In this episode of Commercial Grade, host RC Victorino sits down with Manja Horner, founder and CEO of Boost ld and author of the upcoming book Pass the Torch. With a background that spans historic restoration, music education, homeschooling, and corporate training, Manja brings a unique perspective to the workforce crisis unfolding across the trades.

Manja shares early memories from her father’s all‑girls restoration crew and how witnessing poor restoration work later in life pushed her to focus on training systems that actually work. She breaks down why skilled labor shortages continue to worsen, how tribal knowledge is disappearing as older workers retire, and why structured “skill stacking” and multi‑year onboarding pathways are essential for accelerating competency.

RC and Manja explore why employers struggle to run effective apprenticeship programs, why younger owners tend to embrace digital tools and systematic training, and how improved career roadmaps can boost both retention and productivity. They also discuss AI’s potential impact on workforce development, the need for early exposure to shop class and hands‑on learning, and the urgency of documenting decades of craftsmanship before it’s too late.

In this episode you’ll hear:
• Why the trades are losing tribal knowledge faster than it’s being replaced
• How Manja’s journey from violin teacher to CEO shaped her approach to training
• What “skill stacking” looks like in real workforce programs
• Why structured roadmaps dramatically improve retention
• What Gen Z really wants from employers
• How AI will shift both training and the trades workforce
• Why craftsmanship must be intentionally preserved
• How to rebuild the shop‑class pipeline for the next generation

Episode Timestamps:
(00:00) Skilled Trades Industry Wake‑Up
(00:18) Meet Manja Horner
(01:09) All‑Girls Restoration Crew
(03:20) Craftsmanship, Heritage, and Early Influence
(04:57) Music Background and Teaching Roots
(07:24) Homeschooling and Mentorship
(09:53) Early Digital Shift with QuickBooks
(11:14) From Corporate Training to CEO
(13:32) The Brick‑Dust Turning Point
(15:27) Skill Stacking to Close Workforce Gaps
(20:55) Making Training Real on the Job
(22:41) Training Roadmaps that Boost Retention
(24:34) Career Pathways that Keep People in the Trades
(25:26) What Gen Z Wants from Employers
(26:42) Apprenticeship Challenges for Employers
(28:18) AI and Workforce Transformation
(30:06) Pass the Torch — Book Preview
(32:28) Capturing Tribal Knowledge
(33:51) Attracting the Next Generation
(34:42) Rebuilding the Shop‑Class Pipeline
(39:10) Incentives, Stigma, and Youth Exposure
(40:45) Repair and Restoration Skills
(41:39) Lightning Round and Wrap‑Up

About the Guest:
Manja Horner is the founder and CEO of Boost ld, an Ontario‑based company specializing in HR, skills development, and training for the skilled trades. Her career has spanned historic restoration, music education, homeschooling, and corporate training — giving her a unique lens on how people learn and how craftsmanship is transferred between generations. Manja is the author of the upcoming book Pass the Torch, which explores solutions to the skilled labor shortage, including structured onboarding, skill stacking, and capturing tribal knowledge before it disappears. She works with trade businesses across North America to modernize workforce development and build training that is faster, clearer, and more effective.

Links & Resources:
RC’s LinkedIn
Manja Horner on LinkedIn
Pass the Torch
Learn more about Boost ld
Learn more at BuildOps.com

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