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Meet Mark Hedstrom: Executive Director of Skilled Careers Coalition, skilled trades champion.
Mark’s journey from manufacturing and healthcare consulting to leading the Skilled Careers Coalition gives him a unique perspective on America’s skilled trades gap—and why philanthropy is the secret weapon for fixing it.

In this episode:

• The real reason skilled trades have been stigmatized as “dirty, dark, dangerous” for decades—and why that’s total nonsense
• How philanthropy can take bold risks to drive systemic change in the workforce (when industry can’t)
• The three real career paths for today’s students: military, college, or skilled trades (and why trades are just as valuable)
• Mark’s personal story: from a privileged background to a fierce advocate for the trades
• How a coalition approach is actually moving the needle on the skilled trades crisis
• Why it’s time to ditch “blue collar” and start saying “skilled careers”

Key Takeaways:

Stigma | Decades-old myths are holding back talented people from life-changing careers
Philanthropy | Nonprofits can experiment and drive innovation where industry is stuck
Language Shift | “Skilled careers” > “blue collar”—words matter for respect and opportunity
Parental Mindset | Parents need to see trades as equal to college or military for their kids’ futures

The skilled trades gap isn’t just about open jobs—it’s about changing mindsets, language, and opportunities for an entire generation. Mark’s coalition model shows how teamwork across sectors can make a real difference.

Ready to challenge what you’ve heard about trades?
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