Susan Jacobs-Marshalsea’s decision to enter the plumbing trade was easy. Representing the fifth generation of Master Plumbers, she was determined to carry on the tradition of Jacobs Plumbing, “A Family of Master Plumbers Since 1895!” But coming up in the late 1970s and early ’80s meant proving she belonged.

Prevention is already a familiar concept in the trades. You inspect equipment, identify hazards, wear the appropriate protective equipment and address problems before they become injuries or costly failures.

For the sixth year in a row, Philadelphia-based general sheet metal contractor Ernest D. Menold Inc. is participating in Movember as a vehicle to promote a healthy workforce.

For Maria Arcieri, a challenge from a high school classmate was all it took to change her career path from cosmetology to automotive technology.

I still remember the first time I realized the tools in my truck could do more than finish a job. They could restore something. Not just a pipe. Not just a fixture. Not just a mechanical system. 

Everything Leon Garrett owned fit inside a single trash bag. He had one outfit, one backpack and a cellphone charger for a belt.

During a particularly heavy time in my own life, I received two pieces of advice that really helped me. One was, “Ride it out.” Don’t bury your feelings, as that will just prolong your situation. 

In the trades, strength, reliability and hard work are valued traits. But mental health is just as important as physical health. Work demands, family responsibilities, financial pressures and everyday stress can all affect mental well-being.

Schizophrenia affects more than 3 million adults in the United States, yet many people don’t know what schizophrenia or psychosis looks like — or what to do when they notice changes in someone they care about.

In the trades, most owners learn a simple lesson early: Good work gets rewarded with more work. You start out in the field. You solve problems. Customers trust you.