Western Allied Mechanical

The Heavy Metal Summer Experience is about to embark on its third nation-wide tour with more than 20 dates in 12 states, which are expected to attract more than 425 students.

Co-founded by Western Allied Mechanical, Menlo Park, California, and Hermanson Co., Kent, Washington, the HMSE is a free program for underserved high school students and recent graduates, ranging in ages from 15 to 19, to gain exposure to the potential of a career in the plumbing, piping and sheet metal trades.

“We often talk about the fact that our industry does not have enough workers,” says Angie Simon, co-founder and executive director of the HMSE who recently retired as CEO of Western Allied. “In the next five to 10 years, 40 percent of our industry tradespeople will retire, and we are already short of people now.”

Since recruiting the next generation is so crucial to the industry, a creative outreach event such as a summer construction camp is vital to getting the word out to teens about the future of working in the trades.

“Our job is to give the students experiences to explore and let them find what they’re great at and where their natural genius is,” says Rick Hermanson, CEO of Hermanson Co. “This allows kids to find what success looks like for them and learn that the building trades offer great careers, pay well and creates the awareness that there are alternatives to college.”

To read more, head on over to: https://www.phcppros.com/articles/17584-mechanical-industry-bands-together-for-heavy-metal-summer-experience