Trade Talk Times Newsletter Archive

October 2025

In this edition, you will:

• Celebrate Build Smart Institute's recent CORE graduates
• Learn more about Build Smart's recent participation in the New River Valley Home Builder's Association's Insight Event supporting Registered Apprenticeships
• Enroll in the upcoming Heavy Equipment Operator course featuring in seat training 
• Learn more about the new Registered Apprenticeship program offered in the New River Valley
• And more!

Read the October edition of Trade Talk Times.

July 2025

In this edition, you will:

• Learn more about the courses students completed this summer
• Learn the start date for Build Smart's new course offering - Heavy Equipment Operator 
• Celebrate the success of Concrete Camp; offered this summer in partnership with ProCon Inc.
• Learn more about enrolling in classes offered throughout southwest Virginia
• And more!

Read the July edition of Trade Talk Times.

May 2025

In this edition, you will:

• Be invited to participate in Build Smart's annual graduation ceremony - June 17th
• Learn about Build Smart's new course offering - Heavy Equipment Operator 
• Learn more about the summer courses available for enrollment now
• Enroll in new online courses available for completion at your own pace
• And more!

Read the May edition of Trade Talk Times.

March 2025

In this edition, you will:

• Learn about Build Smart's new course offering - OSHA 30
• Learn more about the summer courses available for enrollment now
• Preview the community events Build Smart is joining this spring
• And more!

Read the March edition of Trade Talk Times.

January 2025

In this edition, you will:

• Learn more about Build Smart's winter and spring 2025 courses
• See Build Smart's 2024 Impact Report
• Meet instructor Charlie Smith
• Meet Joneel, a Build Smart graduate
• And more!

Read the January edition of Trade Talk Times.

November 2024

In this edition, you will:

• See all the Build Smart team has been up to in our communities
• Enroll in Professional Development courses offered this winter
• Meet instructor Jim Wissler
• Learn about Build Smart's new partnership with The Franklin Center and how to sign up for classes offered at this location
• And more!

Read the November edition of Trade Talk Times.

September 2024

In this edition, you will:

• Learn more about Build Smart's upcoming courses
• Meet instructor Curtis West
• Discover how construction industry careers compare to those of college graduates in The National Center for Construction Education and Research's newest blog post
• And more!

Read the September edition of Trade Talk Times.