RYE, NH — Bring Back the Trades (BBTT), a nonprofit that empowers the next generation of skilled tradespeople, is celebrating a milestone moment: its first-ever Massachusetts Skills Expo, held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and presented by F.W. Webb Company. More than 3,000 attendees filled the stadium concourse to explore 100 interactive exhibits.
“Seeing Gillette Stadium filled with students, families, and professionals all there to celebrate the trades was unforgettable,” said Shana Brunye, Chief Operations Officer of Bring Back the Trades. “This event showed that the trades aren’t a fallback, they’re a foundation. They build communities, careers, and confidence. That’s what this movement is all about.”
The Gillette Skills Expo featured exhibits from welding simulators and robotics to live construction builds, plumbing demos, and aviation displays. The main stage featured Aaron Witt (BuildWitt), Demi Knight Clark (She Built This City), and Leon Garrett (Kenco Plumbing & Drains), with a guest appearance from two-time champion and New England Patriots alum Rob Ninkovich, who has a family history tied to iron working.
During the event, BBTT also awarded $25,000 broken down into 10 scholarships granted to students pursuing careers in fields like plumbing, automotive, aviation, and construction management.
“I grew up around the trades. My grandfather is in the trades, my friends are in the trades,” said Nicolas Eaton, a scholarship recipient from Rhode Island studying plumbing. “It just feels right for me. The trades are the way to go.”
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| United Construction & Forestry |
| WI Clark |
Local and national organizations — including F.W. Webb Company, Casella Waste Systems, Eastern Propane & Oil, Kenco Plumbing & Drains, Lighthouse Credit Union, Noso Labs, and Optiline Enterprises — and dozens of vocational programs joined forces for the expo.
“This event was proof of what can happen when businesses and educators work side by side to inspire the next generation,” said Steve Turner, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bring Back the Trades. “Every demo, every conversation, every connection at Gillette helped someone see what’s possible — and that’s exactly what we set out to do.”
“At F.W. Webb, we believe the skilled trades are the backbone of every community,” added Sean Davis, Vice President of Marketing at F.W. Webb Company. “Partnering with Bring Back the Trades lets us connect directly with students and families to show that a career in the trades can offer not just great pay, but pride, purpose, and lasting opportunity.”
Bring Back the Trades will continue delivering skills expos across New England in 2026, creating more opportunities for students and employers to connect through hands-on learning and workforce development.
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| Beauregard Equipment |
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“This is just the beginning,” Turner said. “Our goal is to keep this momentum going, to make sure students in every state see that the trades aren’t just jobs — they’re careers worth celebrating.”
