The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors – National Association and PHCC of Wisconsin will sponsor an “Explore the Trades” event for teens and young adults Oct. 5 at CONNECT 2017 in Milwaukee as part of their missions to ensure the future of the industry is equipped with skilled workers dedicated to the health, safety and comfort of society.

“PHCC-NA has partnered with PHCC of Wisconsin to reach out to solve one of the industry’s biggest challenges – finding new skilled workers to fill a need in the industry,” said PHCC-NA President Patrick Wallner. “The event truly supports the theme of our conference this year – ‘Collaborate for Success.’ ”

Teens and young adults are invited to meet plumbing and HVAC contractors/apprentices, experience hands-on exhibits and see top national apprentices compete in contests to discover if a career in plumbing and HVAC is the right opportunity for them.

The effort is to reach young adults with an entrepreneurial spirit and an aptitude for problem solving with the surprising opportunities a technical career presents.  Attendees will learn the high demand for technicians (more than 138,000 will be needed by 2022), potential high salaries, the opportunities for women in the industry, multiple career advancement paths, and the ability to get paid while they learn vs. the cost a two- or four-year college education.

“There’s room for growth and new opportunities, business ownership, a changing work environment and new challenges every day,” said Jeffrey Beiriger, executive director, PHCC Wisconsin. “It is a career that will always be needed and a skill that can benefit communities right here, across the U.S., and around the world. From clean water to waste disposal to energy efficiency, this is the front-line for the environmental issues that matter here and now.”

Visit www.PHCCareers.com and www.phccweb.org/connect to learn more.