California whose careers proba- bly would have been something else had their paths not crossed with his. Some probably wouldn’t have a career or even a job at all, he said. Recognizing so much of his younger self in the many young people he’s encountered in decades of church involvement, Burton takes every opportunity to suggest to young men and women a career in tile or masonry. “For some reason everywhere I go I end up talking about the trade,” said Burton. But it isn’t just talk. He exposes young people to the trowel trades any way he can. He created and ran a trowel trades workshop at one church he attend- ed, and he has trained through his own company, Exclusive Tile Concepts, for years. Sometimes they’re interested on their own and sometimes they get a push from their parents, says Burton, who knows that feeling well. Sharing your passion with potential tradespeople Borrowing from his approach, others can look for similar ways to connect the dots. Burton gets immense fulfillment when he can transfer some of his passion for trowel trades to a young person who hasn’t yet figured out their path, particularly in connection with his youth ministry work. But there are young people everywhere looking for their thing, and not-so-young people looking for their new thing. To connect the dots in your area, step back and look for opportunities to do so. Are there career fairs at your local schools or exhibit halls? Can you develop an age-appropriate activ- ity or presentation for your kids’ social or school groups? Can you post something on social media, welcoming interested people (and their kids) to contact you to talk or even visit some jobsites with you? Jonathan Burton (left) of Exclusive Tile Concepts in Riverside, Calif., exposes young people to the trowel trades any way he can. TRAINING & EDUCATION ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 50 TileLetter | March 2019