What happens when industry expertise, workforce development and hands-on training come together?
On October 27-29, 2026, the Polymeric Exterior Products Association (PEPA) will put years of research, recruitment, training and overall workforce development into play with a cooperative VSI Certified Installer Candidate Project with the Building Talent Foundation (BTF) and Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The pilot is intended to create a model that can be replicated with other trade and workforce development partnerships. This highly compelling program will feature on-site PEPA’s VSI Certification resources, working with local workforce training groups to provide students with accredited installation training that makes them more attractive candidates to local employers.
It will also include three hours of training daily during the three-day project. The training will take place at the Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center, a cutting-edge facility that houses Goodwill’s tuition-free Construction & Trade Skills training programs.
Get to Know the Project Partners
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s Nadya Maisak, Ed.D. (Director, Career Navigation) and Emmanuel Doss and Clarence Scott (Instructors) will host the event and coordinate training space and onsite logistics. Goodwill’s program trains 150 students per semester in construction basics, carpentry, electrical, HVAC and other disciplines to fill local gaps in building and related skilled trades. Candidates from Goodwill’s Carpentry Training section will now have this opportunity to participate in the VSI-Certified Installer Training.
PEPA’s Assistant Director, Workforce Development, Alex Brand, will join forces with PEPA Members Rob Balfanz of Progressive Foam Technologies and Brian Miller of Cornerstone Building Brands to provide training support. And Dale Carter of Lansing Building Products, another PEPA Member, will assist with local material quantities and potential tool support. Having these stalwarts help with the project speaks volumes about the proactive support PEPA receives from members.
BTF’s CEO Branka Minic and Engagement Manager (BTF Charlotte) Elliott Parker will evaluate the pilot, identify opportunities for continuous improvement along with PEPA and Goodwill, and work within this new partnership to deliver even more opportunities next year. As part of their mission to strengthen the residential construction workforce to be well-trained and valued by employers, BTF has been a driving force in mobilizing like-minded partners like PEPA and Goodwill in Charlotte to meet the urgent need for skilled workers in the building trades.
The Pilot Takes Shape
From student registration and online registration to training materials, classroom preparations and ongoing planning, the project team has left no stone unturned. Goodwill instructors will also be invited to participate in the course and receive separate training after the pilot so that they can become VSI-Certified Installer Trainers.
As a follow-up, the team has scheduled a training debrief to analyze successes and challenges so that they can improve and perfect the model for future opportunities. BTF and Goodwill are also making plans for a hiring event in late January 2027 to promote and place their VSI-certified installer trainees.
PEPA’s Workforce Development Journey
What started as a campaign to enhance their workforce development program in 2020 led to the enrollment of 10,000+ in PEPA’s VSI-Certified Installer Training Program in 2023. This successful growth justified a research study commissioned by PEPA in 2025 to determine best-case scenarios for trade schools and related programs to use the industry-recognized PEPA training program.
This hard work has culminated in the launch of the pilot education initiative with the Goodwill Carpentry Training Program in Charlotte later this month. As we continue to forge new alliances to meet the demand for skilled labor in the building trades, expect to see more PEPA training events in the near future.
To learn more about partnering with PEPA’s Workforce Development team to deliver VSI-Certified training at your school or program, contact Alex Brand.