An Interview with Joe Lamaccia: Blue Collar and Proud of It!

Michael F. Shaughnessy - May 21, 2009
Senior Columnist EducationNews.org
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, New Mexico
 

1) Joe, you have just written a super book- "Blue Collar And Proud of it". What prompted you to write this book?

Thank you so much, Michael. I decided to write the book because I hope that it will help teens and students out there. I struggled a lot as a student and in high school I felt worthless because I didn’t want to go to college. Years later I watched as my own kids’ teachers did all that they could to get my kids to go to college. I realized then that it just isn’t for everyone. I wanted the book to inspire kids, parents, and teachers to see that you can successful even if you don’t go to a traditional four-year university. I just want the teachers and guidance counselors and students to see that the skilled trades are an incredible option.

2) Joe, I personally believe that there is nothing wrong with being a carpenter, electrician, plumber, nurse, X-ray technologist or any of the other "blue collar" jobs that are out there. Who started this idea that everyone had to have a college education?

Getting a college education can be an incredible thing. And we are lucky here in America that we have so many outstanding colleges – some of the best in the world. As college became more accessible more and more people started going. At this point, we treat it as if it’s Grade 13. And now, teachers and guidance counselors and parents are pushing kids to go to college because they think it’s the only way to succeed, to have a good career and to make something of yourself. I just hope that my book shows people that there are many way to do that. And I should mention, that in order to be a success at anything, you have to work very hard and you have to get training. That means whether you want to be a doctor or a plumber. You must buckle down and get serious and get training. But you don’t necessarily have to go to college to do that.

3) Joe, like "Joe the Plumber" and many, many, other people out there, this country relies on truck drivers, bricklayers, policemen, firemen, EMT's and many other skilled professionals. Where are the jobs currently?

This country does rely on blue collar America. We built this country and we are its backbone. We will continue to rebuild it and fix it and keep it running for decades to come. Like every sector, the skilled trades are experiencing a slow down. This recession has hit everyone. But President Obama’s stimulus package included about $144 billion in construction projects which means hundreds of jobs repairing bridges, roads, tunnels, and railways. And green collar jobs are hot right now. It’s electricians who install solar panels, and blue collar workers who build wind turbines, plumbers who retrofit buildings and communities with environmentally sound plumbing.

4) Joe, you are involved in outdoor landscaping. How did you first get involved in this and what enjoyment do you get out of your work?

I’m passionate about what I do. I love being outside and I love working hard. I started mowing lawns, on my own, about 28 years ago just to make ends meet. I grew my one man operation into a huge business. I’ve had as many as 19 employees and offer paving and masonry services as well. At the end of the day I absolutely love looking at a new driveway or a perfectly landscaped yard or a new brick wall and seeing the results of my work. I need instant gratification and that’s what I get. Plus, I enjoy making my customers happy.

5) Joe, I know people who do quite well financially in air conditioning, auto repair, heating, and other related fields. Are there apprentice programs out there for people to learn these trades?

Oh sure, there are tons of apprenticeships and training programs. Pick up a copy of “Blue Collar and Proud Of It” and you will find literally thousands of post-secondary training programs listed in the book. They are conveniently organized by state and trade.

The unions have incredible training programs and many of them are free. Many community colleges offer outstanding programs and certificates and training opportunities. Some of these programs will cost you a few thousand dollars. Nothing is free anymore but this is an incredibly wise, reasonable investment. There are amazing auto mechanic programs, many run through auto manufacturers that guarantee jobs at the completion of the program. Again, these typically cost, and sometimes as much as $8,000. But that’s a small price to pay if you’re making nearly $40,000 upon graduation with room to move up the ladder.

6) Many years ago, a book by Studs Turkel entitled " Working" was published and people talked a bit about what they did all day and how it made them feel. Joe, this is your life.....tell us about what you do all

day and how it makes YOU feel?

I’m so glad you asked me about this. The whole point of my book and my philosophy is that we should be encouraging kids to do what FEELS right. If it doesn’t feel right to learn blackboard to desktop then you’re probably not cut out for it. Many of us in the skilled trades desperately need to feel it, touch it, break it, smell it, build it. That’s what makes us FEEL good. I know people who FEEL good when they are crunching numbers at a computer. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But for me, I feel good working outside, moving around, going from job to job and getting dirty. My days are varied, because at 50 I’ve been doing this a long time and also manage my business and my employees. Some days I spend checking on my crews, giving estimates to potential clients and checking on my equipment. Other days I’m snowplowing or mulching, planting trees and overseeing my mason team as they build a brick wall. How does it make me feel? Great. Energized. Excited. Everyone should feel that way, whether they are working as a banker, a doctor, a teacher, a plumber, an electrician or a welder.

7) I used to work as a dishwasher, bus boy, waiter, bartender, steward and various other positions in order to make my way through college and graduate school. I learned a great deal from all of those experiences. What should a good blue collar job teach and why should people be proud of their jobs?

As I’ve said before, blue collar workers are America’s backbone. We built this country. Blue collar jobs are jobs that people can feel genuinely proud to be doing. If you’re electrifying a home or a community, bringing water to a business or repairing automobiles you are doing a NECESSARY job. I say all blue collar jobs are NECESSARY jobs. Where would we be without the builders, the plumbers, the bridge fixers, the road pavers and the trash collectors? I don’t even want to imagine it.

8) Many men take great pride in doing a good job and " getting er done ". Is this work ethic still with us?

Look, there are lazy people in every profession and there are overachievers in every profession. I think our country is still full of people who have an incredibly strong work ethic, in every industry and in every job. It feels good to put in 100 percent. You get such satisfaction out of giving your job everything you’ve got whether you’re a mason or an engineer. By and large we still have that work ethic around. And there have always been and will always be slackers.

9) Who publishes your book and where can interested people get a copy?

HCI published Blue Collar and Proud of It. You can get one at a local bookstore or online at Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Collar-Proud-All-One/dp/0757307787/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242844103&sr=1-1

10) Joe, thanks for sharing your time, ideas and experiences. What have I neglected to ask?

I think we’ve covered a lot. Thank you for your interest and I hope that this book helps students find something they are passionate about doing and can feel good about doing.