07/08/2026
It's never been college or the trades. Our industry depends on both. Engineers, project managers, technicians, installers, office staff...every role matters, and we all rely on each other.
There are a lot of great career paths out there. The important thing is finding the one that's right for you.
As BBTT approaches its ninth anniversary on August 17, 2026, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on everything I've learned since the day I created that first hat.
One of the biggest lessons has completely changed the way I think about education and the workforce.
When I first started BBTT, one of the first things I said was, "You don't have to go to college to make good money."
While that statement came from a place of wanting to encourage people to consider the skilled trades, I now realize it unintentionally created a divide between college and the trades. It became an "either/or" conversation when it never should have been.
Today, our message is different:
It's not college or trades. It's college and trades.
Over the past nine years, I've learned that no great business succeeds through the work of one group alone. Skilled tradespeople use both their hands and their minds to build, create, solve problems, and make incredible things happen every day. But behind every successful company are also college-educated professionals—engineers, accountants, marketers, designers, managers, and countless others—helping that business grow and thrive.
We need each other.
The future isn't about choosing one path over another. It's about respecting every path and recognizing that our economy is strongest when everyone works together.
My hope is that we can bring people from every background into the same room, learn from one another, support one another, and celebrate the unique value each person brings. If we do that, we'll not only continue bringing back the trades—we'll also strengthen businesses, communities, and our economy for generations to come.
That's what BBTT stands for today, and I'm proud of how far we've come over these past nine years.
Steve Turner
Founder BBTT