
Skilled Start: High School Students Launching Careers in Heavy EquipmentIn Episode 60, hosts Brandi Merrill and Houston Blackwood are joined by Huntsville City School students and Career Coach Carolyn Wade to discuss how, after completing Skills for Success heavy equipment courses through Calhoun Community College, the students were hired and are now earning up to $25 an hour—all before graduating high school. Hear each student boldly and confidently share their next steps, future plans, and how heavy equipment training has shaped their career paths. The conversation explores how hands-on learning builds confidence, the value of practical skills in today’s workforce, and why more students are choosing trades over traditional college paths, along with what’s in store for the next generation of skilled workers.