The Fix
The Fix is the podcast made for the trades - built to support tradespeople, promote education, foster innovation and inspire the next generation of essential pros. Coming to you from Oatey University and hosted by Oatey Co.’s Katherine Lehtinen, Senior Vice President of Brand and Digital Marketing, and Doug Buchan, Licensed Master Plumber and Technical Applications Manager. Each episode, you’ll hear from real trade experts in various fields, including plumbing, HVAC, electrical and more. They’ll explore everything from overcoming obstacles and combatting common misconceptions faced in the trades, as well as how to grow the talent pipeline and ensure the longevity of the industry. For additional resources, visit www.oatey.com or follow @oatey_co on Instagram.
Episodes
In this episode of The Fix, we sit down with Ruchir Shah, CEO and Founder of SkillCat, to explore how his platform is making skilled trades education more accessible, affordable, and tech-forward. Ruchir shares how SkillCat's virtual simulations, industry certifications, and new Grit Foundation are helping break down barriers to entry and raise awareness of the trades as high-value, fulfilling careers. From pre-apprenticeship train...
In this episode of The Fix, Brian Schaffran, Head Coach and Founder of Motogo Cleveland, shares how his nonprofit is reigniting shop class by teaching students mechanical skills through motorcycle building. Motogo helps students embrace failure as part of the learning process, builds teamwork across genders, and offers hands-on experiences that foster confidence, problem-solving, and life skills. He also highlights the program’s im...
In this episode of The Fix: A Trades Conversation, Rhoni Basden, Executive Director of Vermont Works for Women, discusses the organization's mission to promote economic justice and gender equity by supporting women and youth in trades careers. She highlights the challenges women face in entering nontraditional careers, from representation gaps to systemic barriers, and shares how programs like Rosie's Girls and Trailblazers provide...
In this episode of The Fix: A Trades Conversation, Renee Jones, Program Director at Chicago Women in the Trades (CWIT), shares her journey from social services to becoming an electrician and eventually leading programs that empower women in the trades. She discusses CWIT’s mission to improve economic equity by preparing women for careers in traditionally male-dominated fields through pre-apprenticeship programs in welding, construc...
In this episode of The Fix: A Trades Conversation, Mark Hedstrom, CEO of Skilled Careers Coalition, shares his journey and the mission of his organization to inspire, connect, and convert young talent into skilled careers. He discusses the challenges of attracting youth to the trades, the importance of destigmatizing skilled careers, and how the coalition leverages partnerships, marketing, and youth-led content to drive engagement....
We're joined by Leisa Williams-Swedberg from Women in Skilled Trades Michigan (WIST), sharing her journey into construction management and her impactful work empowering women in the trades. Leisa recounts how WIST was founded to provide women with pre-apprenticeship training, overcoming barriers like math skills, job readiness, and access to trade opportunities. Her passion shines through as she celebrates the program's success sto...
In this episode of The Fix podcast, Emily Cox, the brains behind Building Badasses, shares her fascinating journey from architecture to building a revolutionary organization for women in trades. She delves into the driving force behind her vision of fostering a more inclusive and balanced industry, where women make up 51% of every trade. Listen in for a remarkable conversation on bridging the gap in the trades, creating networking ...
Lisa Alessandro and Alicia Chet join us from Remington College in Cleveland to discuss their dedicated trade program offerings, such as construction, building maintenance, and welding. They discuss Remington College's commitment to non-traditional students, providing rigorous hands-on training to equip them for entry-level positions in a shorter time frame than four-year programs.
Learn more at remingtoncollegetraining.com.
In this inspiring episode of "The Fix," we sit down with Perlla DeLuca, a trailblazer in the construction industry and the founder of the Pink Hardhat Foundation, Iowa School of Construction and Southwest Constructors. Perlla shares her remarkable journey, from cleaning houses and working in restaurants to becoming a seasoned construction professional and advocate for women and minorities in the trades.
This week on The Fix, Carol Phillips and Nichole Stephenson of West Virginia Women Work join us to tackle the vital topic of women's empowerment in skilled trades, sharing their personal journeys and the impactful work of West Virginia Women Work. They discuss the challenges women face in traditionally male-dominated fields, the importance of training and education, and the organization's strategies to promote diversity and inclusi...
This week on The Fix, we're joined by Oatey Ambassadors Nick Merritt and Justin Noftle from Canada, who share insights about their paths to working in the plumbing industry. They debunk plumbing myths, discuss the impact of technology, stress the significance of continuing education and share their diverse experiences and challenges in the trade.
Follow Justin on Instagram.
Follow Nick on Instagram.
Jeff Keller, a seasoned plumber, business owner, and #OateyAmbassador from Jefferson, Texas, shares his 17 years of experience in the industry. Starting at his father's company straight out of high school, he now runs the family business after earning his Master Plumbers license in 2020. We talk about the crucial role of customer service and building trust with customers in the service industry, his future ambitions and finding wor...
Bart Bettiga, the Executive Director of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), joins us to discuss NTCA's mission to promote the use of high-quality products sold by trained distributors and installed by skilled contractors, helping drive an increased consumption of tile and stone in the market. We explore the association's commitment to improving the tile trade through education, training, and setting industry standards...
This week on The Fix, we sat down with Doug Winston, board member of Bring Back the Trades!
Bring Back the Trades is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the skilled trades as a viable and rewarding career path. The organization provides scholarships to students interested in trade schools and organizes community events while collaborating with educators, leaders, and vendors to change the societal perception of trade c...
This week on The Fix, Kristina McMillan, Founder of Crew Collaborative, takes us on a deep dive into the organization's mission of strengthening the blue-collar workforce, particularly in the construction industry.
We learn how Crew Collaborative is changing the perception of construction careers with innovative tactics, such as the Classroom Talks, Ambassador Program, and Framework, designed to educate high school students, suppor...
We're going down under his week on The Fix!
Hacia Atherton, the founder of Empowered Women in the Trades in Australia, joins us to discuss her organization's mission to transform the trades industry through the empowerment of women and non-binary individuals. EWIT collaborates with educational institutions and industry leaders to address the national skills shortage in Australia, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusivi...
Kate Cinnamo, Toni Bower, and Maddy Sorenson from Explore The Trades join The Fix to share their paths to the organization and talk about their passion for advocating for plumbing, HVAC, and electrical careers. They also delve into discussions on dispelling common myths about blue-collar jobs, fostering diversity in the trades, forming collaborations with schools, and partnering with industry allies.
In this episode of The Fix, we sat down with Allison Grealis, Founder and President of Women in Manufacturing, to talk about her journey in the manufacturing industry and how her organization has influenced women in the field. Grealis emphasizes the importance of increasing career awareness, promoting modern manufacturing, and the benefits of education, networking, and mentorship in helping women overcome obstacles in this field.
Chris Griffin and Keith Dorton from the Trades Education Center delve into their inspiration behind the center's inception and their vision for the future of the trades industry. They underscore the significance of practical experience in trade education and share how their curriculum incorporates this essential element. Additionally, they reveal their expansion plans, which include diversifying into other trades and providing test...
This week on The Fix, we sat down with James Brann, Chair of the Workforce Task Force at the Treasure Coast Builders Association. where we delved into misconceptions, technological advancements, and collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring a vibrant future for the trades industry.
Learn more about Treasure Coast Builders Association at www.treasurecoastba.com.
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