Blue is the New White #56 - Brandon Patterson, Iowa Skilled Trades Initiative

Today, we sit down with a truly remarkable person. Not only is he vocal about the skilled trades, but he's someone who actually takes action in bringing these rewarding careers to the forefront of America's youth. Brandon Patterson spent his early years at the parts counter, on job sites, and the like. So he was one of the lucky ones that had a true appreciation for the trades before many of his peers. After school he ended up working for Ferguson plumbing supply, which led him to Vegas during the housing boom. After that brought him full circle back to Iowa, he got into real estate, joined the home builders association, and began advocating for young people to join the trades. He joined the Skilled Trades Alliance and aided in developing the Skilled Trades Academy which provides curriculum for the trades to high school students He then joined forces with Build My Future which provides students with hands on experiences, and founded the Iowa Skilled Trades Initiative with the intent of developing awareness of the trades and the opportunities therein. This is just SOME of what Brandon has accomplished, and he's not done yet. Don't miss this episode available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube!