Brandon Wymelenberg (’04) cuts deck planking for a foot bridge project.

by Holland McCabe ’11

As students walk across the stage at graduation, some look forward to college, others look to serve their country in the military and still others look to enter the work force as tradesmen. These students have decided not to pursue the college life and degree, and choose instead to pursue a career in the skilled trades like carpentry, mechanics, plumbing and electrical contracting. In choosing this path, they face many uncertainties, especially in this economy. However, this path also can lead to a rewarding and successful life.

Brandon Wymelenberg (’04) is one such student who has prospered in the construction trade. As owner of Brandon’s Handyman Services, Wymelenberg and his company service central Maryland, contracting residential and commercial jobs in areas from construction and remodeling to locksmithing. Wymelenberg participated in Edison’s carpentry program and worked for his carpentry teacher part-time after school. After graduating, he began taking construction courses at Montgomery College but then applied for a job with a construction company. Wymelenberg quit school and was hired full-time.

“I was always good with my hands. The whole building industry always seemed to come easy to me. I was never good at writing an essay, but framing a wall – that I could do with my eyes closed. I always loved power tools and working with them, so I figured if I was going to do a job for the rest of my life it better be something that I enjoyed. I also liked that there wasn’t really a need to go to college for it. I never was a big fan of school and didn’t want to do any more than I needed,” said Wymelenberg.

Wymelenberg, who started his handyman service several years ago in the midst of the current economic downturn, nevertheless has found success. He is even looking to expand his business. Currently Wymelenberg is in the process of getting a license with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, becoming a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and getting Green Building Certified. All of these licenses and certifications will help to further his business in the residential market.

“[The only thing] I would have liked to [change was] getting into the Edison program a year earlier to take in more information. Other than that I feel I have made the right decisions for my future,” said Wymelenberg.

Tradesmen are still in demand despite the economic recession and its particular impact on construction and contracting. With more systems being computerized, the demand for people in the mechanical and electrical businesses is growing, particularly in the commercial market.

“The telecom systems are becoming more and more complex, and you have to have the ability to understand them, troubleshoot them, put the wiring in properly and find out what’s working and what’s not … [Industries today] are all demanding businesses,” said Dennis Bogan, owner of the Bogan & Associates electrical contracting firm.

Bogan has been a business owner in the electrical trade for 38 years. He has grown Bogan & Associates to a company of 25 employees and holds master electrician licenses in three states. What he looks for in a potential employee is a positive attitude and a good work habit. He also looks for candidates who possess an understanding of systems and problem solving and math skills. This is needed particularly in the electrical trade but math and systems understanding is also valuable in other trades like plumbing and mechanics. Prior skills in mechanics are good too, Bogan notes, and programs like Edison’s are ideal. After high school, there are trade schools and training programs that educate people looking to get into specific trades.

Sophomore Christopher Hager is currently part of Edison’s carpentry program. He initially became interested in this trade because of his father, who was in the contracting business. After high school, Hager plans to enter the carpentry trade himself. “My plan after school is to go to companies looking for workers with good experience [in carpentry], and Edison is giving me the experience I need,” said Hager.