Our Mission
Our goals
01
Workforce Sustainability
To strengthen the long-term physical, mental, and financial sustainability of tradespeople and firefighters — beyond the shift and beyond the jobsite.
02
Structural Support Systems
To build practical infrastructure — housing alignment, education, leadership development, peer connection, and resource access — that supports workforce stability.
03
Industry Partnership & Accountability
Be clear, be confident, and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. The latter will take care of itself. It always does.
To build a stronger, safer, and longer-lasting trades workforce
by solving the real-world challenges that affect performance and well-being
How it all started
TradeSTRONG began with a simple truth: the people who build and protect our communities are expected to be strong — without always being supported.
Years inside the trades, alongside union leaders, contractors, and traveling crews, revealed a gap that wasn’t about skill — it was about sustainability.
Through TradeStay, we saw firsthand that housing was only part of the equation. What was missing was structure beyond the jobsite.
TradeSTRONG was created to build that structure.
Meet Your Advocates
Amanda Bedian
Executive Director, TradeStrong
Amanda Bedian serves as Executive Director of TradeSTRONG, leading strategy, partnerships, and organizational growth. With over twelve years of experience inside the commercial construction ecosystem, she has worked closely with contractors, manufacturers, workforce leaders, and industry associations to strengthen market presence and long-term sustainability.
She also spent nearly nine years helping build and grow a nonprofit in the masonry industry — experience that shaped her practical, mission-first approach to leadership.
At TradeSTRONG Amanda focuses on building real infrastructure that supports the trades beyond the jobsite — with structure, accountability, and long-term industry alignment.
Ami Summerfield
Director of Community Partnerships
Ami Summerfield serves as Director of Community Partnerships for Tradestrong, where she works to strengthen connections between tradesmen and the communities they serve. With both a professional and educational background rooted in hospitality, human resource operations, business ownership, and relationship-building, Ami brings a passion for creating meaningful experiences and partnerships that support people beyond the workplace. Ami believes that true hospitality is about more than providing a place to stay—it’s about creating belonging, connection, and support for the people who keep our communities moving.
Her commitment to the trades community is personal. Growing up with a brother in skilled manual labor, Ami has seen firsthand the sacrifices, challenges, and unique pressures that come with this line of work—especially for those who spend extended periods away from home. She is passionate about honoring the people behind the work by building partnerships, fostering community support, and helping tradesmen feel recognized, valued, and connected wherever their work takes them.