For ODA scholars at Max S. Hayes, hearing from Tyler Wadsworth — an HVAC industry leader with four generations of experience in his family — was more than just a career talk. His message was simple yet powerful: the trades offer stability, growth, and purpose — and the opportunities are wide open.
“There’s a real shortage of good people in the trades,” Tyler shared. “These jobs aren’t going away, especially in Ohio.”
Scholars learned that careers in the trades, like HVAC, offer strong starting wages, room for advancement, and multiple pathways to success. “We hired line chefs with no experience who became service managers,” Tyler explained. “If you have interest and mechanical aptitude, you can go far.”
Tyler spoke candidly about lessons learned along the way. When asked about his biggest piece of advice, he said, “Listen more and talk less. That’s how you grow.”
Our scholars — already thinking seriously about their futures — asked thoughtful questions about leadership, entrepreneurship, and job satisfaction. One scholar asked, “If you had to choose between a job that pays more but you don’t love, or a job that you love more but pays less, which would you pick?” Without hesitation, Tyler responded: “I’d pick the one that makes me happiest.”
A highlight for many was Tyler’s recognition of the young women in the room: “The trades are being transformed by the success of women,” he said. “It’s incredible to see — and we need more of it.”
For Kristina Kosman, a sophomore in the welding program at Max Hayes, those words resonated deeply. “It was really interesting to me to hear him talk about the things that he’s doing, what he did to get to where he is, and what he does now,” she said.
Her reflection was one of many from scholars who left the day feeling inspired and empowered to pursue their own unique paths in the trades.
Tyler Wadsworth’s visit to Max S. Hayes is a reflection of what makes the ODA experience so powerful. When professionals take the time to share their stories, they help scholars see new possibilities for their own futures. We are deeply grateful to Tyler for investing his time and expertise in our scholars — and for reminding them that they have the potential to not only find jobs, but to build meaningful careers and lives they can take pride in.
