Side-lit technical workshop workbench with brass calipers, rolled architectural blueprints, and precision measurement tools bathed in warm lighting
Side-lit technical workshop workbench with brass calipers, rolled architectural blueprints, and precision measurement tools bathed in warm lighting
For Individuals
For Contractors

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

The Trade Industry Resource Hub

The external network every trade professional and business owner needs, real associations, real events, and real support, organized by who it's for.

WORKFORCE & CERTIFICATION

For Individuals

Real organizations built for tradespeople, not just contractors.

SkillsUSA

Women in HVACR

NATE Certification

National organization for career and technical education students, home of the National Leadership & Skills Conference each June.

National nonprofit supporting women building careers across the HVACR trade.

The nation's largest nonprofit HVAC technician certification, backed by the EPA and ASHRAE.

Home Builders Institute

Home Depot Path to Pro

Tuition-free pre-apprenticeship training across the trades, with a no-cost program for veterans.

A $50 million commitment to trades training, with scholarships for anyone pursuing a trade with no four-year degree required.

BUSINESS GROWTH ALLIANCES

For Contractors

Coaching, peer networks, and business systems built for shop owners.

Service Nation Alliance

BDR

Contractor coaching, buying group rebates, and business training.

Business Development Resources for specialized trade coaching and profit tracking.

Nexstar Network

EGIA Contractor University

Member-owned organization focusing on service training and leadership systems.

Educational tools, financial benchmarking, and nationwide industry summits.

ORGANIZATIONAL GROUPS

Technical Trade Associations

Standards, advocacy, and licensing protection across every trade this site covers.

PHCC

ACCA

NECA & IEC

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association protecting technical legislation.

Air Conditioning Contractors of America setting nationwide HVAC standards.

National & Independent Electrical Contractors associations for trade standards.

NRCA

NALP

National Roofing Contractors Association, the leading voice for roofing standards and advocacy since 1886.

National Association of Landscape Professionals, representing nearly 1 million landscape and lawn care professionals.

MASTER EVENTS

The Circuit of Excellence: 2026 Master Conference Calendar

AHR Expo

EPIC2026 (EGIA)

Feb 2-4, 2026, Las Vegas, NV.

Feb 12-13, 2026, Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV.

SkillsUSA Nationals

Service World Expo

June 1-5, 2026, Atlanta, GA.

Nov 8-11, 2026, location to be announced.

Planning to attend one of these? Read Tim's guide on getting the most out of a trade show or conference.

TRADE MEDIA

Podcasts Worth Your Drive Time

Other voices in the trades worth hearing.

The Fix

The Lost Art of Skilled Trades

Make Trades Great Again

Oatey Co.'s podcast on advancing the trades and growing the talent pipeline.

Interviews with tradespeople and contractors across the industry.

A long-running podcast on the daily reality of working in the trades.

Toolbox for the Trades

The Home Service Expert

The Trades Podcast

ServiceTitan's podcast featuring top contractors sharing what actually grows a business.

Tommy Mello's long-running show on scaling a home service business.

Gold Award winner for Best Professional Industry Insights Series at NAHB's The Nationals.

FOR VETERANS

Gear & Discounts for the Trade

Programs built to help veterans get equipped and get started.

Mac Tools Veterans Program

Gerber Pro Program

A discounted path to franchise ownership in the automotive tool business for veterans transitioning to civilian work.

Discounted access to gear for military members, veterans, and industry professionals.

WATCH & LEARN

A Few YouTube Shout-Outs

Real trades content worth your watch time.

ServiceTitan

RRBuildings

This Old House

Real contractor stories, product walkthroughs, and industry insight straight from the platform powering thousands of trade businesses.

Kyle Stumpenhorst's real builds, honest tool reviews, and the daily reality of the trade.

The long-running home improvement show featuring real master tradespeople walking through real projects.

COMMUNITY & SUPPORT

You're Not Doing This Alone

Real stories, real support, and real programs built for where you're starting from.

Women in the Trades

Trades for Veterans

Trades for Career Changers

Elite Championship

Real numbers, real leaders, real support.

Real benefits, real programs, real path forward.

It's not too late to start over.

See what mastery looks like.

FOR CONTRACTORS

Grow Your Crew

Finding and keeping good people is the hardest part of running a trade business. Here's real help with both.

Hiring for Contractors

Contractor Evaluations

Partner With Tim

Where to start when you need to hire in the trades.

Take the contractor evaluations to see how you rank.

One-on-one help when you don't want to figure this out alone.

SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDING

Fund Your Path

Real scholarships and funding programs to help pay for training and tools.

Trade Scholarships

mikeroweWORKS Scholarship

Metallica Scholars

Real funding options to help cover training costs.

Funding for people who want to learn a skill that's in demand.

Funding supporting career and technical education.