Photo courtesy of Paige Knowles.
When most high school students are vaguely contemplating their futures, Paige Knowles was already carving out her own path — one not often explored by young women.
During her time at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI) in Schnecksville (Pa.), Knowles wasn’t just learning about Plumbing and Heating, she was also learning how to lead, advocate and change the narrative around women in the trades. From the moment Knowles stepped into LCTI, she was all in. Not only did she gain the technical skills needed to succeed in a male-dominated field of Plumbing, but she also honed invaluable career readiness skills like communication and leadership — skills that would serve her well as she rose through the ranks of her school’s leadership organization, SkillsUSA.
For two consecutive years, Knowles served as the LCTI SkillsUSA chapter president, setting an example for her peers with her dedication and drive. In fact, it was her ability to inspire others that earned her the title of “Outstanding Career and Technical Education Senior” in 2020, an honor that saw her standing before her classmates as the featured speaker on their senior recognition night.
Her impact didn’t stop in the classroom. Knowles has become a passionate advocate for the trades, particularly for women looking to break into the field. Through her involvement with programs like Let’s Build Construction Camp for Girls, she has helped provide hands-on experiences and mentorship to young women who may not have considered careers in construction. Her visibility in the trades world has expanded beyond local initiatives, with Knowles being featured on several trade-related podcasts, in promotional videos and even in a 3M-supported documentary called “Skilled” that was released at the Sundance Film Festival (yes, she was invited to attend) highlighting the importance of diversifying the industry.
By the time Knowles graduated in 2020, at the start of a global pandemic that caused the world to shut down, she had already earned a reputation as a rising star in the skilled trades. She’s been gaining more notice ever since. She was a highlighted influencer for the SkillsUSA National Signing Day in May 2024 at a Lowe’s national event at their store in Chicago, where she inspired the Lowe’s staff and the students as she spoke about her passion for the trades.
For 2024 and 2025, she has also taken on the role of JAMbassador for Skilled Careers Coalition’s (SCC) for youth, by youth entertainment platform SKILLS JAM. With the goal of inspiring more young people to pursue a career in the skilled trades, SCC brought Paige back to the National Leadership & Skills Conference as a content creator and youth ambassador at the SKILLS JAM 2024 TECHSPO trade show booth, where she also had an opportunity to interview home makeover reality star and master carpenter, Ty Pennington, who came on board in 2024 as SCC mentor and SKILLS JAM host.
When asked about her “why,” Knowles has a clear answer. “I think anybody — but especially young people — should consider a career in the skilled trades because of all of the opportunities. There are so many different pathways and there is so much demand for all of these positions. You can earn lots of money without going in student loan debt. In fact, many employers will pay for your training or train you on the job. You will never be out of a job, because anywhere you go your hands-on skill will be needed. You get to work with your hands, move your body and see new places, and not sit in the same old office space every day. There are so many reasons to consider a career in the skilled trades — and the opportunities just keep growing.”
” One of my favorite things about being in the trades is that I’m doing something impactful that contributes to the health and safety of people in our community. Seeing the smile on customers’ faces at the end of the day when an HVAC system works exactly the way it is supposed to, I don’t know if there’s any greater feeling.”
– Paige Knowles
Knowles also really likes the tangible aspects of her work. “One of my favorite things about being in the trades is that I’m doing something impactful that contributes to the health and safety of people in our community. Seeing the smile on customers’ faces at the end of the day when an HVAC system works exactly the way it is supposed to, I don’t know if there’s any greater feeling.”
As she has become better known, Knowles has taken on several other advocacy roles for various organizations besides SkillsUSA that are also dedicated to promoting skilled trades. And it’s not just about the technical skills, her ability to speak effectively and to share her story is just as important. She has been honing her public speaking skills and has presented to over 5,000 students across the U.S. and Canada, tackling topics ranging from exploring the trades to finding a fulfilling career path.
Whether she’s on the job site or doing a myriad of other things, Knowles is always looking for ways to express herself in new and exciting ways. She is a published author with three children’s books under her belt that aim to inspire younger generations to embrace the skilled trades. She also enjoys a rapidly-growing presence on social media where she creates content that empowers young people — particularly girls — to pursue careers they are passionate about. Despite a busy schedule, Knowles has always made time for other creative pursuits as well. In high school, she was an avid member of Moxie Guard, an indoor color guard team where she spun flags and weapons with precision and grace — earning herself a $2,000 college scholarship in 2020 for her excellence on the squad.
Looking ahead, she has even bigger plans. Now age 22, she is finishing her last semester of an HVAC degree at Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) and will graduate in December 2024 after already having earned an associate degree there in Construction Management plus an HVAC certificate. She currently has an internship with Dual Temp, a large HVAC contractor based in Allentown (Pa.) doing commercial service. The trade seems to run in the family, as believe it or not, Knowles has a sister, Peyton, who is also in training for HVAC at LCCC. Their third sister also tried the trade, but decided it wasn’t for her!
So what is next for Knowles? She is very honest in saying she is “still figuring it out.” By pushing for more opportunities for women in the trades, Knowles is proving that with the right skills, a leadership mindset and a passion for change — anything is possible. And she continues to lead by example, showing other young women that they too can thrive in careers that they love, no matter the industry.
“I want families around the globe to understand of the importance of skilled trades workers and that this is truly a viable and successful career path. I want more students to enter these fields. As long as I can keep inspiring others, empowering peers and contributing to the skilled trades, I will be very happy.”
– Paige Knowles
“My main objective is to keep reaching a younger audience. I’d like to do more public speaking, create more social media content and publish more books. I want families around the globe to understand the importance of skilled trades workers and that this is truly a viable and successful career path. I want to get more students to enter these fields. As long as I can keep inspiring others, empowering peers and contributing to the skilled trades, I will be very happy.”
Knowles’ journey may only be just beginning, but one thing’s for sure: she’s setting the stage for a brighter, more inclusive future in the trades. As Knowles builds her own career, she hopes to break the glass ceiling, continue to inspire others and pave the way for the next generation of skilled trade workers.
To learn more about Paige Knowles, visit www.plumberpaige.com
Related Videos
• Paige Knowles in 3M “Skilled” documentary
• Paige Knowles Skills Jam Promo
• Learn more about the Skilled Careers Coalition
• Watch Skills Jam on YouTube
• Paige Knowles YouTube Interview Toolbox for the Trades
• See Paige Knowles speak at SkillsUSA National Signing Day 2024
