Jobs that Matter - A Career in Skilled Trade

By Cassie Johnson

With the Holiday Season in full swing, I want to give you a few more things to be thankful for - the hard-working, skilled tradespeople who make our lives possible. That’s right! If you enjoy turning on the lights with the flick of a switch, thank an electrician. If you like having a car that runs reliably, thank a mechanic. When it's 110 degrees and you’re enjoying the cool air conditioning, thank a sheet metal worker for fabricating the ductwork inside your home. Like having food to eat, thank a farmer or fisher. As for plumbers, I think we all know how important they are!

Dirty Jobs

Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs, an award-winning TV series originally aired on the Discovery Channel, has opened our eyes to the myriad of vocational careers. He promotes skilled trade jobs and encourages high school students to explore their options. He created a foundation, mikeroweWORKS, to launch a national PR campaign for skilled labor. While maybe not the most glamorous careers, trade jobs are essential. As Rowe would say, “These jobs make life civilized for the rest of us.”

Vocational jobs are nothing to look down upon. Learning a skill to master a trade is real. Would you be comfortable walking into a highrise built by construction workers who weren’t adequately trained? How frustrated would you be if turned on the faucet and water spewed all over the kitchen because the plumber didn’t know the correct way to hook up a pipe? Electricians, bricklayers, carpenters, steam-fitters, fishers, farmers, and many others are all essential trade careers that most of us take for granted.

A Valued Vocation

A four-year degree from a university isn’t for everyone. There are dozens of trade jobs right here in western Kentucky that require little to no college education. For most skilled careers in a trade, you learn through apprenticeships and with on-the-job training. Taking a basic vocational course at your local community college might be helpful, but not always necessary. Please note that most businesses prefer employees to have graduated from high school or obtained a GED. Take a look at a few of our local businesses that specialize in a trade.

Atlas Door of Paducah

If you have a mechanical background and a basic general knowledge of tools, this could be the right job for you. In addition to overhead doors such as garage doors, you can also service and maintain dock equipment.

“No experience is required, but having a basic general knowledge of tools is helpful,” said Danny Leidecker, General Manager for Atlas Door of Paducah. “We provide on-the-job training for all of our new hires. We are looking for employees who are willing to learn and ready to work.”

Chambers Roofing Co., Inc.

Roofing is a skilled trade, and far more than nailing shingles. Proper ventilation, how the product fits, and correct nail patterns are just a glimpse of the details involved in roofing.

While no college degree is necessary, it is helpful to have two years of basic vocational training. Basic residential and commercial OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) training is needed to ensure the safety of all employees and companies.

Mark Chambers, co-owner of Chambers Roofing, suggests that employees have basic sheet metal knowledge. Being familiar with fabricating pieces to go around parts of the home like chimneys and grinding metal will come in very handy.

“There are different techniques on how to ‘flash’ roofing and several products to use for different techniques. Being certified on each product from the company is important so the job is done right,” Chambers told me. “Before the product goes on the roof, there is adhering ice to install. We have to know the exact technique to do it right because nobody wants a leaky roof. Our employees are recertified on each product every five years to stay up to date on the latest techniques.”

How well do you remember your high school math classes? As with most construction careers, math is essential. Calculating measurements, slopes, and correct angles are critical parts of the job.

DiPrete Forge

Contrary to belief, blacksmiths are not a thing of the past. Blacksmiths and bladesmiths are fairly common. This is one trade career where you have the potential to let your creativity thrive.

“Blacksmith and bladesmith trades require a creative thought process along with problem-solving skills,” Fred DiPrete, owner of DiPrete Forge and Bladesmith, told me. “You have to get a vision in your mind, but adapt to changes when something doesn’t go as you planned.”

Blacksmiths work with hammers, welders, grinders, abrasives, and sometimes larger heavy equipment. The American Bladesmith Society (ABS) offers a journeyman and master certification, but those are not required to work in the trade. This career allows you the flexibility of working for a company that specializes in metalwork or working for yourself.

First-Line Fire Extinguisher Co.

We all want to make sure our homes and businesses are as safe as possible. When it comes to fire safety and surveillance systems, hiring a professional can make the difference between the confidence of having your family and employees safe or not.

“Our technicians are specifically trained in the latest technology to ensure the safety of everyone you love,” Branon Hardy with First-Line, told me. “When choosing the right security system to install for your particular situation you want options and to know it will be installed the right way the first time. If it’s not installed correctly, what’s the point in having it? Security systems need regular inspections, so technicians have to be up to date with any technological changes. We also have to know how the systems work and how to operate them to explain it to the home or business owner.”

Not all fire extinguishers are created equal and having the right one is imperative. When flames arise, you don’t want to wonder if you have the right equipment! First Line offers full on-the-job training. Technicians are trained to identify specific needs of individuals to provide the correct equipment. Knowledge of codes per county and state can change, making technician training very important.

Harlan Automotive

Harlan Automotive is a family-owned, local business. Founded in 1998, they hire a variety of employees to ensure that every customer's car is handled efficiently and with quality workmanship.

“The first person a customer meets is our highly trained service advisor,” Mike Harlan, owner of Harlan Automotive told me. “That person is in charge of getting the customer and vehicle information in our computer system correctly so the technicians know what is going on. They also communicate updates to the customer as the work progresses.”

“The diagnostic technician performs the testing needed to find out what the problems or issues are with the vehicle. Our automotive technicians perform inspections, maintenance, and repairs on the vehicles. They let the service advisor know any updates to get the job completed on each customer vehicle.”

All of Harlan’s employees are constantly training because the automobile industry is always growing and evolving. They hire ASA Certified technicians or require them to get certified while working at the company.

Plumbers & Steamfitters & HVAC Tech’s Local 184 JATC

This union has been proudly serving western Kentucky for 125 years. Hands-on learning ensures their apprentices are thoroughly trained in every aspect of the trade, which covers many categories. Besides plumbing and steam fitting, training includes HVAC, advanced pipework, medical gas installation, different types of welding processes, and dangerous boiler work.

“We take great pride in having the knowledge and skills to complete the variety of jobs we do safely. A skilled workforce is safer and more efficient. The Union Association spends three million dollars per year training our members. We want to be the best,” said Eric DeFew, Training Director of the facility in Paducah.

The Local 184 Apprenticeship offers a free five-year program, but getting accepted isn’t easy. Each applicant must complete an interview and show initiative to learn. Only 20 applicants out of around 150 to 175 are accepted into the program each year. Classes start the Tuesday after Labor Day and go through May 2. Apprentices attend classes two nights during the week from 6 - 9:30 pm.

“In our program, you learn while you earn. All apprentices are fulltime employees within the union. The wide range of training prepares you for multiple jobs. We work everywhere there is a pipe, sink, air conditioner, refrigeration system, or toilet. Our job sites include hospitals, Petrochemical plants, nuclear facilities, schools – we work everywhere!” DeFew told me.

A Good Job

We live in a society where obtaining a four-year college degree and pursuing corporate careers have been set as the benchmark for success. Maybe we should reconsider the jobs – according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7 million jobs – that are essential, skilled, and often well paid. College, and the costs that come with it, aren’t for everyone. As Mike Rowe says, “Let’s redefine what we mean by a good education and a good job, and get a better understanding of the impact that skilled labor has on our lives.” Apprenticeships and vocational training facilities all over the country are educating and preparing workers to enter the trade labor force. All you need is a willingness to learn and a good work ethic.