As the U.S. faces a construction labor shortage, a quiet revolution is underway on job sites, in classrooms and inside mobile training units. Its leaders are not only construction professionals but also mentors and educators reimagining what construction careers can be.
This October, in honor of Careers in Construction Month, the Lowe’s Foundation is celebrating the changemakers shaping the next generation of construction professionals: builders, connectors, innovators and educators who represent every link in the construction ecosystem.
In 2025 alone, the construction industry needs nearly half a million additional workers to meet demand. With rising salaries and new pathways into these careers, the industry is entering an era defined by opportunity and innovation.
Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grants recipients are helping lead this shift. “We’re at a tipping point,” said Betsy Conway, director of the Lowe’s Foundation. “The industry needs to grow faster and smarter to meet the demands of infrastructure and housing. These individuals are showing us how to do that.”
The Innovator: Alexia King
Program Impact Manager, She Built This City, Charlotte, NC
Alexia is using her experience and industry knowledge to open doors for women in construction through She Built This City, a Lowe’s Foundation grant recipient.
“Innovation in construction means moving the work forward and creating an environment where being in the construction trades feels realistic and accessible,” said Alexia. “There was no She Built This City when I was starting out in construction,” Alexia said. “That is why it has always been my mission to help build the kind of program I would have wanted.”
With nearly 41% of the construction workforce set to retire by 2031 and women making up less than 5% of the field, the industry is looking for a new path forward.
The Connector: Robbie Sharpe
Director, Building Construction Technology Program, Midlands Technical College, Columbia, SC
For Robbie Sharpe, the true power of construction careers lies in the connection between people, opportunities and the future they can build together.
Robbie leads the Building Construction Technology program at Midlands Technical College, where he has spent more than two decades guiding students into meaningful careers. Though he comes from a family of educators and once considered following their path, it was a career in construction that ultimately gave him purpose and stability.
Robbie teaches the technical foundations of construction and helps students make real-world connections that lead to jobs, through his partnerships with local contractors. “Students gain hands-on experience by working on homes that are later sold, giving them a tangible sense of purpose and a foothold in the local construction economy,” he said.
The Builder: Yve Servius
Plumbing Technician Program Graduate, Valencia College, Orlando, Florida
Yve Servius is a builder in every sense of the word. He constructs the systems that make homes livable, but he’s also rebuilt his own life, piece by piece with purpose.
Once homeless and living in his car, Servius found hope through a few plumbing jobs with a friend’s father. That spark led him to enroll in Valencia College’s plumbing technician program, launched with the help of a Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant. The program offers hands-on training and covered tuition for every student, removing a critical barrier.
“This wasn’t just a class; it was a second chance,” Yve said. “I’m most proud of building my skills and confidence in plumbing. From learning how to install and repair piping systems to understanding the importance of safety and precision, every step has brought me closer to a career I’m proud of.”
Beyond the technical skills, the program gave him something deeper: confidence, mentorship and a path forward. By graduation, Servius had 10 job interviews and three offers. He is currently working full time, building a future he once thought impossible.
"Careers in Construction Month shines a light on the value of skilled trades and the people who build the world around us,” Servius said, “It helps break outdated stereotypes, inspires the next generation and shows that careers in construction offers purpose, stability and pride.”
The Educator: Alex Fregerio
Jobsite Ready Mobile Unit Instructor, Accelerate Montana, Missoula, MT
From tribal reservations to rural highways, Alex Fregerio brings construction training to people who have historically lacked access due to limited infrastructure or the absence of nearby training programs. As the instructor for Accelerate Montana’s Jobsite Ready program, he travels across the state with the nonprofit’s mobile unit, delivering hands-on education to communities that don’t have easy access to training centers.
“If I can help people get into this industry, that’s what excites me,” Fregerio says. “The trades are a great entry to high-paying jobs, and I get excited seeing young people go in that direction.”
Backed by a Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant, Accelerate Montana is one of nine Gable Grants recipients across the country offering mobile training to eliminate transportation barriers and bring jobsite-ready training directly to students.
Fregerio, who began his career with an English degree and summer construction jobs, found fulfillment not just in building structures, but in building up people. In a state where two-thirds of residents live beyond commuting distance from a college or training center, mobile educators like him are critical to expanding access to construction trades. “I’ve seen students come in tentative,” he says. “By the end, they’re confidently handling tools and imagining futures they never thought possible.”
The Road Ahead
Careers in construction are not a backup plan. They are future-focused pathways filled with purpose, opportunity and impact. From mobile instructors to workforce advocates, the leaders of today’s construction trades are transforming urgency into action, reshaping the future of the industry.
To learn more about Gable Grants and how the Lowe’s Foundation is powering the next generation of construction professionals, visit LowesFoundation.org and follow along on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
