Career Development

Why the Trades Need a Cultural Reset to Attract and Retain the Next Generation

The skilled trades are at a critical crossroads. According to an August 2025 report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), the number of women working in construction and extraction occupations rose to 366,360 in 2024, the highest level ever recorded. Yet despite that growth, women still account for only about 4.3% of construction…

HVAC Thrives on People-First Leadership, Not Just Technical Know-How

The skilled trades are undergoing a shift as experienced workers retire faster than new talent enters the field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for HVAC technicians is projected to grow 8% by 2034. That’s much faster than average — and shows the urgency of attracting and keeping new talent.  While…

How an Underdog Mindset, Creative Discipline, and People-First Leadership Helped Cecil Cross Build Lasting Professional Equity

More and more, the creative journey looks less like a straight line and more like a series of pivots, setbacks, and surprising new opportunities. As layoffs, industry shifts, and unpredictable career turns reshape what a “typical” creative path looks like, many professionals are being pushed to turn uncertainty into momentum. Many are asking how to…

Why the Best Leaders Don’t Climb Straight Ladders: How Karen Alter Built Success Through Detours

As companies push to decarbonize, modernize infrastructure, and bring new technologies to market, the leaders who stand out aren’t always the ones who followed a straight career path. Increasingly, it’s the people with the zigzags—the folks who’ve worked across different industries, adapted to new environments, and learned to make decisions under pressure—who bring the…

Elevate Your Career Journey by Choosing Purpose, Practicing Intentionality, and Building a Culture of Belonging

Purpose doesn’t just shape what we do—it shapes how we grow. When we choose to move through our careers with intention, we start noticing the moments that build trust, the conversations that deepen understanding, and the relationships that elevate our impact. This episode of Professional Quotient digs into what it really means to show up…

Allowing Purpose to Lead: Adrienne Mageors on Building a Career Grounded in Inclusion and Community Impact

Sometimes, purpose finds you when you least expect it. For Adrienne Mageors, it came in the form of a question she couldn’t ignore—one that pulled her out of corporate marketing and into a life of service and inclusion. What began as a career pivot became something bigger: a mission to build spaces where every…

Great Leaders Share Knowledge, Build Trust, and Empower Future Talent

The conversation around skilled trades is shifting fast. After decades of “college for all” messaging, trade school enrollment is climbing steadily, signaling a renewed respect for hands-on, high-skill careers that literally keep the world running. In commercial HVAC and mechanical service, this change is not just academic — it’s shaping the next generation of leaders…

Build As You Grow: Lessons in Career, Connection, and Confidence

Growth isn’t just about climbing the career ladder — it’s about becoming the kind of person who can lead with empathy, curiosity, and authenticity. In a world that often celebrates titles and achievements, the real work lies in learning to communicate clearly, connect genuinely, and turn moments of uncertainty into opportunities for growth. In this…

How to Build a Purpose-Driven Career in the Age of AI and Acceleration

In a world reshaped by AI, global connectivity, and relentless technological advancement, the pace of disruption has never been greater. Careers are being reinvented as industries transform, and individuals everywhere are being challenged to find meaning, adaptability, and creativity in their professional paths. According to Deloitte’s 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, 86% of…

Grit, Growth, and Gaining Ground in a Male-Dominated Field: What It Means to Be a Young Female Tech in HVAC

As America ramps up its focus on rebuilding infrastructure and domestic manufacturing, the skilled trades are finally getting their moment in the spotlight. With a national labor shortage in HVAC and related fields, companies are hungry for the next generation of technicians—and women are stepping into the space like never before. Only 2 percent…

Tell Your Story and Build Equity Through Personal Narrative

Authentic storytelling has become the competitive advantage that separates leaders from the rest in an AI-driven workplace

Field Engineer to Industry Leader: Coty Fournier’s 35-Year Journey in Construction

Construction is an industry where experience is currency. For many in the field, career paths become case studies in adaptability, strategic growth, and cross-functional expertise. With the U.S. construction market experiencing both highs and lows, the demand for leaders who understand field realities as well as business strategies remains critical to the industry’s success…

The Role of Mentorship and Sponsorship in Building Authentic Careers

In today’s work landscape, discussions about transformation, well-being, and personal autonomy are urgent and deeply felt. A 2025 study found that 66% of American employees are experiencing burnout, while another poll reported that 52% of job seekers are looking to shift roles and 56% are considering moving into entirely new industries. These trends highlight a…

Conservation as a Calling: How Corina Solis Transformed Burnout into Purpose

As environmental awareness grows and sustainability becomes a top priority for both companies and consumers, a growing number of professionals, especially among younger generations, are rethinking what meaningful work looks like. With ecological urgency mounting, many are exploring ways to align their careers with causes they care about. But what does it really take to…

Targeted HVAC Training Boosts Careers, Retention, and Service Quality

The HVAC industry is evolving quickly, from advanced controls to new refrigerant standards, yet one principle remains timeless: skilled technicians are the backbone of the trade. What is changing is how companies are preparing those technicians for long-term careers through focused HVAC training. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the…

Women in HVACR Are Driving Change Across the Skilled Trades

Trade school enrollment climbed 4.9% between fall 2020 and fall 2023, signaling a national shift toward skills-based careers as alternatives to four-year degrees. This modest but meaningful rebound underscores growing interest in trades like HVACR, where demand is high, but representation remains lopsided. For decades, women in the field have been overlooked despite playing…

No Permission Needed: Forge Your Own Path Forward Through Bold Moves, Clear Focus, and Continuous Growth

What happens when you stop waiting to be chosen—and choose yourself? In this episode of PQ: Conversations that Build Equity, Jason Winningham talks with Amy Chavez, a seasoned marketing professional and graphic designer who boldly forged her career in commercial real estate, even before she had the credentials. Amy shares how a gutsy cover…

Asking Questions Works: Career Resilience, Mentorship, and Real Growth in Real Estate and Beyond

In this inspiring episode of PQ: Conversations That Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Rosanna Hudson—affectionately known as “RoRo”—to explore how career resilience fuels the development of professional equity through trust, adaptability, and the courage to ask better questions. Rosanna is a seasoned real estate broker licensed in both Texas and California,…

Spring Momentum: SFPGA Southwest Chapter Builds Community, Education, and Opportunity

A regional golf chapter's strategic initiatives are creating pathways for both skill advancement and industry networking across Florida

Hiring for Values, Investing in Mentorship, and Leveraging Tech Boosts Retention and Workforce Stability in the HVAC Industry

Strategic hiring practices and structured mentorship programs help mechanical contractors combat labor shortages while building sustainable teams

HVAC Workforce Culture: Recruit with Purpose, Retain with Care

Skilled trades face a critical retention crisis as retirements vastly outpace new workers entering the field

Data Center Sector Opens Doors for Non-Traditional Career Seekers

Rapid expansion in data centers is creating unexpected opportunities for workers without traditional tech backgrounds to fill critical roles

Early Education in Skilled Trades Opens Doors to Solving Workforce Shortages

Hands-on classroom experiences are proving key to filling the nation's critical shortage of skilled trade workers

Empowering the Next Generation Through Trade Education: Building Confidence, Career Paths, and Bright Futures

A growing worker shortage is pushing educators to introduce career pathways in trades earlier than ever before

How Relationship-Building was Vital to an Account Manager’s Journey from Technician

Strong interpersonal skills and mentorship are becoming as essential as technical know-how in the competitive HVAC industry

Skilled Workers Thrive Where Craftsmanship, Integrity, and Relationships Align

When professional values and human connection become the foundation, skilled tradespeople unlock their full potential and drive industry growth

Transform Construction Careers with Grit and Creative Campaigns to Close the Gap

A severe workforce shortage is forcing the construction industry to rethink how it attracts and retains talent for the next generation

Making the Transition From Technician to Manager: A Career Evolution in HVAC

Technical expertise alone isn't enough to lead in HVAC's evolving landscape, requiring hands-on professionals to master new competencies

Harmonizing Ambition and Parenthood with Tonni Bennett | Ep. 11 | Growthwell with Josh Byrd

A sales leader reveals how intentional choices enable career growth without sacrificing meaningful time with family

From a Plumber’s Apprentice to Account Management: Leadership and Growth in the HVAC Industry with Jeremy Melton

How one tradesman's unconventional rise reveals the leadership qualities that matter most in mechanical contracting