Life in the Trades
Careers in the trades vary from baking to plumbing, but one common thread connects them all: passion for what you do. Recently, we spoke with several local tradespeople to learn why they chose to pursue a career in the trades vs. the traditional 4-year university, what their typical day looks like, their education, and the skills their job requires for them to excel at what they do.
Let’s dive into some the life and education for some hardworking locals who chose a life in one of the trades!
Electrician
Tony Ruch chose to work in the trades because he knew a life in the classroom or a small office was not the life for him. He took a construction class on building houses and this piqued his interest. He began his career as an electrician apprentice from 2001-2005, a journeyman in 2005-2006, and became a Master Electrician in 2006.
A typical day as an electrician contains one of the following jobs: working in houses or commercial properties, creating construction plans, installing electrical wiring, and/or coordinating wiring for HVAC, plumbing, appliances, audio systems, etc.
HVAC/Plumbing
Josh Klassen grew up with family in the HVAC/plumbing industry, and decided that a career in the field would be the perfect fit for him because of his familiarity with the skills and longtime exposure to the trade.
A typical day for Josh includes maintenance and service repairs on heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems.
Learn more about our plumbing courses!
Carpentry
Sierra Dolly discovered her passion for carpentry and woodworking while doing projects with her grandma for several years. Her favorite part of carpentry? Seeing the final product and knowing she helped create it.
A typical day for a carpenter can include inspections, repairs, modifications, rebuilds, new construction, and maintenance of woodwork and other related structures.
Learn more about our carpentry courses
Welding
Pete Gag became interested in welding during a high school class on the trade and now uses his skill for fixing, building, and artwork. He enjoys honing in his trouble shooting skills (you need a lot of them!), and being very hands-on with his work.
A typical day for a welder can include joining, fabricating, repairing metals or other weldable material, and operating various welding machines.
Learn more about our welding classes!
Now that you had a quick glimpse into the daily life of tradespeople and what inspired their careers/passion for their work, it’s time to start your own journey with a new skilled trade! Check out our calendar for a full list of upcoming courses and see which ones might ignite a new hobby or career for you.