TEC Privacy Policy

TRADES EDUCATION CENTER, INC.
ONLINE PRIVACY POLICY
Version 2027.1

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Trades Education Center, Inc. (“TEC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) provides this Online Privacy Policy to explain how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information in connection with our website, www.trades-ed.org, the TEC Guild online member area, online forms, and related online services and communications. This policy applies to information TEC handles about website visitors, prospective participants, applicants, enrolled participants, graduates, Guild members, and individuals communicating with TEC online. Certain services, forms, or activities may include additional privacy notices or consent requests explaining how information is handled for that specific purpose. TEC’s Enrollment Agreement, Guild Membership Agreement, and other applicable agreements separately address participation and service terms. This policy does not itself authorize promotional use of your photograph, voice, video, or testimonial. Those permissions are addressed through TEC’s separate Media Release Form or another applicable authorization. Third-party websites and services may have their own privacy policies. Their handling of information is governed by those policies where they act independently of TEC. This policy explains TEC’s information practices. It does not replace any separate consent required by applicable law.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

The information we collect depends on how you interact with TEC and which services you use.

Information You Provide

You may provide personal information when you contact TEC, submit an application, enroll in training, create or update a Guild account, complete an online form, or purchase a service. This may include:

Your name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number.
Application and enrollment information, including educational background and information needed to administer your participation.
Guild profile information, such as your occupation, employer, work experience, qualifications, and information you choose to share with other members.
Content you submit, such as job postings, comments, photographs, documents, or other member contributions.
Messages, questions, feedback, and other communications with TEC.
Billing information and records of payments, purchases, refunds, or payment arrangements.

Some information is necessary to process an application, provide a requested service, or administer an account. If you choose not to provide required information, TEC may be unable to complete that request. Optional information will be identified where appropriate.

Payment Information

Payments may be processed through third-party payment providers. Information entered directly into a provider’s payment system is handled under that provider’s applicable privacy and security practices. TEC may receive transaction details needed for billing, payment confirmation, refunds, and financial recordkeeping.

Information From Other Sources

TEC may receive information from organizations or individuals involved in a service you request, such as a referring organization, funding provider, or credentialing provider. The information received depends on the service and any applicable authorization or legal requirements.
If you use a third-party sign-in option, TEC may receive account information that the sign-in provider shares based on your authorization and settings.

Information Collected Automatically

Our website and service providers may automatically collect technical and usage information, including your IP address, browser and device type, pages visited, access times, referring pages, and interactions with website features. Cookies and similar technologies may support website operation, account access, security, and usage measurement. Additional information about these technologies and available choices appears later in this policy. Please avoid submitting sensitive personal information through public profiles, member posts, or general contact forms unless TEC specifically requests it through an appropriate process.

3. HOW WE USE INFORMATION

TEC uses personal information as reasonably needed to:

Respond to inquiries and communicate about requested services.
Process applications and enrollment, administer training, and maintain participant records.
Create and manage Guild accounts, membership access, profiles, and member features.
Process payments, maintain financial records, administer payment arrangements, and handle applicable refunds.
Coordinate requested services with referring organizations, funding providers, and credentialing providers, subject to applicable authorization and legal requirements.
Send account notices, scheduling updates, safety information, and other operational communications.
Share TEC news, program announcements, events, and other promotional communications, subject to applicable consent requirements and your communication preferences.
Understand website use, troubleshoot problems, and improve services.
Protect accounts and systems, address misuse, and maintain safety.
Meet applicable legal, regulatory, reporting, and recordkeeping obligations.

Information you submit for a Guild profile, job posting, or other member contribution may be displayed to the audience associated with that feature. Review the feature’s audience and available visibility settings before submitting information. Promotional use of your photograph, voice, video, or testimonial is governed by your separate media authorization. Providing information for enrollment, account administration, or participation does not itself authorize that promotional use. If TEC proposes a materially different use of personal information, we will provide any notice and obtain any consent required by applicable law.

