Michele Vincent

04/26/2026

Microsoft is collaborating with North America's Building Trades Union to offer free AI courses tailored specifically for skilled trades, and it's available on LinkedIn:

This video describes what will be covered in the course.

04/25/2026

🔧 What I’m Building (and Why)

Over the past few years, I’ve helped grow and manage several workforce communities across Facebook, including groups for traveling contractors, pipefitters, machine operators, and talent acquisition professionals.

Together, they represent different parts of the same reality:

America’s industrial workforce is changing.

• Skilled workers are becoming more mobile
• Projects are scaling faster than local labor markets
• Reshoring, infrastructure, energy, and defense investment are reshaping hiring

Traveling Contract Jobs exists to connect these pieces.

The goal isn’t just another job board or another group.

It’s to build an 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 that connects workers, recruiters, and companies where opportunity is moving across the country.

If you’re part of this industry, you’re already part of the story!

04/25/2026

🛣️ The Road Is Coming Back

I’m relaunching The Road, a newsletter for America’s traveling workforce and the industries depending on it.

Instead of chasing job postings across the internet, the goal is simple: 𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡.

Inside each edition:
• Industry shifts affecting skilled trades
• Travel job trends
• Community conversations worth paying attention to
• Updates on the Traveling Contract Jobs platform

Join 6,000+ Traveling Contractors Here:

👉 https://travelingcontractjobs.substack.com/

Because in this industry, timing matters and information travels faster than job postings.

Welcome to The Road, a Traveling Contract Jobs Newsletter, where we summarize the top travel staffing jobs and conversations happening in our Facebook group. Plus, career advice for the travel staffing industry. Click to read Traveling Contract Jobs Weekly Newsletter, by Michele Vincent, a Substack....

04/25/2026

🚧 The Traveling Contract Jobs Job Board Is Coming

Across manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, and national security projects, one thing is becoming clear:

The workforce is no longer local.

Companies increasingly need skilled workers who are willing to go where the work is — and workers need a clearer way to find legitimate project-based opportunities nationwide.

That’s why we’re building the Traveling Contract Jobs Job Board.

This platform is being designed specifically for:
• Traveling skilled trades
• Per diem & project-based work
• Industrial and technical assignments across the U.S.

If you want early access when it launches, sign up here:

👉 https://travelingcontractjobs.com/job-board/

10/13/2023

As the unprecedented UAW International Union stand-up strike against General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Stellantis continues to disrupt the automotive industry, the burning question everyone wants to know is -- how long will this strike last?

In my latest podcast episode of The U.S. Manufacturing Workforce Podcast, I speak with Marc Robinson, an economist and strategist with more than 30 years of experience leading strategy projects as an internal consultant for General Motors.

Using game theory, Marc details the intricate dynamics at play in these negotiations, why this labor dispute was predictable, and how long this strike could last. This is one episode you don't want to miss!

Tune in here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uaw-vs-big-three-automakers-game-theory-predictions/id1618800126?i=1000630942668

‎Show U.S. Manufacturing Workforce, Ep UAW vs Big Three Automakers: Game Theory Predictions - 11 Oct 2023

10/06/2023

Happy Manufacturing Day! It's that time of year again when we showcase American manufacturing, foster interest in modern manufacturing careers, and inspire the next generation of creators!

Grab your hard hat, put on those steel-toed boots, and tune in to The U.S. Manufacturing Workforce PodcastThe U.S. Manufacturing Workforce Podcast for inspiriting stories and conversations from the fascinating world of manufacturing:

🎙️Mark A. Behrends, COO at Pioneer Human Services talks with me about the benefits of second-chance hiring and the positive impact it has had on Pioneer Industries, a Tier 1 Aerospace supplier: https://www.madicorp.com/podcast/second-chance-hiring

🎙️Angie Bissen, Manager of HR Business Partners, from Hormel Foods, a global branded food company, talks with me about how they're building a community childcare center in Auston, MN to attract talent and support their current workforce: https://www.madicorp.com/podcast/hormel-foods-childcare-center

🎙️Brandon Acker, President of Titan Abrasive Systems talks with me about his blast equipment being MADI in the USA, what that means to him, and steps other business leaders can take to do the same: https://www.madicorp.com/podcast/made-in-usa

🎙️ Jamie Green, Environmental Stewardship Specialist, and Stacey Chiocchio, Community Citizenship Manager talk with me about how Hypertherm Associates, a manufacturer of cutting and gouging plasma systems, has created a recovery-friendly workplace. They share their process, advice for other employers, and a personal success story of recovery.

