Crafted by Experience: A Veteran’s Journey from Hands-On Learning to a Trades Career
For most of his 21-year military career, veteran Matt Nicholl was the person people called when something needed to be built, fixed, or made to work. As he approached retirement, he realized he wanted his next chapter to feel the same way: hands-on, practical, and built to last.
Hiring Our Heroes’ Skilled Trades Academy, powered by Lowe’s Foundation, gave Matt the tools, credentials, and connections to turn that instinct into a growing career in the trades with Southern Industrial Constructors, Inc (SIC).
Retiring from the Military: Now What?
After more than two decades in the Air Force and Coast Guard, Matt and his family knew one thing for sure: they wanted to settle in North Carolina. What he didn’t yet know was how to translate his years of military know-how into a clear civilian career path.
Then came the email.
“I hadn’t really put out any resumes yet, and I just happened to catch an email from my command about HOH’s Skilled Trades Academy,” Matt explained. The timing couldn’t have been better.
Bobby Case, program coordinator for the Skilled Trades Academy, helped Matt complete his application for the Academy’s inaugural cohort. “It was pretty fast, how it all came together,” Matt recalled. “I retired on October 1 and started class on October 6.”
What is the Skilled Trades Academy?
The Skilled Trades Academy (STA) addresses two major economic priorities in the U.S.: veteran and military spouse un- and underemployment, especially among younger, non-degreed individuals, and the critical shortage of skilled trades workers with roughly 20 job openings for every new tradesperson.
The six-week, no-cost, in-person program in North Carolina delivered foundational training in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry, and more. STA participants receive hands-on training, resume and interview coaching, exposure to entrepreneurship, and multiple industry-recognized certifications. It is designed to be a launchpad to meaningful, high-demand careers in the skilled trades.
The pilot cohorts, including Matt’s, are hosted at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, NC, with expansion to additional locations planned for 2026.
The Benefits
While Matt appreciated the practical skills he gained, he said the academy also provided great value in the form of networking.
“Someone once told me your network is your net worth, and that has stuck with me,” he said.
Every week, industry leaders joined the cohort for Q&A sessions. They offered guidance, shared insights, highlighted job openings, and encouraged participants to stay connected. Through those conversations and connections, Matt received two separate job offers after the program ended.
“My wife joked that I only put out a couple of resumes and I received two job offers,” Matt laughed. “Which is crazy. I feel really fortunate.”
The academy’s industry-recognized certifications also made a huge difference. When Matt joined SIC, he felt fully prepared and shared that his onboarding experience was “no problem.”
“At the start of my new job we did a couple of days of safety training and practice driving the lifts and forklifts,” he explained. “My supervisor was actually impressed. I had the OSHA 30-hour and had driven all the lifts during the course, so he thought that was great.”
Learning by Doing
Another aspect Matt appreciated was the hands-on project work supported by Lowe’s Foundation, which provided tools and lumber for each participant. As part of the culmination of the academy, the class completed a capstone project for a local woman in need.
“The capstone was very impactful.” Matt shared. “The project was to build a heavy-duty ramp, replace a back porch, and replace a rotted and water-damaged bathroom floor. We spent a week working on the project through the nonprofit group WARM NC, led by our teacher, Will Reid, and a licensed contractor and his foreman. We could see how much these updates were appreciated.”
In addition to the capstone project, every student designed and built a project of their choice to help learn construction and woodworking – small projects that grounded their new skills in real work.
A Career and Future Built to Last
Today, Matt’s applying the skills he learned at the Skilled Trades Academy at SIC, where the combination of hands-on practice, certifications, and mentorship has helped him step into his role with confidence. His path reflects what many transitioning service members are looking for: a practical way to translate their experience into meaningful civilian work.
