How Decide DeKalb and Universal Steel Are Tackling the Skilled Trades Shortage

A recap of the AISC Insider Shop Talk webinar featuring Decide DeKalb and Universal Steel

The skilled trades shortage isn’t just a national challenge; it’s a local opportunity. That was the central message of a recent webinar hosted by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), which showcased the successful partnership between Decide DeKalb Development Authority and Universal Steel, Inc.

Decide DeKalb Workforce Program Manager Rudi Pangad and Business Retention and Expansion Manager Katrina Young joined Universal Steel CEO Bray Bourne for a candid conversation about how their collaboration is creating real pathways for local talent while addressing one of manufacturing’s most pressing concerns: finding and retaining skilled workers.

The Challenge: Meeting Industry Where It Is

The steel fabrication industry faces a perfect storm of workforce challenges. As Bourne explained, Universal Steel—a 60-year-old structural and miscellaneous steel fabricator with a location in DeKalb County, Georgia —is constantly seeking talented, curious workers. From welders and fitters to machine operators and painters, the company needs people who can help build the infrastructure that shapes Atlanta’s skyline, including projects like Atlantic Station, Ponce City Market, and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But finding those workers isn’t always easy, particularly when young people may not even know these careers exist.

“Manufacturing isn’t like it used to be,” Young emphasized during the webinar. “A lot of times, in today’s social media age, students don’t know what opportunities are available. When they learn about careers they’re not getting daily off their phones, they’re able to feel confident about saying, ‘I can go this way, I can go that way, or maybe I can do both.'”

The Solution: A Multi-Layered Partnership

Decide DeKalb’s approach to workforce development isn’t just about connecting job seekers with employers. It’s about building an entire ecosystem that supports sustainable career pathways. The partnership with Universal Steel demonstrates how this works in practice.

Manufacturing and Distribution Council

At the heart of the collaboration is Decide DeKalb’s Manufacturing and Distribution Council, which brings together various manufacturers and industry-adjacent organizations to identify workforce needs and develop solutions. The council meets quarterly to discuss industry trends, training requirements, and opportunities for collaboration.

“We identify what barriers organizations are having when it comes to hiring and make sure that the individuals stepping into those roles are prepared,” Pangad explained.

MADE in DeKalb: Educating the Educators

One of the most innovative components of Decide DeKalb’s workforce strategy is the MADE (Manufacturing and Distribution Emerging in DeKalb County) in DeKalb program, an educator cohort that gives teachers and career counselors firsthand exposure to manufacturing careers.

“What we do is take them to these high-demand fields of industry so they get pretty much one-on-one training themselves. They’re able to get on the production line. They’re able to see how AI is integrated into the workforce currently,” Young noted.

The educators learn not just about technical skills, but also about non-traditional pathways to success, careers that don’t require a four-year degree but still offer livable wages and opportunities for advancement.

“Sometimes you have to help the parents understand,” Young added. “To build wealth, you have to create something. Manufacturing and fabrication does that.”

Industry-Ready Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Decide DeKalb’s Industry-Ready program provides students with hands-on experience and exposure to real-world manufacturing careers. In the most recent cohort, 11 students participated in the pre-apprenticeship program. The results speak for themselves:

• Four students gained employment
• Three enrolled in technical college
• Four enrolled in a university

“It gives them an opportunity to ask, ‘Hey, is this something I want to do?'” Young explained. “But it also lets them know they can make good money and a good living wage. If they want to work for a year to get a diploma, they can get a job that helps pay for it. Or that company may pay for it.”

One student who participated in the program joined Universal Steel’s team and later returned to share his success story at a manufacturing showcase event at Georgia Piedmont Technical College.

Breaking Down Barriers: The Importance of Soft Skills

While technical certifications are important, Decide DeKalb’s team emphasized that soft skills are equally critical and often overlooked.

“We often hear from organizational leaders about the ability to think critically, the ability to be on time, the ability to be solutions-oriented and be an advocate for themselves,” Pangad said. “It’s important to get those credentials, but it’s also important to make sure we’re teaching them the soft skills that we often talk about but don’t really ensure they understand or can apply in the workforce.”

Creating Pride in Craftsmanship

Universal Steel’s Bourne spoke passionately about the pride that comes with building infrastructure that shapes communities.