Help spread the word about how awesome manufacturing is by liking or sharing this post, subscribing to our podcast, signing up to our email list, or sharing an episode with someone you know!

Subscribe on Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u-s-manufacturing-workforce/id1618800126

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TxV3kesq0Wus1hc48nLZn

Join our email list: https://www.madicorp.com/podcast

09/13/2023

The deadline for the UAW International Union and Big Three Automakers (General Motors, Ford Motor Company & Stellantis to reach an agreement is tomorrow, Sept 14th at 11:59 p.m. According to CNBC, if an agreement can't be reached the UAW plans to implement a targeted strike at certain plants across all companies rather than striking one company as they did in 2019 when they went on strike at 50 GM plants.

I've linked a several of my podcast episodes below that cover everything from the background on negotiations to helping automotive suppliers prepare for a potential strike, strike contingency planning and supply chain best practices:

🎙️ Podcast -> Background on UAW & Big Three Automaker Negotiations: https://hubs.li/Q0226tgV0

🎙️ Podcast -> Auto Supplier Readiness: Preparing for a strike at the Big Three: https://hubs.li/Q0226gjG0

🎙️ Podcast -> Strike Contingency Planning: https://hubs.li/Q0226rjp0

🎙️ Podcast -> The 24 Essential Supply Chain Processes: https://hubs.li/Q0226ts00

🎧 Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or sign up to our email list to get the latest episodes delivered to your inbox: https://hubs.li/Q0226r_t0

Follow: The U.S. Manufacturing Workforce Podcast

The U.S. Manufacturing Workforce podcast features conversations with business leaders about critical issues impacting the industry today.

08/29/2023

The UAW has voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike at General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Stellantis if an agreement cannot be reached by September 14th.

To help automotive suppliers prepare for potential disruption, I spoke with Cathy Fisher from Quistem and Terry Onica from QAD about their Operational Restart Readiness Checklist to help suppliers prepare for a potential work stoppage at the Big Three Automakers.

Their 13-point checklist covers everything from contingency planning to workforce training and communication plans. With the amount of turnover happening across the automotive industry from the plant floor to leadership, it's important to make sure your employees are properly prepared.

Tune into this episode of The U.S. Manufacturing Workforce Podcast, download the Operational Restart Readiness Checklist, and dust off those Contingency Plans.

Tune in: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/supplier-readiness-preparing-for-a-strike-at-the-big-three/id1618800126?i=1000626065806

‎Show U.S. Manufacturing Workforce, Ep Supplier Readiness: Preparing for a Strike at the Big Three - Aug 29, 2023

08/04/2023

🎙️ The United Auto Workers have opened contract negotiations with The Big Three Automakers: Stellantis, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. In this episode of The U.S. Manufacturing Workforce Podcast I breakdown the details including:

⚙️ The 2019 UAW strike at 50 of GM's facilities
⚙️ Labor turmoil within the UAW + new President, Shawn Fain
⚙️ Union + automakers objectives for negotiations
⚙️ Possibility of a strike + potential impact on suppliers

With new union leadership, the industry transition to electric vehicles, the current state of the labor market, and economic uncertainty, some believe this is creating the perfect storm for negotiations.

🎧 Tune in below:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uaw-opens-contract-talks-with-stellantis-ford-gm/id1618800126?i=1000623039358

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jGA1hOWaKzygQTcjbd8j5

Show Notes & Podcast Email Signup: https://www.madicorp.com/podcast/uaw-big-three-automakers

UAW opens contract talks with Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors. Negotiations cover 150,000 union members and their CBAs expire on September 14th.

02/15/2023

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