Expose
- Career Clusters
- Field Trips
- Guest Speakers
What is TradesNKY?
A career pathway program bridging Northern Kentucky schools and industry to spark student discovery of essential, skilled trades careers.
Our Mission
Built for Northern Kentucky
TradesNKY connects schools, industry, and community partners to prepare students for high-demand, high-skilled careers that build, power, and move our region forward. We create pathways for students in K-12th grade to allow them to gain exposure (K-5th), explore (6th-8th), and engage (9th-12th) with the essential workforce that keeps our community running.
Our Vision
Every Student. Every Path.
TradesNKY envisions a future where innovative trades education empowers every student academically and professionally, fosters diverse talents, and inspires a lifelong love for knowledge. We aspire to be a catalyst for transformative education, shaping skilled professionals and well-rounded individuals poised to lead in a dynamic world, building bridges to brighter futures extending beyond the trades.
The TradesNKY Approach
TradesNKY partners directly with schools, educators, and industry to deliver an industry-informed curriculum and meaningful career exploration experiences that connect classroom learning with the real world.
The Core of Our Program
Industry-Informed Proprietary Curriculum
Aligned with Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) standards and designed for all middle school students in grades 6–8, with flexible 9-week and 18-week implementation options.
Hands-On Learning
Project-based lessons that bring skills and careers to life.
Customized Implementation
Tailored to each district, classroom, and student.
Dedicated School Partnerships
One-on-one support through implementation.
Educator Support
Professional development and a community of practice for teachers.
Industry Engagement
Professionals share their career journeys in the classroom.
Career Exploration Experiences
Job-site visits and facility tours of the trades in action.
Employer Engagement Toolkit
Helps employers hire students for apprenticeships.
From Exposure to Opportunity
The TradesNKY Student Pathway — Grades Pre-K–12.
TradesNKY partnered with education and industry leaders to develop a transferable talent pipeline model that connects classroom learning with real workforce opportunities. These partnerships support students from elementary school awareness, to middle school exposure, to high school industry credentialing, technical training, experiential learning, and career and college readiness. Together, with practitioner experiences and resources, students are introduced to the diverse range of essential trades and college and career opportunities.
- 1
- 2
Explore
- Essential Skills Curricula
- skill UP (Career Expo)
- Employability Skills Training
- 3
Engage
- NCCER Core
- Micro-Credentials
- Employability Skills Training
- 4
Equip
- NCCER Elective(s)
- Industry Credentials
- Dual-Credit Opportunities
- 5
Experience
- Co-ops/Internships
- Apprenticeships
- Mentorships
Why this matters
TradesNKY ensures students graduate with:
Students graduate with a plan, a pathway, and a purpose.
Flagship Event
Skill UP is TradesNKY's annual interactive career exploration event that connects middle school students with hands-on experiences in the skilled trades. Students engage directly with industry professionals and employers to discover rewarding career pathways that are helping build the future of NKY.
skill UP 2026
- 1,051
- students attended
- 45+
- exhibitors
The Five Career Pillars
Every career TradesNKY connects students to falls within one of five pillars. Each pillar represents a family of high-demand occupations with strong wages, local employer demand, and clear pathways from training to career.
Build
Build the spaces where we live, work, learn, and play. From homes and schools to hospitals and skyscrapers, BUILD careers shape the communities around us.
Make
Design, build, and manufacture the products the world depends on. MAKE careers combine technology, precision, and innovation to transform raw materials into everything from medical devices to aircraft components.
Move
Keep people, products, and businesses moving. MOVE careers power transportation, logistics, aviation, and the supply chains that connect our world.
Power
Generate, deliver, and maintain the energy that powers modern life. POWER careers keep our homes, businesses, and industries running safely and efficiently.
Protect
Serve and protect the people and communities that depend on you. PROTECT careers focus on public safety, emergency response, security, and keeping workplaces safe.
Our Roadmap
From a shared vision to growing regional impact — how TradesNKY has taken shape, year by year.
- 2023
A Vision Takes Shape
Phil Griffin, President and CEO of AnyWeather Companies, and Brandon and Sara Bray, owners of Bray Construction Services, experienced firsthand the growing shortage of skilled workers across Northern Kentucky. Rather than accepting the challenge as inevitable, they came together to create a long-term solution, one that would introduce students to rewarding career pathways before they ever entered high school. That vision became TradesNKY.
Later that year, TradesNKY launched its first partnership with Campbell County Middle School, piloting an industry-informed construction curriculum that connected classroom learning with real-world careers.
- 2024
Building the Foundation
Following a successful pilot, TradesNKY expanded the depth and scope of its curriculum. The program evolved from a single nine-week introductory course into a comprehensive curriculum spanning three years, including an introduction course, exploratory course, and advanced course in preparation for high school.
At the same time, the curriculum broadened beyond construction to represent the entire BUILD industry, introducing students to careers in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, masonry, plumbing, and more.
- 2025
Expanding the Vision
Momentum accelerated with the addition of Holmes Middle School and transformative investments from the Spirit of Construction Foundation and BE NKY Growth Partnership. During this period, the organization's vision expanded beyond traditional construction careers to represent the entire essential workforce dealing with the growing labor shortage. New career pathways were introduced through the pillars of manufacturing (MAKE), transportation and logistics (MOVE), utilities and energy (POWER), and public safety (PROTECT).
- 2026
Growing Regional Impact
With support from the Kenton County Fiscal Court, TradesNKY expanded from serving two schools to eight middle schools across Northern Kentucky, dramatically increasing student access to hands-on career exploration.
TradesNKY also hosted its inaugural skill UP Career Exploration Fair at Gateway Community & Technical College, bringing together students, educators, and industry partners for an immersive experience designed to build awareness of high-demand career pathways.
Looking Ahead
TradesNKY remains committed to preparing the next generation of Kentucky's essential workforce. In the years ahead, we will continue expanding into additional school districts, strengthening partnerships with industry leaders, and developing innovative, hands-on curricula that connect students with meaningful careers across the BUILD, MAKE, MOVE, POWER, and PROTECT pathways.