National Careers in Trades Week Leads to Wall Street Journal Coverage and Hilger, Simon Interviews

Article talks about work force development and how heightened efforts to recruit high-schoolers into professions such as plumbing, electrical work and welding have helped spur a revitalization of shop classes in many districts.

SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger and Angie Simon, co-founder of the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, were featured in a recent piece in the Wall Street Journal on revitalizing shop classes in the United States.

Heightened efforts to recruit high-schoolers into professions such as plumbing, electrical work, and welding have helped revitalize shop classes in many districts. The private sector is partnering with high schools to enable students to work part-time, earn money, and get academic credit.

The piece looks at SMACNA’s and HMSE's efforts, as well as the experience of a high school in the Philadelphia area and how its tech students are in high demand for their skillset.

Click here to read the Wall Street Journal article. (Subscription Required) 


May 7, 2025 Member Update

Latest Articles


Kitchen Ventilation Systems and Food Service Equipment, 2nd Edition Now Available

Aug 26, 2026 - Second edition builds upon the first edition and continues to serve as a basic reference guide to industry-accepted practices for the fabrication and installation of commercial kitchen ventilation systems.


Longtime CAL SMACNA Leader Cyndi Marshall Passes Away

Aug 26, 2026 - Former CAL SMACNA Executive Vice President was a trailblazer in the industry, serving as a coalition builder throughout the trades over the course of an impactful 30-year career.


Learn More About the Identify Function for Cybersecurity

Aug 26, 2026 - Article in SMACNA’s Cybersecurity Series Dives into the foundational aspect of any data protection plan.