Construction 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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

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

Navigating Careers in HVAC: Jason Saunders’ Journey to the Top

A high school graduate built a path to the executive suite by mastering mentorship, customer service, and adaptability in the trades

From HVAC Beginnings to Strategic Leadership: Corey Brown’s Journey in Service Logic

Rising through the HVAC ranks taught this executive that mentorship and understanding your company's mission separate good leaders from great ones

The Power of Proximity: Networking and Success Through Connections

Being physically or digitally close to influential people can fundamentally reshape your career trajectory and opportunities