On the morning of August 17, 2017, Steve Turner woke up with an idea blazing in his head. The sudden and insistent idea would burgeon into Bring Back the Trades, a national nonprofit rekindling interest in careers in the trades and providing trade school scholarships for secondary school students seeking a college alternative.
The 57-year-old Turner, an ultra-marathoner and owner of Turner’s Upholstery in Rye, channels his boundless energy into the running he loves and the organization that is his passion. He shares his rousing story of nonprofit success, copious gratefulness for the community’s support, and pride in his scholarship recipients.
YOU SAY IT ALL STARTED WITH A HAT?
I just woke up one day with the idea of putting the words “Bring Back the Trades” on a baseball cap. That’s all it was. I didn’t even know why. At the time, I was struggling to find skilled help in my car upholstery shop, so the need for more tradespeople was on my mind.
I asked my car seat embroidery guy to help me put the words on a baseball cap. He explained that I needed an emblem to accompany the words, so he added a wrench and hammer to the design.
A month later, local builder Joe Tucker saw me wearing one and asked for 12. He had been talking about the same problem forever: kids just weren’t getting into the trades anymore. Then, Joe’s electrician asked if I could swap the emblem for a lightning bolt and get some hats for him. The following week, it was a welder. And so on. Within six months, I had 47 hats with different trade emblems. So, I started a Facebook page to sell them around the country.
HOW DID ALL THIS EVOLVE INTO A NONPROFIT?
A friend suggested I raise funds from the hat sales and start a trades scholarship program. So, through my Facebook page, I offered a scholarship to a New Hampshire kid and asked for essays from interested applicants. On the night I announced the winner, within an hour, I received $3,000 in donations. In September of 2019, we became a national nonprofit. Since then, we have given out 45 scholarships nationwide and receive 200 to 300 essays monthly from eager kids. My wife Shari helps me review them all. We want to help the applicants who need it the most.
HOW THANKFUL ARE YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT?
We built Bring Back the Trades off the backs of our local mom-and-pop shops. Jason Berounsky, who co-owns Ben’s Auto Body in Portsmouth, gave us a boost early on with a $500.00 check. My son Riley created my first marketing materials when he was in college. It is truly a grassroots movement. It started with me, but the community made it happen. My wife, Shari, has been my biggest supporter through this journey.
CAREERS IN THE TRADES ARE GAINING TRACTION. WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS WORK?
Tradespeople are a different breed. Many prefer not to or just cannot sit still for long periods or focus on one thing unless it sparks their interest. The trades are ideal because you’re always creating something, and most jobs involve moving around and the opportunity to tackle something different every hour, day, or week.
HOW ARE YOU CHANGING THE PERCEPTION OF THE TRADES WITHIN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM?
I focus on educating parents. Many still view the trades through a dated lens, like their grandfather’s trade work—imagining dirty jobs meant for the uneducated and lacking benefits like 401(k)s. However, it is different now—the landscape has changed. That’s why we host events to show parents what’s actually involved in these careers. Today, most trades require technology skills and, for some, a college degree. There are great opportunities for kids who love being outside and for those interested in technology and manufacturing environments.
YOUR LARGEST TRADE EVENT EVER IS COMING UP ON NOVEMBER 15TH. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU?
Tradeapalooza Career Fair! Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs is speaking, and we have two vendor tents with 75 exhibitors demonstrating their skills. But the most exciting thing is the $50,000 in scholarships we are giving to New Hampshire residents that day!
IS IT TRUE GIRLS ARE BLAZING TRAILS IN THE TRADES?
Since starting this venture, I have focused on supporting girls. We have awarded many scholarships to young women, and our Facebook audience reflects this with 15 percent more female followers. Their number-one trade choice is welding. I think it is because it also offers creative expression. Many welders are now embracing their artistic side and becoming sculptors.
HAS ONE OF YOUR SCHOLARSHIPS IMPACTED A RECIPIENT IN AN ESPECIALLY POWERFUL WAY?
Hannah Dorfman stands out in my mind. She was a shy kid but immensely talented. Looking at pictures of her welding—always with a smile—it is clear how much it has improved her life, giving her the confidence to pursue her dreams and create new opportunities for herself.
HANNAH’S STORY IN HER OWN WORDS
Since I was a little girl, I enjoyed fixing and building things. My mom says she should have nicknamed me ‘Tink.’ School wasn’t always easy for me, but fixing and building things was. I always knew I wanted to do something in the trades.
When I took welding at Dover High School, I absolutely loved it and knew I wanted to make a career of it. I hope to create welding art and have my own business someday.
I am enrolled in Great Bay Community College, earning my last two welding certificates. I hope my story inspires more young women to enter the trades. And a big thank you to Bring Back the Trades for the scholarship. It helped me start my new beginning.