The Benefits of Skilled Tradespeople in a Digital-First World

Greg Crumpton lives by a simple mantra: Relationships drive business. Each week on Straight Outta Crumpton, Crumpton dives into the lost art of networking and speaks with the biggest influencers in business services to learn how they build, nurture and value their professional relationships.

 

Straight Outta Crumpton brings the voices from various industries to talk about how they’re making a difference in the world. Jamie McMillan is a shining example. McMillan, founder of KickAss Careers and ironworker, joined Greg Crumpton on the show to discuss her path and how she’s breaking down barriers.

McMillan’s path to skilled trades was far from a straight arrow. She wasn’t very aware of such programs while in school. A chance meeting changed all that. “I saw an old high school classmate randomly needing a pen on the street. We were 500 miles from where we grew up, and she was talking about an ironworks program,” she described.

She began an apprenticeship, but it was apparent that women were underrepresented. “When I started in ironwork, women made up about two percent.”

In another twist of fate, Skills Ontario reached out to her about speaking at a mentoring banquet for girls. She kept doing this for a while, then had the chance to participate on a panel. Her story resonated with many, and she suddenly was in high demand. “I’m a brand now. Initially, I advocated to young women but soon expanded the scope to everyone,” McMillan said.

She then founded KickAss Careers, touring Canada and the U.S. as a speaker. The group grew tremendously. “Those working with me now are people I met and inspired and wanted to be part of our mission.”

Her next big goal for KickAss Careers is a full-scale ambassador program with real people in pursuit of skills trades representing. McMillan cautioned that the barriers still exist. “At first, there was a gap with educators, not discussing with students opportunities outside of college. They are now on board, but parents still have a gap, looking at trades as viable pathways,” she added.

McMillan and her team will keep shining the light on skilled trades, advocating and motivating others to keep carrying the torch.

Make Sure to Follow Along for More Episodes of Straight Outta Crumpton!

Straight Outta Crumpton with Greg Crumpton

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

What It Takes to Restore a Tornado-Damaged Clinic
What It Takes to Restore a Tornado-Damaged Clinic
August 21, 2025

When a tornado tore through Oklahoma City in April, BMS CAT was already on-site before many businesses even realized the extent of the tornado damage—including Valor Physical Therapy. Thanks to an existing relationship with Valor’s affiliated hospital, the BMS CAT team was positioned to respond quickly. “We were actually on scene before they knew…

Read More
Burl Stamp
Improving Employee Engagement Through CAREmunication — A Conversation with Burl Stamp
August 21, 2025

With the healthcare landscape seeing many evolving changes, employee engagement is no longer just a buzzword — it’s now a business imperative. Amid rising turnover and persistent staffing shortages, organizations are under pressure to build resilient, engaged teams. According to Gallup, 70% of the variance in team engagement is tied to one factor: the…

Read More
precision machining
Pharma Manufacturing: Meeting Annex I with Precision Machining for Safer Sterile Drug Production
August 21, 2025

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are under increasing pressure to deliver sterile, high-quality medicines in smaller batches and faster cycles. As pharma manufacturing evolves, regulatory demands have intensified, especially following the 2023 revision of EU GMP Annex I, which places new emphasis on contamination control strategies, improved traceability, and minimizing human intervention throughout production. According to American…

Read More
peer guidance
Leaders Who’ve Been There: Finding Clarity Through Peer Guidance at Purpose Factory
August 20, 2025

Running a business can feel isolating without peers who understand the weight of leadership. Madison Harris, founder of Cobalt Fund Services, found the peer guidance he needed through Purpose Factory. He gained strategic insight and real feedback from seasoned entrepreneurs at a time when his business needed clarity and structure. Harris realized Cobalt wasn’t…

Read More