Rewriting the Next Chapter: How the Trades Changed Elvis Claiborne’s Life

In this episode of Build Without Barriers, presented by Trades for All, Kris Georgeson sits down with electrician, instructor, contractor, and ABC SoCal alumnus Elvis Byron Claiborne for a powerful conversation about second chances and the opportunities available through the skilled trades.
After experiencing incarceration, Elvis knew he needed to rebuild his life and create a future he could be proud of. What initially drew him to the electrical trade was the opportunity to earn a paycheck—but what he found was much more: a career where his skills, work ethic, and willingness to show up mattered more than his past.
Over the course of two decades, Elvis progressed from apprentice to journeyman, foreman, instructor, mentor, and business owner. He shares how ABC SoCal, influential mentors, and years in the field helped him develop the discipline, confidence, and leadership skills that transformed both his career and his life.
Today, Elvis is using his experience to help the next generation succeed—teaching apprentices, supporting the ABC SoCal Alumni Committee, creating opportunities through his own business, and encouraging contractors to look beyond someone’s history and recognize their potential.
His message to anyone who believes their past has closed the door on their future is simple: your past is a chapter, not the whole book. You still have the opportunity to write what comes next.
Listen to Elvis’s story of determination, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and why he believes the skilled trades can provide a genuine path forward for people ready to put in the work.