AVI Blog

“Skilled trades-- those careers that require hands-on work and specialty knowledge-- have been in high demand for a long time. In 2019, Industrial Safety & Hygiene News reported that retiring baby boomers in the skilled trades were outpacing new employees by a rate of 5 to 1, estimating that there were nearly half a million

Hi, I’m Evelyn. My grandfather drove a truck for a living, transporting goods to new job sites every day. My father assisted with creating products for businesses that range from a cheese company to the world-renowned Airstream. Most of my uncles and cousins and my brother devote their professional life to manufacturing and the skilled

As a champion of the skilled trades, I’m pulled toward articles, facts, figures, and people who shed light on the skilled trades gap- the number of skilled trades positions open versus the number of people qualified and willing to apply for those positions. Time and time again, I find it’s assumed that readers know the

In February 2020, an article entitled What Does Burnout Have to Do With the Skills Gap? brought the following two statistics to light: “Roughly 20% of employees report high levels of engagement and job burnout, revealing that, although they are or were interested in their job, they can’t withstand the stress or pressure it entails.”

“Prior to the pandemic, just 1 in 30 companies had at least half of their staff working remotely, according to research from human resources consulting firm Mercer. As of late August 2020, it was 1 in 3. Of the employers surveyed, 94% said productivity has remained the same or increased since employees began working remotely.”

Forbes released an article entitled Mentally Strong People: The 13 Things They Avoid, and it’s one of the best pieces I’ve read in quite some time. It’s not only applicable to the business world; it applies to life in general too. Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker compiled the list, and then

Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, Business2Community.com, and many other credible sources agree that self-confidence is key to entrepreneurial success. The importance of self-confidence in an entrepreneur may seem obvious. Still, too often, an entrepreneur has more confidence in their product or service than themselves.  When entrepreneurs lack self-confidence, it’s harder for their consumers, employees, and investors to believe

How to Demotivate Your Best Employees is a Harvard Business School (HBS) article whose title alone sends the wheels in many minds spinning at full speed. This particular HBS piece evaluated an attendance award program that defined perfect attendance as “not having unexcused absences or tardy shift arrivals during the month.” The program “led to

A love letter on September 11th of the COVID-19 Pandemic Hearts stopped, both figuratively and literally, as ash and panic filled the sky. Clouds of black billowed down the streets and across television screens throughout the world. Rubble piled high, and devastation engulfed every town, leaving no community untouched. First responders, television and radio personalities,

It may seem that success favors the youth, specifically those in silicon valley or on a social networking platform. Teens and twenty-somethings are incredible forces to be reckoned with and have ideas that shape and guide industry on all levels. However, entrepreneurial success is not exclusively for those who only know Seinfeld through reruns and