Pennsylvania’s landscape of highways, bridges, job sites, and workshops showcases a clearly thriving infrastructure sector. State leadership and state and federal funds support the continual improvement of structures and statewide infrastructure. The lynchpin in this scenario is a strong, skilled workforce – the heart of Thaddeus Stevens College’s impact.
City & State Pennsylvania’s 2025 Building and Infrastructure Trailblazers list recognizes those who are deeply embedded in the work of workforce and infrastructure development. And we are proud to celebrate one of our own named this year.
Dan McCord, a second-year Carpentry Technology instructor at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, has been named to the prestigious list. The annual recognition honors labor leaders, educators, planners, engineers, and innovators who are shaping Pennsylvania’s evolving land- and streetscapes while strengthening the industry behind them.
Since joining the College, Dan has become known not only as a skilled instructor but as a deeply caring and student-centered educator. Students consistently describe him as understanding, supportive, and genuinely invested in their success; qualities that reflect the College’s mission to create access to opportunity and transform lives through hands-on technical education.
In the Carpentry Technology program, Dan prepares students for high-demand careers in the building trades through practical, real-world instruction. His leadership in the shop and commitment to student support help ensure graduates are workforce-ready, confident, and equipped with skills that lead to family-sustaining wages and long-term career growth. Two-year degrees at Thaddeus Stevens College not only include practical, shop-focused learning but also important life and leadership skills reflected in the well-rounded core education components of the degree. As Pennsylvania’s infrastructure sector continues to grow, educators like Dan play a critical role in developing the next generation of skilled trades professionals who will build and maintain the Commonwealth’s future.
City & State’s 2025 Trailblazers list highlights individuals advancing workforce development, sustainability initiatives, and innovation across the infrastructure ecosystem. Dan McCord stands out as an educator making a meaningful impact: one student, one project, and one career at a time.
We are proud to see Dan’s passion and influence recognized on a statewide level. Congratulations, Dan, on this well-deserved honor.
Learn more about why Dan McCord was recognized and view the full list of 2025 Building and Infrastructure Trailblazers by visiting this article by City & State Pennsylvania.