In Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, Lowe’s associates take their knowledge outside the aisles and into the classroom. Over the sound of hammers and drills, Red Vests can be heard among students inside the Wilkes-Barre Career and Technical College giving them tips and tricks of the trades. For Pro Department Supervisor Jeff Hartley, volunteering with the CTC goes beyond mentorship – he says it’s helping build our future skilled trades workers.
“The students here are going to be our future Pros,” said Hartley. “It’s the beginning of them seeing the Red Vest, seeing that Lowe’s cares, that Lowe’s wants to be there to help them.”
The relationship between Lowe’s and the CTC started last year with a simple favor, help proctoring the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute exams for the students. Also known as the NOCTI, the test challenges students’ knowledge in the trades and must be scored by someone other and the students teacher. Hartley and Department Supervisor, Phil Navarrete jumped in to help and kept in touch with the CTC ever since. Now, making trips to lend an extra hand and set of eyes in the classroom as they work to join the trades.
“The skilled trades are the foundation of what we live in, we’re always going to need it. I never did this at 18 years old. You know what I mean? This is getting them a head start,” said Phil Navarrete, Lowe’s Department Supervisor.
With the increased worry around the shortage of skilled trade workers, students at the CTC hope to fill that gap. Starting their journey in the trades early, the students hope it will give them a leg up on their first job. Many students, like Brian Hunzer, expressed aspirations to work their way up the ladder and one day owning their own construction companies.
“It’s easier for me to learn hands-on. I started out with electrical my first quarter and I just loved it, so I stuck with it,” said Wilkes-Barre Career and Technical College student Brian Hunzer.
For some students, seeing the iconic Lowe’s Red Vest in the classroom might have been their first introduction. But Hartley hopes it’s the beginning of a lifelong relationship for the future skilled trades students, one day as Pros in the stores aisles.
The connection between Lowe’s and the next generation of skilled workers doesn’t end at graduation. Through initiatives like Track to the Trades, Lowe’s offers its own associates the opportunity to pursue careers in high-demand trades such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical—removing financial barriers and providing education support. It’s part of a broader commitment to growing the trades pipeline from classroom to career, ensuring students like those in Wilkes-Barre can see a future in the field with employers who back their ambitions.
