What started with an Indeed job ad became a mission for Taylor Bray, who is helping tackle the skilled labor shortage by creating new pathways into the plumbing industry.
Georgia’s new contractor licensing provision aims to curb misleading advertising by unlicensed businesses while strengthening consumer protections and supporting contractors who meet state licensing requirements.
The 2026 National Plumbing Competition drew 48 of the country’s top plumbing students currently enrolled in high school, vocational, technical and post-secondary schools.
This initiative comes as part of a wider “TOWER” program (Transitioning Opportunities for Work, Education and Reality), a career-help initiative organized by the Hamilton County Indiana Jail.
Adapted from PHCC Academy’s online curriculum, the HVAC and plumbing pre-apprenticeship courses could help address the state’s technician shortage where possible by equipping inmates with the necessary skills before they return to the community.
According to the company, this strengthens a shared commitment to supporting professional contractors and advancing the plumbing and HVAC industry.
PHCC Corporate Partners play a vital role in advancing the association’s mission by fostering innovation, promoting workforce development, and delivering meaningful value to contractor members.
Leading the class of twenty-four attendees through interactive discussions was Purdue University Professor Emeritus Kirk Alter.
During the four-day course, held March 4–7 at Milwaukee Tool’s headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, participants explored how careful analysis, problem-solving, and attention to detail can help project managers identify issues early, make better decisions, and keep projects on track.