4. HOW WE SHARE INFORMATION

TEC does not sell or rent personal information or its contact lists to third parties.
TEC may share information in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We use service providers to support website hosting, account access, online forms, communications, learning and participant management, payment processing, accounting, and other operational functions. These providers receive information reasonably needed to perform their services, subject to applicable agreements and legal requirements. Some providers, including payment processors and third-party sign-in services, may also handle information independently under their own privacy policies.

Requested Services and Authorized Disclosures

TEC may share information with referring organizations, funding providers, credentialing providers, or others involved in services you request, as authorized by you or otherwise permitted or required by applicable law. A partner’s or employer’s relationship with TEC does not automatically give that organization access to your private participant records or contact information.

Guild Profiles and Member Contributions

Information you submit to a Guild profile, job posting, discussion, or other shared feature may be visible to that feature’s audience. Other users may retain or share information they can access. Consider the audience before posting personal or confidential information.

Legal Requirements, Safety, and Protection of Rights

TEC may disclose information when required by applicable law or valid legal process, or when reasonably necessary and legally permitted to address fraud, security incidents, threats to safety, or the protection of legal rights.

Professional Advisors

TEC may share information reasonably needed by its attorneys, accountants, insurers, or other professional advisors, subject to applicable confidentiality obligations.

Organizational Changes

If TEC undergoes a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or transfer of operations, relevant information may be disclosed or transferred as part of that process, subject to applicable law and confidentiality protections. Any materially different use remains subject to required notice and consent.

Other Disclosures With Your Permission

TEC may share information for other purposes when you authorize the disclosure. Promotional use of photographs, recordings, or testimonials remains subject to the applicable media authorization.

5. COOKIES, ANALYTICS, AND AUTOMATICALLY COLLECTED INFORMATION

TEC’s website and the service providers supporting it may use cookies and similar technologies to operate website features, maintain account sessions, support security, remember preferences, and understand how visitors use the website. These technologies may collect information such as your IP address, browser and device type, pages visited, access times, referring pages, and interactions with website features. TEC may use usage information to identify technical problems, understand which content is useful, and improve website performance and services.

Your Choices

You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect website functionality, including sign-in and member access. Browser settings generally apply only to the browser and device where you make the change. Where TEC provides a cookie preference tool, you may also use that tool to manage the categories it controls. TEC will obtain consent for cookies or similar technologies where required by applicable law.

Third-Party Features

Embedded content and third-party features may use their own cookies or similar technologies when you access or interact with them. Their handling of information is subject to their applicable privacy policies.

6. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES

TEC’s website and online services may contain links to third-party websites or provide access to services operated by other organizations, such as payment providers, credentialing organizations, employers, and community partners. When you follow a link or interact directly with an independently operated service, that organization’s privacy policy governs its collection and use of your information. We encourage you to review its policy before providing personal information. A link, listing, or partnership does not automatically authorize TEC to share your private information with that organization. Any disclosure by TEC remains subject to this policy, applicable authorizations, and legal requirements. Third-party services that process information on TEC’s behalf are addressed in the Service Providers portion of Section 4.

7. PRIVACY REQUESTS AND INFORMATION RETENTION

You may contact TEC using the contact information at the end of this policy to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information, or to ask questions about its use or disclosure. TEC will review your request and respond as required by applicable law. Available rights may depend on your location, the information involved, and the laws that apply. Where applicable law provides additional rights, deadlines, or an appeal process, TEC will honor those requirements.

Verification and Processing

TEC may request information reasonably necessary to verify your identity and authority before providing records or making changes. Please describe your request without sending passwords, full payment-card numbers, or unnecessary sensitive information.
If TEC cannot fulfill all or part of your request, we will explain the reason to the extent permitted or required by applicable law.

