Built, Not
Born.

"Encore took a chance on me when I had no experience. They trained me from the ground up. Two years later I'm a second-year apprentice making more than I ever thought I would at 24. This company actually invests in you."

"I was working retail making $14 an hour, going nowhere. My cousin told me about IBEW. I applied, got in, and six months later I was making $22 an hour on a job site. Two years in, I bought my first truck — cash."

"Everyone told me trades weren't for women. I'm two years into my plumbing apprenticeship and I make more than most of my friends who went to college — and I have zero debt. Let that sink in."

"I failed out of college my freshman year. Felt like a failure. A counselor pointed me toward a welding program. I got my AWS certification in 8 months. Now I'm doing pipeline work and clearing $60K a year at 24."

"My dad was a sheet metal worker. I thought I wanted something different — spent a year trying to figure it out. Ended up following his path and I'm proud of it. The union benefits alone are worth more than any office job I looked at."

"I grew up watching my grandfather build things with his hands. I wanted that — something real, something I could point to and say I built that. Carpentry gave me that. And a paycheck that actually pays rent."

"I was 19 and had no idea what I wanted to do. My uncle got me a tour of a job site. I watched a guy my age running a $500,000 excavator. I signed up for the apprenticeship the next week. Best decision I ever made."

"I've always loved cars. Everyone said make it a hobby, not a career. I did the Ford ASSET program — paid co-op, real dealership experience, ASE certifications. I graduated with a job offer and no student loans. The doubters are quiet now."