As the nation recognized National Tradesmen Day on September 18, attention turned to the urgent need to prepare the next generation of skilled trades professionals. An estimated 2.1 million skilled trades positions nationwide could go unfilled by 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Education, a workforce challenge that cannot be solved through recruitment alone. It requires building the workforce earlier.
Western Maricopa Education Center and Pueblo Mechanical & Controls, a Modigent company, are doing just that by creating a direct pathway from career and technical education in high school to employment, apprenticeship and career advancement.
The partnership is designed to shorten the distance between learning a trade and building a career in one. Through workplace tours, mock interviews, on-campus demonstrations and direct engagement with Pueblo professionals, West-MEC students gain exposure to industry expectations and career opportunities before graduation. For students ready to enter the workforce, that preparation can provide a head start into employment and continued development through Modigent’s apprenticeship program.
“Meeting the growing demand for skilled tradespeople starts with preparing students early,” said Dr. Scott Spurgeon, West-MEC superintendent. “Pueblo Mechanical and West-MEC are advancing that work by connecting motivated students with Modigent’s national apprenticeship opportunities, helping them strengthen their technical skills and launch their careers immediately after high school.”
As a Modigent company, Pueblo helps carry that pipeline from the classroom into the workforce, connecting West-MEC students to both local career opportunities and Modigent’s broader apprenticeship and workforce development programs. For those who transition into employment, Modigent’s apprenticeship program provides a structured next step to continue developing their skills while building a career.
Launched in September 2025, the apprenticeship combines classroom instruction, digital learning, hands-on technical training and on-the-job mentorship, giving employees the opportunity to earn credentials and advance while they work.
The apprenticeship program is continuing to grow. Since launching in 2025, Modigent has surpassed 100 enrolled apprentices nationally and was named the 2026 Apprenticeship Program of the Year by Interplay Learning.
For West-MEC graduates, the result is a pathway that can begin in high school and continue well into their careers. Early results are showing the strength of that approach.
According to apprenticeship assessment data, West-MEC graduates have performed above national averages on standardized evaluations and have demonstrated strong professional readiness.
“West-MEC graduates are proving that when we connect strong career and technical education with real-world experience and a clear path forward, we can develop exceptional talent in the next generation of the workforce,” said Ryan Elder, Modigent Vice President of HR & Talent Capabilities. “As a Modigent company, Pueblo Mechanical is able to engage students in the classroom and provide opportunities locally in Arizona and across the country through Modigent’s national apprenticeship program. That’s the workforce model we’re building — engage at the local level, provide long-term career pathways through apprenticeship programs, and ultimately provide a path into the skilled trades that benefit West-MEC students and Modigent.
As we reflect on National Tradesmen Day, we recognize the importance of preparing the next generation of skilled professionals our communities will depend on. Through the West-MEC and Pueblo partnership, future tradespeople are gaining the skills, experience and opportunities they need to follow in the footsteps of today’s workforce and carry the skilled trades forward.