Retention and Deletion

TEC retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including providing services, maintaining participant and credential records, administering financial obligations, resolving disputes, and meeting applicable legal or reporting requirements. Deletion of an account or profile does not necessarily delete all related records. TEC may retain information when legally permitted and reasonably necessary for these purposes. Information in backup systems may remain until those backups are replaced or deleted through the applicable retention process. Information previously shared with other users or independently operated third-party services may remain in their records. TEC cannot guarantee deletion of copies outside its control. Closing a Guild account or submitting a privacy request does not itself cancel enrollment, resolve outstanding payment obligations, or determine eligibility for a refund. Those matters are governed by the applicable agreements and law.

8. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

TEC’s website and online services are not directed to children under 13. TEC does not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13. Children under 13 should not create an account, submit personal information through TEC’s online forms, or post information in member features. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information through TEC’s online services, please contact TEC using the contact information at the end of this policy. TEC will take appropriate steps to investigate and promptly delete information collected without legally required authorization, subject to applicable law. A parent’s or guardian’s informal permission does not replace any legally required notice or verifiable parental consent. Eligibility for TEC training programs and Guild membership is governed by their respective admission requirements and agreements.

9. EMAIL AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

TEC may contact you about inquiries, applications, enrollment, payments, account access, scheduling, safety, and other matters related to services you request or use. TEC may also send newsletters, program announcements, event information, and other promotional communications, subject to applicable consent requirements and your communication preferences.

Marketing Preferences

You may unsubscribe from promotional emails by using the unsubscribe link included in the message or contacting TEC using the contact information at the end of this policy. TEC will process your request within the time required by applicable law. Unsubscribing from promotional communications does not prevent TEC from sending necessary account, enrollment, payment, safety, or other operational messages. Those messages will not be used to circumvent your marketing preferences. If TEC offers text-message communications, any required consent and opt-out instructions will be provided through the applicable sign-up process or message. Providing a telephone number does not by itself constitute consent to receive promotional text messages.

Communication Analytics

TEC’s email service providers may use technologies that indicate whether a message was opened or a link was clicked. Where used, this information helps TEC understand engagement and improve communications. Results may be affected by the recipient’s email provider and privacy settings.

10. INFORMATION SECURITY AND STORAGE

TEC uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the personal information it handles. These safeguards are intended to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or loss. TEC uses third-party systems to support website hosting, communications, participant management, payment processing, accounting, and other operational functions. Information may be stored or processed on TEC systems and on systems operated by those service providers. Depending on the provider, information may be stored or processed in the United States or other countries. Applicable legal requirements govern any required protections for those transfers. No method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. TEC cannot guarantee absolute security, but this does not limit its obligations under applicable law.
You are responsible for protecting your account credentials and should promptly notify TEC if you suspect unauthorized use of your account. Do not send passwords, full payment-card numbers, or unnecessary sensitive information through ordinary email, public member features, or general contact forms. If a security incident triggers a legal notification requirement, TEC will provide the required notices within the applicable timeframe.

11. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

TEC may update this policy to reflect changes in its services, information practices, or applicable legal requirements. The revised policy will identify its effective date and will be posted on TEC’s website. For material changes, TEC will provide appropriate notice, such as a prominent website notice or direct communication to affected individuals, as required by applicable law. If a change requires consent, TEC will obtain that consent before implementing the affected practice. Posting an updated policy or your continued use of TEC’s services does not, by itself, replace legally required consent. An update will not retroactively authorize materially different uses or disclosures of previously collected information without any notice and consent required by applicable law.

12. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about this policy, privacy requests, or concerns about TEC’s handling of personal information, contact:

Trades Education Center, Inc.
Attention: CEO / Privacy Inquiries

Email: ceo@trades-ed.org
Telephone: 404-954-2646

Mailing Address:
8144 Jefferson Road, Unit 300
Athens, GA 30607

Corporate Address:
3253 Jackson Trail Road
Jefferson, GA 30549

Please describe your question or request and provide a way for TEC to respond. Do not include passwords, full payment-card numbers, or unnecessary sensitive information.

Effective Date: October 15, 2026
Version: 2027.1