President of Talent Solutions
Michael Carter began his career with Abstrakt in 2012, where he developed the leadership, operational, and business-building skills that would later shape his approach to talent acquisition and workforce strategy. Throughout his tenure, Michael served in several leadership roles across the organization, gaining firsthand experience in scaling teams, building processes, and helping businesses grow. In 2014, he expanded into the recruitment industry by developing a hiring program focused on helping mortgage and real estate companies attract key talent and strengthen their organizations.
In 2021, Michael took over as VP of Recruiting for Abstrakt, leading the company's internal recruitment efforts and helping build the foundation for what would become Talent Solutions. After partnering with hundreds of companies across the skilled trades, Michael and his team recognized the growing hiring challenges facing trade organizations nationwide. That experience led to the development of innovative recruiting models designed to reduce hiring costs while consistently delivering qualified talent for long-term growth.
Lengthy, disjointed hiring is the fastest way to lose the best candidates. 15 practical strategies — across communication, interviews, compensation, and process — to keep top talent engaged from first contact to signed offer.
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The 2026 commercial HVAC salary benchmark — by role, region, and credential — and how the firms that staff well actually hire in a tight market.
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What master and journeyman plumbers earn in 2026, plus the interview questions that predict who actually stays on your crew.
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What fire alarm technicians, sprinkler fitters, and NICET-certified designers earn in 2026 — by level, role, and major market.
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What paving operators, foremen, and plant operators earn in 2026 — plus how to build a crew that actually returns every spring.
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What landscape foremen, account managers, and project managers earn in 2026 — and how to build a commercial landscaping team that actually stays.
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What union painters, industrial painters, and commercial paint foremen earn in 2026 — and how the best commercial GCs actually hire.
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What carpet, LVT, hard-surface, and polished-concrete installers earn in 2026 — and how to hire across each surface type without losing margin.
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