As manufacturers grapple with skilled labor shortages and an aging workforce, local career fairs are becoming strategic talent pipelines—not just community outreach events.
Bradford White Water Heaters, a major U.S. manufacturer of water heaters, boilers, and storage tanks, will participate in the fourth annual Barry County Career Fest, an all-day career exploration event aimed at connecting students with regional employers and post-secondary institutions.
The event takes place Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Barry County Fair Grounds in Hastings, Michigan. Hosted by the Barry County Chamber & Economic Alliance, Career Fest brings together high school students from public and private schools, along with homeschoolers, to explore in-demand career paths across Barry County.
From 3:30 to 5 p.m., the event opens to adults considering career changes—an increasingly relevant audience as mid-career reskilling accelerates nationwide.
A Broad View of Career Pathways
Students attending Career Fest will encounter a wide cross-section of industries: business management, marketing, finance, technology, engineering, manufacturing, construction, health services, agriculture, hospitality, law enforcement, insurance, and mechanics.
For employers, that diversity reflects a broader workforce development challenge. Manufacturing and industrial sectors in particular face mounting pressure to attract younger workers into roles often overshadowed by four-year college narratives.
That’s where Bradford White’s involvement becomes strategic.
With a manufacturing facility in nearby Middleville, the company is a significant local employer. Its participation in Career Fest isn’t simply promotional—it’s workforce positioning.
Spotlighting the Skilled Trades
As part of its sponsorship, Bradford White is backing a featured presentation by Kate Cinnamo, executive director of Explore The Trades, a national nonprofit focused on raising awareness of skilled trade careers in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical professions.
The skilled trades remain among the most in-demand—and hardest to fill—roles in the U.S. According to industry groups, retirements are outpacing new entrants, creating sustained talent gaps in plumbing and HVAC sectors that directly affect housing, infrastructure, and public health.
Neal Heyman, senior director of marketing at Bradford White, framed the initiative as both educational and cultural: positioning trades not merely as “viable” alternatives but as valuable, purpose-driven careers that keep communities running.
That messaging aligns with Bradford White’s broader Industry Forward® initiative, a company program designed to increase public understanding of the plumbing and HVAC industry’s role in public health, safety, and economic growth. Through Industry Forward®, the company supports workforce development, education, and advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening the future of the trades.
Why It Matters for HR and Workforce Leaders
Events like Barry County Career Fest reflect a growing shift in employer-led talent strategies. Rather than waiting for applicants, companies are investing earlier—sometimes as early as high school—to shape perceptions, build awareness, and create direct pathways into technical and manufacturing roles.
For HR leaders, especially in manufacturing-heavy regions, early engagement programs can reduce long-term recruitment costs, improve retention, and build community goodwill.
There’s also a broader economic implication. As federal infrastructure spending and housing demand drive growth in construction and mechanical trades, companies that fail to secure talent pipelines risk stalled projects and rising labor costs.
By sponsoring skilled trades education and engaging directly with local students, Bradford White is making a bet on grassroots workforce development—one that may prove essential in a tightening labor market.
In a labor landscape increasingly dominated by automation headlines and AI hiring tools, sometimes the most strategic move is showing up in person—and making the case for careers that quite literally keep the water running.
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