“When we take our guys on a field trip out to the buildings—whether it be the Terminus buildings in the corner of Peachtree and Piedmont, the Federal Reserve Bank in Midtown, or the scoreboard at the University of Georgia—they get to see and be a part of contributing to the skyline in Atlanta or Raleigh or any other big cities,” he said. “That pride that comes with building and being part of that team is something we really promote.”

Pangad echoed this sentiment, noting that word-of-mouth excitement among young workers can be transformative: “They really do take pride. When one person is able to say, ‘Hey, I have my hand in it,’ it inspires the next person.”

Making It Work: Low-Lift, High-Impact Collaboration

One of the most important insights from the webinar was how Decide DeKalb structures partnerships to minimize burden on employers while maximizing impact.

“How do we make this a low lift?” Pangad asked rhetorically. “We want to keep employers and organizations engaged all year long for years to come. We really take on a good chunk of what the planning looks like. We just want to get everybody in a room to hear: How can we make this as seamless as possible? What are your needs? How can we support you?”

For Universal Steel, this meant hosting tours, speaking at high schools, and providing apprenticeship opportunities, all with significant logistical support from Decide DeKalb.

“I think having a little plan up front is the most important part,” Bourne advised other fabricators. “When organizations like Decide DeKalb call, you’ll know where to put them, and you’ll have a plan in action that you can act on.”

Community Impact: Beyond Individual Success Stories

The partnership has created ripple effects throughout the community. At a MADE in DeKalb showcase event held earlier this year at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, families learned about manufacturing careers in their area, students enrolled in programs on-site, and businesses connected with potential employees.

“It was overwhelmingly supported by the parents, the educators, the businesses,” Young recalled. “People were able to enroll on site. They were offered free tuition. That’s a community impact right there.”

Young, who served as a Board of Education member while also working in manufacturing, understands the importance of changing perceptions about skilled trades careers.

“We have to be open to hearing that there are other options,” she said. “Everybody may not be college-bound, but you can make a good living in the skilled trades. We even have through our technical college system grants for those high-demand careers where young people or older people can go to school and have their education paid for. It’s a shorter-term education training. Why not take advantage of that?”

Looking Ahead: Expanding the Model

Both Decide DeKalb and Universal Steel are committed to continuing and expanding their partnership. The Manufacturing and Distribution Council will continue meeting quarterly, the MADE in DeKalb program will welcome more educators, and the Industry-Ready pre-apprenticeship program will serve more students.

“We’re looking forward to adding more companies to join us, letting them be our spokespersons, be our cheerleaders,” Pangad said. “Getting more people to the table, making sure that the people in the community are getting in front of the leaders of these organizations.”

For Bourne and Universal Steel, the commitment is equally strong: “We’re always interested in finding someone who is curious and wants to work. If we can approach this with Decide DeKalb or local organizations and find that person who’s interested in growing themselves, then I’m all for that. We have a spot for anyone who has those characteristics.”

Key Takeaways for Other Communities

The Decide DeKalb-Universal Steel partnership offers a replicable model for other communities facing similar workforce challenges:

• Start with educators: Programs like MADE in DeKalb give teachers and counselors the knowledge and confidence to guide students toward manufacturing careers.
• Create hands-on experience and exposure to real-world manufacturing careers: Pre-apprenticeship programs let students explore careers with low risk on both sides.
• Focus on soft skills alongside technical training: Critical thinking, punctuality, and problem-solving are as important as welding certifications.
• Make it easy for employers: Take on the logistical heavy lifting so businesses can focus on what they do best.
• Engage families: Parents need to understand the economic viability and career potential of skilled trades.
• Build long-term partnerships: This is a marathon, not a sprint. Quarterly meetings and ongoing collaboration create sustainable change.
• Celebrate success stories: When students succeed, share those stories to inspire the next generation.

As Young put it during the webinar: “We love what we do. It’s a paycheck of the heart for me when you see these connections and the successes, and you can potentially change lives and generations with the information, knowledge, and training for families and for young people.”

Whether you’re a manufacturer looking to address workforce challenges, an educator seeking to connect students with career opportunities, or a student interested in exploring the skilled trades, Decide DeKalb can help.

Visit www.decidedekalb.com for more information, or contact:

Katrina Young, Business Retention and Expansion Manager
Rudi Pangad, Workforce Program Manager

This webinar was the first in AISC’s Insider Shop Talk series, which offers real-life solutions to workforce challenges through engaging conversations with members and their partners. For more information about AISC’s workforce development resources, visit aisc.org/workforcehub.