Steve Turner, 57, a small-business owner with 30 years of experience in the trade of auto and marine upholstery, is on a mighty mission to encourage more participation in the trades, especially by young people who want to work with their hands.
In 2017, Turner, a fit and animated then 50-year-old, turned a slogan on a baseball cap — “Bring back the trades” — into a movement that captivated other proud tradespeople. In 2019, he founded Bring Back the Trades (BBTT) as a 501C3 nonprofit with a mission to elevate the appeal, value, and viability of trade careers.
Emphatic that his crusade for the trades is not a criticism of higher ed, Turner acknowledged in a recent interview, “We need college. We need doctors. We need pilots. We need lawyers, we need all of that. But there’s another side to the story.”
For the record, my Italian-born father supported our family through various trades — house painter, wallpaper installer, garment worker, barber. All drew on his extroverted personality and empathetic salesmanship — his Abruzzi-accented English was no barrier. My introverted mother’s superlative talents as a seamstress and home cook were matched by her formidable confidence, especially in teaching 7-year-old me how to deal with bullies.
Turner’s side of the story is as prosaic as it is profound. He gestured with his hands and chuckled, as he explained, “I was the person running all over the neighborhoods. They had to bring me to school an hour ahead of time to get the energy out of me.”
It’s easy to see why Turner’s expressive personality might be considered frenetic in a child, but it’s that exuberance that makes him compelling as an eloquent evangelist for the trades.
For over three decades, Turner has observed the disparity between the demand for skilled tradespeople and their dwindling numbers. The decline of vocational training within educational institutions posed a significant threat, Turner said, not only to individual livelihoods but also to the fundamental operations of communities.
Resolute in his zeal to unearth education opportunities for new generations in a diverse range of skilled trades, Turner is like a genie one wishes had materialized, when faced with “what do you want to be when you grow up?” and the reply of “fireman” or “hairstylist” was not the dream some parents envisioned.
Turner is that guy, helping young people consider such dreams — perhaps, landscaper, cook, builder, electrician, plumber, mechanic, welder, tailor, truckdriver — before the pressure to pursue a traditional college education takes hold.
Bring Back the Trades collaborates with philanthropic foundations, educators, community leaders, and businesses in various sectors. These supporters are essential in bridging the divide between academic learning and practical application, offering students invaluable mentorships, apprenticeships, scholarships, and clear pathways to meaningful employment. Events organized by Bring Back the Trades, such as interactive career fairs featuring hands-on demonstrations and networking, have engaged thousands of students.
To be sure, BBTT continues to compete with the ingrained societal perspective that a four-year college degree represents the singular path to success. Overcoming this pervasive belief necessitates continuous education and a concerted effort to highlight the significant earning potential, inherent job security, and profound personal fulfillment offered by pursuing careers in the skilled trades.
In our interview, Turner underscored the importance of peer mentors sharing their own difficult experiences as well. “I was a really bad student and I thought I [would] never become anything,” he said. “I found the trades, and there was this one girl that I became friends with. She had a real problem in school, serious anxiety, and she found welding.”
On Tuesday, May 20, Bring Back the Trades will host a Skills Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Vermont State University’s Castleton Campus. This in-person event, presented by F.W. Webb and hosted by Vermont State University in collaboration with the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR), is designed to offer a unique and engaging experience for attendees aged 12 and older — including career-changers, noted Steve Turner — to explore a variety of trade skills and employment opportunities.
Russ Marsan, founder and co-owner of Rutland-based landscape company Carpenter & Costin, was instrumental in bringing the BBTT Expo to the Rutland region, and in attracting numerous local sponsors.
In the video interview with Turner, Marsan — who also serves as CEDRR’s board chair — said of Bring Back the Trades, “It’s taking the ropes that life provides us, tying them together and creating a net to capture opportunities that benefit everybody… You’re able to represent all kinds of different people across a wide spectrum,” noted Marsan, “and you step back and make it something that nobody ever imagined it could be.”
Reflecting on his early education experiences, Steve Turner concluded, “I’m fighting for all the kids that just aren’t book smart,” he said. “My core mission is about empowering those kids to say, ‘I’m going to do something with my hands, and I’m going to make something of myself’.”
Schools can receive complimentary admission and are encouraged to inquire about a promotional code. Education partners include The McClure Foundation, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, the National Aviation Academy, and Vermont Works for Women. Corporate sponsors include Casella Construction, F.W. Webb, Heritage Family Credit Union, M&T Bank, Belden Construction, VELCO and numerous manufacturers. Parking at the venue will be provided free of charge.
For more information, visit: bringbackthetrades.org.
Liz DiMarco Weinmann, MBA, is a strategic growth specialist, nonprofit leader, business educator, and author. Her L3C consulting firm works exclusively with charities and educational institutions: lizdimarcoweinmann.com.
