From Friction to Buy-In: A Father-Son Playbook for Making Training a Priority
In the Interplay Learning webinar "From Friction to Buy-In," former Building and Grounds Director Tom Clapper and his son Dan Clapper, Head of Learner and Business Outcomes, share their combined expertise to address common resistance to training by offering practical strategies for engaging skeptical technicians and leadership, communicating training’s value, aligning goals, and designing impactful programs that foster shared ownership and measurable business results.
On-Demand Webinar
Interplay Learning Webinar Hosted by IFMA
What happens when a seasoned maintenance leader and a modern training expert team up to talk training? You get a unique, real-world perspective on how to bridge the gap between the front lines and the decision-makers when it comes to training.
In this engaging session, Tom Clapper, a former Building and Grounds Director for a school district, and his son Dan Clapper, Head of Learner and Business Outcomes at Interplay Learning, bring two perspectives on what it takes to make training a priority. Tom has spent decades leading teams through the challenges of convincing technicians to embrace training, while Dan works with organizations across industries to create programs that drive real, measurable impact.
Together, they share insights on overcoming the common friction points that arise when trying to get buy-in for training – from the techs who are skeptical about time spent on learning to the leaders who need to see ROI. Using real-world examples, Tom and Dan walk through the tactical steps for communicating the value of training, aligning goals, and designing programs that stick.
What You’ll Learn:
- The real reasons training initiatives face resistance from both techs and leadership
- How to overcome skepticism from the field and demonstrate training’s value to decision-makers
- Strategies for breaking down communication barriers and building shared ownership of training programs
- Practical tips for designing training that engages learners and delivers tangible business results
Meet the Speakers
Tom Clapper – Former Director of Building and Grounds
Tom Clapper is a veteran in the facilities maintenance field with deep-rooted experience managing teams, operations, and infrastructure across complex environments. He began his career on the front lines, working hands-on in the trades, and through dedication, continuous learning, and hard-earned experience, he steadily rose to lead facilities operations. Throughout his career, Tom has remained passionate about developing the next generation of skilled trades professionals. He believes training is the cornerstone of safe, efficient, and future-ready facilities—and he’s a strong advocate for providing the tools, education, and support maintenance teams need to succeed. His dedication to the skilled trades doesn’t stop with his own work–he’s proud to share the field with his son, Dan Clapper.
Dan Clapper – Head of Learner and Business Outcomes, Interplay Learning
Dan Clapper is the Head of Learner and Business Outcomes at Interplay Learning, where he focuses on bridging the gap between technical training and measurable business impact. With 25 years of experience in the skilled trades, Dan has worked across the HVAC and facilities maintenance industries in roles spanning installation, sales, distribution, and workforce development. From installing boilers and HVAC equipment alongside his father to training thousands of professionals nationwide, he brings a unique perspective on how training directly influences performance, efficiency, and operational success.
Dan is passionate about helping organizations build highly skilled, adaptable teams by implementing training strategies that reduce downtime, improve safety, and drive long-term business outcomes. His expertise in technical training, professional development, and operational efficiency enables him to help businesses maximize the value of their training programs and create a stronger, more capable workforce.
Related
How Training Saves Time In Property Management
The article explains that multifamily property management companies can save time and overcome labor shortages during busy tenant turnover seasons by implementing internal training programs that streamline hiring, expand the labor pool by enabling hiring of less experienced candidates, enhance employee efficiency and confidence, reduce turnover, and provide competitive career development opportunities that attract and retain top talent.
3 Ways to Elevate Your Workforce Development Program - Interplay Learning
The article from Interplay Learning outlines three key strategies to enhance workforce development programs by offering flexible learning options, ensuring training provides measurable ROI and industry-recognized accreditations, and incorporating registered apprenticeship training, all facilitated through their immersive SkillMill platform designed to quickly produce job-ready skilled trade workers.
SMB - Interplay Learning
Interplay Learning offers online and VR training solutions tailored for small-to-medium skilled trades businesses, enabling faster technician skill development, improved employee retention, reduced callbacks, and measurable business growth, as demonstrated by multiple case studies and high customer satisfaction rates.
Maximizing ROI for Hospitality Training Programs
The blog explains how hospitality businesses can maximize the return on investment (ROI) of their employee training programs by defining training ROI as a financial metric comparing training costs to improvements in company goals like performance and revenue, identifying key measurable outcomes such as customer satisfaction and employee engagement, and emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate metrics and baselines to demonstrate training’s financial benefits and secure stakeholder support.
5 Reasons to Cross-Train Building Engineers
Cross-training building engineers in facilities maintenance enhances job satisfaction and retention by providing professional growth opportunities, boosts productivity and engagement through expanded skill sets, improves safety and operational efficiency, enables flexible workforce deployment, and supports cost-effective talent development and internal promotion.
Hidden in Plain Sight
The whitepaper "Hidden in Plain Sight" examines how outdated beliefs about workforce training contribute to inefficiencies, safety issues, and high turnover in skilled trades, and argues that by rethinking training as a strategic investment and modernizing methods, organizations can enhance profitability, employee retention, and operational excellence.