At UWS, we know skilled trades are the backbone of our country. Welders, fabricators, machinists, and mechanics keep everything moving. They turn raw materials into finished products, keep machinery running, and solve problems before they halt production. But today, we’re facing a growing skills gap crisis. More tradespeople are retiring or leaving the field than are entering it, and that shortage is putting pressure on every level of the supply chain.

That’s why we’re proud to support Lippert’s Rooted in Trades campaign. This initiative shines a light on the people who keep our industry alive and calls attention to the urgent need for the next generation of skilled workers. Without these hands, manufacturers can’t build efficiently, dealers struggle to serve customers, and consumers face delays and limited access to the products they rely on every day. The trades are more than just jobs. They’re the engine that drives our country forward. By supporting Rooted in Trades, UWS is standing with the men and women in the field today while helping prepare the next generation of skilled workers who will keep our industry moving forward.

The Rooted in Trades initiative isn’t about applause. It’s about respect — earned in sweat, grit, and the grind. It’s the construction worker swinging a hammer before sunrise. The welder sparking steel in a furnace-hot shop. The electrician crawling through tight crawlspaces to keep a city alive. Every calloused hand, every worn-out boot, every streak of dirt on a work shirt tells a story of relentless effort that rarely makes headlines but always keeps the world turning.

This is where strength is forged. Not in glass towers or boardrooms, but on the job sites, in the garages, along the backroads where the real work happens. It’s the rhythm of hammers on steel, the hiss of a torch cutting metal, the buzz of a saw through fresh lumber. It’s the long hours, the aching muscles, the pride in a job done right.

Rooted in Trades is a salute to the men and women who measure success by work well done, not by applause. It’s for those who show up every day, boots caked in mud, hands blistered, hearts relentless, keeping the world moving while the rest of us go about our lives. Because real strength isn’t polished or perfect. It’s built in steel-toed boots, sweat-soaked shirts, and the unshakable pride of the trades.

The Lippert Scholars Program, which includes full scholarships, hands-on experience, and industry-recognized certifications is one of the ways we help support the trades. In partnership with local trade and tech schools, our program offers a fast-track to high-wage careers in advanced manufacturing, without student debt.

Over the past year, we've grown the program by 56% with: 

• 78 unique classes 
• 520 team members trained 
• 506 certifications earned 
• 904 credits completed 
• 142 apprenticeships