simon and Maria Ford discuss the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, introducing youth to trades

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Anyone in industry knows the harsh reality of the skilled trades gap. Every affected business needs to be involved in bringing more of our youth into careers in the trades.

Want a great example? That's exactly why we invited Angie Simon, co-founder of the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, and Maria Ford, President of Commercial and Industrial at Stanley Black & Decker, to the show.

Angie shares her journey from a mechanical engineer to leading a construction company and founding the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, which promotes skilled trades through a fast-growing series of hands-on summer camps. The program has grown from two camps in 2021 to 51 camps in 2023, now hosting nearly 900 students.

Maria highlights Stanley Black & Decker's $60 million commitment to overall trades education efforts and the importance of hands-on training. She shares details about their DeWALT subsidiary's involvement with the HMSE, and her own personal participation in a camp this year.

The conversation emphasizes the need for continued growth and support for trades education.

Here are some highlights:
- Development and Impact of Heavy Metal Summer Experience
- Challenges and Growth of Heavy Metal Summer Experience
- Support from Stanley Black and Decker and DeWALT
- Future Plans and Aspirations

This is a great episode with some absolutely priceless insights on how to reach not only our young people, but their parents and educators too, to show them what rewarding careers they can find in the skilled trades.

Links

HSME: https://www.hmse.org/

Our host Jim Vinoski's Forbes article about HSME: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2025/08/28/the-heavy-metal-summer-experience-helps-industry-introduce-students-to-the-skilled-trades/