Most skilled trades don’t have a hiring problem.

They have a Gen Z access and trust problem.

Retirements are accelerating, job ads are ignored, and traditional recruiting isn’t reaching the audiences where career decisions are actually made.

I work upstream - giving skilled trades organizations credible access to Gen Z attention and career interest, and turning that attention into real workforce momentum.

Before founding Trades Media, I spent 20+ years building and leading a national tool and equipment company serving tradespeople across the U.S. That gave me a front-row seat to how broken most workforce pipelines actually are.

Trades Media partners with manufacturers, contractors, trade associations, and workforce organizations to turn in-the-field storytelling into measurable hiring momentum not just impressions.

This is not recruiting placement.
We don’t sell resumes or charge per hire.

We work upstream influencing perception, interest, and intent so companies stop fighting over the same shrinking talent pool and start growing their own.

What I lead:
• Gen Z workforce pipeline campaigns tied to real career pathways
• On-site hiring activations at plants, job sites, and major industry events
• Strategic partnerships with schools, associations, and workforce groups that convert attention into applicants

As host of The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades, I produce on-location shows inside plants, shops, training centers, and job sites turning real work into real interest from the next generation.

The long-term goal is simple: help skilled trades organizations replace retiring talent by making careers in the trades visible, credible, and desirable to the next generation.

Andrew Brown

TEKsystems

Upgrade of Cisco network hardware at Arizona state government offices as part of a two year contract with Centurylink.

Network Refresh Technician

Comtech EF Data

Performed testing of ground satellite communications prototypes.  
Used Spirent® equipment to flood prototypes with different variations of Internet traffic types for the purpose of identifying firmware and/or hardware related issues.  
Also performed testing of software products used to remotely manage [using Internet Protocols} Comtech product lines.

IP Test Engineer

SonicWALL

Provided third level technical support for SonicWALL customers.  Checked, created, and changedthe settings in the SonicWALL to create the desired security/networking goal.  Troubleshooting was always involved.  Worked in a call center to receive calls using Seibel.  This provided support for such cyber security features as gateway antivirus, intrusion protection, anti-spyware, and content filtering.  (Dell sold SonicWALL to other management company during this time).

Support Engineer

ARA Union

Performed duties as a radio officer aboard a merchant marine vessel.

Radio Officer

Honeywell / ITT Exelis

Performed engineering and planning for customer Cisco and other telecommunications services at the White Sand Complex. Prepared documentation for and implemented projects and performed other functional responsibilities. Gained fiber plant management skills and implemented a program to recover existing fiber pairs through the use of CWDM (Course Wavelength Division Multiplexing) optical multiplexers and Cisco hardware (SFPs and GBICs). (ITT outbid Honeywell for the contract).

Systems Engineer

Clayton State University

Taught Cisco CCNA 1, 2, 3 and 4.  Also taught Cisco ’I.T. Essentials’ course.  I completed training and achieved CCAIs (Cisco Certified Associate Instructor) for the CCNA program and for the I.T. Essentials Program.  Advised students as part of instructor’s responsibilities

Instructor

Western Carolina University

Taught Introduction to LANs, WANs, Network Planning and Design, and Telecommunications Management.  Advised students, conducted computer labs, and made recommendations for improvement of computer lab facilities.

Visiting Assistant Professor

Taught Introduction to LANs, WANs, Network Planning and Design, and Telecommunications Management.  Advised students and conducted computer labs.

Midlands Technical College

Taught Engineering Technology, Telecom, Computers, Computer Networking, and Cisco.

Adjunct

Metromedia Fiber Network

Worked in the Network Operations Center with responsibility for monitoring the condition of the nationwide fiber network.  Assisted in troubleshooting and in initiating restorative action when problems such as fiber breaks or significant changes in light levels occurred.  Also did remote traces to identify the location of breaks and bends.

Surveillance Engineer

Orion Network Systems / Loral Skynet

Worked in Satellite Engineering preparing engineering documents to support the installation of VSAT (very small aperture terminals) stations and satellite links.  Also revised engineering drawings for equipment retrofits and provided technical support to field engineers as required to resolve technical problems

Network Engineer

Telecommunications and Informational Technology professional in search of the right opportunity!  Have a burning desire and passion to design, learn and implement new methods while utilizing technical ideas to create new operational services.  Am innovative and have experience in radio frequency, voice, data and software systems.  Prior experience includes cabling and distribution frame, VSAT engineering, network administration and other technical/engineering related functions.  Have created and managed my own website since 1995.

Specialties: Cisco CCNA (Certification: CSCO10119088) pending renewal.  
CompTIA A+ (Certification: e12dtt3493).  
Commercial General Class Radiotelephone Operator’s license with ship’s radar endorsement (License: PG-4-8711). 
Licensed Extra Class amateur radio operator (WB4AEJ).
First Class Technician Certificate issued by N.A.R.T.E. with a Master’s Endorsement in RF and other non-RF endorsements (Certification: T1-00831). 
Also hold a Class A Commercial Drivers License (NM CDL: 507737854).  
Infragard member.

taplio

The Battle

Andrew Brown

Fred W. Atkinson III

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