“Skilled trades power our homes, businesses and local economies and provide an essential service to people and families, yet the talent gap is growing,” said Kelli Nesseth, Senior Vice President and GM at Synchrony. “This program gives our people a debt-free associate degree pathway, building in-demand skills for the future across the industries we serve and opening doors, even to business ownership.”

Held at Synchrony’s Cincinnati-West Chester office, the Women in the Trades forum convened dozens of women leaders to share best practices in board-level training, mentorship and leadership, and to accelerate the next wave of skilled trade talent.

Behind the statistics are real families and neighborhoods. When technicians are scarce, urgent home repairs can take longer and cost more, delaying work that keeps homes safe and livable and putting basic fixes further out of reach for those who need them most. Filling these vital roles strengthens local economies and supports Synchrony’s Home partners, especially the small and medium-sized businesses hit hardest by the skills shortage, by reducing backlogs, responding faster and growing local talent pipelines with job-ready credentials aligned to employer needs.

“Synchrony’s new tuition program and scholarship support are the investments we need to help more people, including women, enter high-demand trade careers,” said Jane Sidebottom, President of Women in HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration). “As the skills gap widens, building a job-ready pipeline is essential for the next generation of leaders and the customers and communities they’ll serve.”

Through a partnership with Bright Horizons EdAssist, Synchrony employees can pursue trade-focused associate degrees through a network of more than 20 technical colleges, community colleges and trade-school programs. The program offers flexible options including paid apprenticeships, employer-based training and hybrid or on-campus models with hands-on lab and shop learning.

Women in Trades Forum: Building the Pipeline and Future Skills

Synchrony’s Women in the Trades forum convened leaders across HVAC, home improvement and home services to share talent and leadership strategies. Participants also gained skills in women’s financial health, marketing and AI, including a budgeting workshop hosted by Synchrony’s new employee-led Financial Literacy Service Corps.

Attendees included leaders from Women in HVACR, Women in the Flooring Industry, and National Women in Roofing; Bosch Home Comfort Group, Floor & Decor, Mitsubishi Electric Heating & Air Conditioning, Rheem, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup and ServiceTitan; and trade professionals from technicians to small business owners.

Powering Skills for the Future

The new program builds on Synchrony’s strong track record of preparing employees for future job-ready skills, while helping them pursue their personal and professional career goals through education, including:

• Debt-free tuition: Up to $24K per year for degrees in high-demand fields, including education, health care and now skilled trades, building skills that power careers at Synchrony and across the industries the company serves
• Tech certifications: Up to $9K annually towards 12+ credentials aligned to critical skills
• Tech apprenticeships: 12-month pathway for non-traditional talent into Synchrony tech roles such as information security, AI and tech supplier management

Building Pathways, Expanding Access in Communities

Synchrony continues to expand pathways to the skilled trades by supporting technical training. The Synchrony Foundation has donated $150,000 to Women in HVACR for scholarships and nearly $1 million to skilled trade programs nationwide since 2021. This work is part of Synchrony’s Education as an Equalizer initiative to broaden access to education, skills training, and financial literacy.