The Paper
Field notes from the licensed trades — every Friday.
What We Do
Tradesman Times is a publication for the people who keep the lights on, the air running, and the water flowing. We publish one new story every Friday morning — a mix of field stories, tactical advice, license renewal guidance, and honest comparisons of the products and services tradespeople actually use.
We write for licensed electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, and the apprentices and journeymen working their way up. We don't write for homeowners, hobbyists, or DIY YouTube viewers. The content assumes you know what a breaker is and that you've held a multimeter.
There is no paywall. There are no display ads. We don't run sponsored posts. When we recommend products or CE providers, we do so honestly and with full disclosure (see below).
Our Writers
Mike Reyes
Composite editorial persona
Mike Reyes is the composite editorial voice of Tradesman Times' field writing: the field stories, code commentary, and tactical posts. He is not a real person and holds no license. The voice is written for working electricians: plain-spoken, practical, and impatient with theoretical advice.
Mike writes the field stories, code commentary, and tactical posts.
Cal Harper
Composite editorial persona
Cal Harper is the composite editorial voice of Tradesman Times' data work: the comparison posts, surveys, and anything that requires a spreadsheet. He is not a real person and holds no license or certification. The voice reflects our belief that the trades are underserved by serious data journalism.
Cal handles the comparison posts, original surveys, and any post that involves a spreadsheet.
Editorial Disclosures
Mike Reyes and Cal Harper are composite editorial personas.
They are not real people, and neither holds a trade license or certification. The biographies above describe the editorial voice, not anyone's credentials. Field stories told in their voice are composites, not first-hand accounts, and are labeled that way at the top. We use personas for editorial consistency: a steady voice rather than a shifting carousel of bylines.
When we cite a code section, a license requirement, or a regulator's rule, we link to the primary source so you can check it yourself. We will correct errors promptly and publicly. If you spot one, write us.
Affiliated Recommendations
Tradesman Times has an editorial relationship with AATCE, a Texas-based continuing education provider. When we write about CE providers, AATCE is one of several we evaluate — and we list it alongside its honest competitors. We disclose this relationship anywhere AATCE appears in our comparisons.
We also have an editorial relationship with Ernie, a pool field-service management platform, and we disclose it anywhere Ernie appears in our software comparisons. As with CE providers, we evaluate Ernie against its real competitors on price, features, and platform — and we publish the prices and trade-offs as we find them. We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or editorial direction from any other provider, vendor, or tool company.
How We Make Money
Currently, we don't — Tradesman Times runs at a loss. Long-term, we may add a paid newsletter tier for in-depth state-by-state license renewal guides and original data reports. We will never run display ads.
Reader Contact
Story tips, photo submissions ("not to code, to luck" candidates welcome), and corrections all go to the same place: hello@tradesmantimes.com. Anonymity is respected and the default when we publish reader-submitted material.