July 16, 2025, x.com/mikeroweworks
https://tinyurl.com/59n4htj8
I’m leaving Pittsburgh, on a flight to Denver, reflecting on the last 36 hours. The Energy and Innovation Summit has just concluded, where I was invited to sit on a panel and address a room full of big shots. When my mother learned I’d be attending an event with dozens of billionaires as well as the President of the United States, she asked me if I’d be wearing something appropriate.
“I’ll be wearing a suit,” I said.
“Good,” she said. “Do you have one that isn’t made of rubber?”
“Yes, mom. I have several suits made from cotton and wool.”
“Oh good,” she said. “I wouldn’t want you to embarrass yourself like that little man from Ukraine. The one who went to the White House dressed like a cat burglar.”
“Zalinski?” I asked.
“Yes. Zalinski. Or that big, bald Senator who always wears short pants and sweatshirts. What’s his name?”
“Fetterman?” I asked.
“Yes. Fetterman. Do you think he’ll be there?”
“Probably,” I said. “The event was organized by David McCormick, the Republican Senator from Pennsylvania. But he told me it’s non-partisan, and that Senator Fetterman was invited, along with lots of other democrats.”
“Good,” she said. “I hate to see you get sucked into politics, Michael. It’s a great way to get half the country to hate you.”
“I know, Mom. But what can you do?”
“Also,” she said, “if you talk to the President, tell him to be careful with all the AI stuff. I don’t need a computer that writes my next book for me!”
Over the years, I’ve learned that my mother’s queries and concerns mirror those of many on this page, so I thought I’d provide you and my mother with a brief update.
The event was, indeed, bipartisan, in spite of President’s Trumps presence. That’s not to say it wasn’t “political.” Everything is political these days. But the underlying issues – energy independence and AI dominance – will impact everyone on both sides equally.
As for the event itself, it was by any measure, a raging success. As of this morning, 92 billion dollars had been pledged by various companies – a massive investment in Pennsylvania, and in the Keystone States commitment to unlock the necessary energy needed to lead the AI Revolution and build the data centers necessary to do so.
I did meet the President, who said he didn’t recognize me with a suit on. He was familiar with my foundation, congratulated me on predicting the widening skills gap seventeen years ago, and thanked me for my continued efforts to help close it. I told him it was a privilege to do so and thanked him for the autographed bathrobe I auctioned off for $45,000 ten years ago.
“Holy Cow, Mike Rowe! You got $45,000 for a signed bathrobe? That’s a lot of money!”
“Actually, Mr. President, it’s a lot of work ethic scholarships. We’ve raised over $12 million since then and given away every penny.”
The President seemed delighted. If I had more time, I would have asked him to sign my tie and put it up for sale today, but there was a line of people behind me, and I didn’t want to press my luck.
I also meet with several members of the administration, including Howard Lutnick, (Commerce), Chris Wright, (Energy), Steve Bessent, (Treasury), and David Sacks. (AI Advisor.) All were gracious, curious, and very engaged.
More importantly, I met with the CEO’s and Presidents of some of America’s largest companies, and I can tell you without exception, that ALL of them are focused on workforce, and very interested in what we’ve accomplished at mikeroweWORKS.
It’s taken seventeen years, but there is now an undeniable awareness in C-suites across the country that we have a massive problem to overcome – a problem that has nothing to do with our ability to create jobs, and everything to do with our ability to create enthusiasm for those jobs.
It’s an awkward point to make, especially at an event that’s celebrating the creation of so much new opportunity, but there’s no getting around it – if we don’t have enough workers to fill the jobs that are open today, we’ll never be able to fill the jobs we create tomorrow. And presently, there are 7.6 million open jobs in this country.
In short, I’m glad I went, and look forward to seeing what might come of it. I’ll keep you all posted. In the meantime, I found a short clip of me on YouTube answering a question posed by Toby Rice, the CEO of EQT, a big energy company in Pennsylvania who is keenly aware of the labor shortage and eager to do something about it.
Friends of this page will hear nothing new in my response, but the video will confirm, at the very least, that I do in fact own at least one suit, not made of rubber.
Mike
PS. John Fetterman was there. He spoke at the reception dinner the night before, along with Senator McCormick. He strongly supported the need to unleash all forms of energy and reinvigorate the skilled trades. He did so in short pants and a black sweatshirt.