Vision Initiative Tackles Skilled Trades Gap by Mentoring Founders

NEW YORK, NY – March 26, 2026 – As the United States grapples with a deepening skilled trades crisis that threatens to cost the economy over $325 billion annually, one company is proposing a new solution: investing in the entrepreneurs who form the industry's backbone. Vision Infrastructure Solutions today launched ELEVATE, an industry development initiative designed not to train new apprentices, but to mentor the established founders of skilled trades businesses, helping them scale their operations and build a more robust workforce from the top down.

The program targets business owners in the critical, yet often overlooked, sectors of fire suppression, material handling, and vertical transportation—industries essential for public safety and economic function. By providing strategic guidance and resources, Vision aims to empower these founders to overcome the growth plateaus that many skilled trades entrepreneurs face.

A Crisis of Capacity

The launch of ELEVATE comes at a critical juncture for American industry. Projections indicate a staggering shortfall of 1.4 million skilled trades workers by 2030, a gap fueled by an aging workforce where five tradespeople retire for every two replacements. This deficit is exacerbated by a surge in demand from massive federal investments in infrastructure, green energy, and domestic manufacturing. The result is a high-stakes imbalance, with an estimated 20 job openings for every one net new skilled employee, leading to project delays, increased costs, and missed economic opportunities.

This labor shortage is acutely felt in ELEVATE's target sectors. The fire protection industry, for instance, is seeing a growing shortage of qualified candidates, with over half of companies citing it as a major challenge according to a recent National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) survey. Similarly, the material handling sector, projected to expand significantly in the coming years, is constrained by a talent pool that has not kept pace with technological advancements and rising demand. The vertical transportation industry, responsible for installing and maintaining the elevators that are fixtures of modern life, relies on highly skilled electricians and mechanics—professions facing their own significant shortages.

These are not just statistics; they represent a fundamental threat to the stability and growth of the businesses that keep the nation's infrastructure running. For founders in these fields, the inability to hire qualified staff is a direct barrier to taking on new contracts, expanding services, and ensuring long-term viability.

From Technician to CEO: A New Model for Growth

ELEVATE is uniquely positioned to address a different part of the problem. Instead of focusing on entry-level training, the initiative targets successful business owners who have already proven their technical expertise and are ready to scale. Eligible applicants must have been in business for at least three years, generate a minimum of $1 million in annual revenue, and employ at least three full-time staff. This focus acknowledges a common challenge: the transition from being an expert technician to a strategic business leader.

"As a founder-led company, we understand the challenges and investment that come with building a business from the ground up," said Joseph Scaretta, Co-Founder of Vision Infrastructure Solutions, in the announcement. "Many skilled trades entrepreneurs reach a point where growth requires new systems, stronger leadership structures, and trusted strategic guidance. We launched ELEVATE because founders should not have to build alone. We prefer to build boldly, together."

The nine-month program is structured as a hands-on partnership, not a financial investment. Up to four selected founders, designated as ELEVATE Partners, will receive direct mentorship from Vision's leadership team, covering executive strategy, operations, business development, and strategic communications. This model is designed to equip founders with the specific management and leadership skills needed to navigate the complexities of scaling a business in a highly regulated and labor-intensive industry.

Building an Ecosystem, Not Just a Business

The initiative extends beyond direct mentorship. Participants will gain access to a vetted network of professional service providers specializing in legal structuring, accounting, public relations, and branding. This ecosystem of support is designed to provide the comprehensive back-office expertise that a growing skilled trades company needs but often cannot afford or find on its own. By connecting founders with these resources, ELEVATE aims to build a stronger foundation for sustainable growth, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on expanding their market presence and strengthening their teams.

This collaborative approach is central to Vision's philosophy for the program. The company is not only launching its own initiative but is actively encouraging others in the industry to adopt or replicate the ELEVATE model. This call to action positions the program as a potential blueprint for a broader, industry-wide effort to combat the skilled trades shortage.

"We believe the future of the skilled trades depends on how well we support the founders building within it," Scaretta stated. "If more organizations step forward in this way, we can accelerate growth, strengthen the workforce, and create lasting impact across the infrastructure ecosystem."

This open-source approach to corporate responsibility could foster a new wave of industry-led development programs, creating a ripple effect that benefits the entire sector. While many corporate and association programs focus on apprenticeships, ELEVATE's emphasis on empowering existing employers offers a complementary strategy: strengthening the companies that will ultimately hire, train, and retain the next generation of tradespeople.

Applications for the inaugural ELEVATE cohort are being accepted through May 31, 2026, with finalists to be selected by the end of June. The first group of ELEVATE Partners will be announced in August, embarking on the nine-month journey in September. Through this focused investment in leadership, the initiative aims to prove that elevating founders is one of the most effective ways to elevate an entire industry.