COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Watch our Voice of the Voter segment during The Georgia Vote Sundays at 11 a.m. on 11Alive.
It's been a turbulent summer of politics as Georgia and the rest of the nation approaches the November election.
The 11Alive political team is working to make sure everyday Georgians remain at the center of the political conversation.
Meet Ryan Blythe, welding school founder in Cobb County
Blythe says he started the Georgia Trade School in 2012. According to him, instructors there have since trained nearly 2,000 students.
He says the training his students receive provides "a path to middle-class security."
"I feel like we're saving a lot of young men and women who didn't know what they wanted to do after high school," he added.
Blythe sees his welding lab as a room of opportunity for marketable skills.
"We're teaching a skill. And it's a marketable skill. It's a skill that's in demand," said Blythe. "It's a skill that there's a shortage. And it's a skill that you can have it for the rest of your life."
Issues he cares about
The economy
As a small business owner, Blythe said he pays close attention to economic legislation.
"The Tax Cut and Jobs Act back in 2017, it's set to expire in 2025. And that's helped a lot of small businesses with investments in equipment, in their facility, in their people," Blythe said. "If it doesn't get extended, then I think it's going to hurt Main Street."
The job market
Blythe added that he wanted to see more support for young workers entering the trades.
"I want to see an emphasis on manufacturing jobs, energy jobs," said Blythe. "I think that's really important to a business like ours."
His biggest worry
As Blythe thinks about the upcoming election, he says his biggest worry is "the divisiveness" of American politics.
"It seems like the two sides are simply interested in attracting their base," he said. "They both had an opportunity to reach out to the center with their vice presidential selections, and they went in a different direction."
"I think we've gone through three consecutive cycles where a lot of people are disappointed with their choices, and I don't think we're talking about the serious issues," Blythe added. "It's going to compromise in order to fix this country."
What he's optimistic about
It's not all worries for Blythe. The trade school leader said his students inspire him.
"The best part of my job is I get to see 17-22-year-olds every day that are working hard, that have a great attitude, that want to contribute to our society [and] to our country to make it a better country," said Blythe. "I think that sometimes we don't see young people from that perspective."
"But the truth is there's a lot of great young people," he added. "They may be able to solve some of these problems."