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Housecall Pro, a leading AI field service platform trusted by home service professionals who have served 1 in 4 American homes, today announced the Trades 40 Under 40 Class of 2026. The program recognizes young leaders who are building standout businesses, serving their communities, and raising the standard of excellence in the skilled trades.
Selected from more than 1,300 nominations across the United States and Canada, the inaugural Trades 40 Under 40 class spans home service fields including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, painting, cleaning, and more. Their stories reflect the breadth of opportunity in the trades, from young entrepreneurs scaling million-dollar businesses before turning 25, to second-generation leaders carrying forward family legacies, to veterans and mentors using their businesses to create pathways for others.
“The stereotype that trades are a fallback is outdated,” said Roland Ligtenberg, Co-Founder and Chief AI Officer at Housecall Pro. “Across 1,000+ nominations, we saw the next generation of operators building real companies: trained teams, strong cultures, and customer experiences that compete with any modern brand. The trades are the smartest entrepreneurial path in America right now. It’s only accelerating, and this class is leading it.”
The nomination pool itself reflected the industry’s changing demographics. Roughly 1 in 9 nominations came from Gen Z professionals between the ages of 19 and 29, underscoring rising interest in the trades among younger generations. Additionally, 10 women were named to the inaugural class, representing 25% of honorees and signaling the growing influence of women across field, office, and executive leadership roles in the trades.
“You could feel the pride and work ethic coming through in these nominations,” said Tommy Mello, Founder and CEO of A1 Garage Door Service and a Trades 40 Under 40 judge. “Some of these honorees started their businesses just a few years ago and are now leading growing teams, serving entire communities, and helping inspire more young people to pursue careers in the trades.”
The inaugural Trades 40 Under 40 class will be celebrated during Housecall Pro’s Spring Summit on June 4. Nominations for the class of 2027 will open next year.
View the complete 2026 winner roster at trades40under40.com.
