New training center, operations building pursues LEED Platinum

Sheet Metal Workers Local #36 in St. Louis makes good on ‘green’ initiative; 95,000-square-foot building to be fully operational by Dec. 1

ST. LOUIS – “Green” has been the new buzz word for a few years now, and while, for some, the buzz has worn off, for others inspiration turned into motivation. In St. Louis, the new business offices and training center for Sheet Metal Workers Local #36 brings a new distinction to a sheet metal workers union building – LEED Platinum.

The highest ranking given by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum states a new building has met at least 52 points – with 69 being the highest – required for platinum status. The new building met 64 points. The 95,000-square-foot building includes 56,000 square feet of workshops, offices and classrooms in the training school as well as union and benefits offices and administrative space for Local #36 and an 800-seat meeting hall.

The building will serve as the administrative offices for Local #36 as well as house its training center, which uses curriculum by the International Training Institute (ITI).

Points were gathered from areas such as sustainable site features, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design. From bike racks, designated parking for fuel efficient vehicles and furniture made from recycled materials to green power, wind turbines and photovoltaic cells, the new building goes beyond “reduce, reuse, recycle.”

Many of the highlights that make the building LEED Platinum will go largely unnoticed by members walking through the doors. A collection of rain water will be used to flush the toilets and supplement water for the cooling tower. Also, the roof of the training center offices is covered in sedum vegetation, which filters airborne particulates, reduces heating and cooling costs and acts as a natural filter for rainwater runoff, among others.

Most of the building will be powered by 357 photovoltaic panels on the roof and four wind turbines, creating 75 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity and 2.5 kwh of wind energy each, respectively. Potable water and water for HVAC is heated by solar power and three geothermal heat pump systems provide heat and air conditioning for the training center offices. A fourth geothermal heat pump system will be used in the classroom to teach future technicians how to maintain and install the emerging technology.

“It’s a living lab,” said Dan Andrews, training coordinator for Local #36. “The building itself is a training entity. I walk people through the building to show them how a LEED building is built.”

The building is expected to be fully operational by Dec. 1 with a ribbon cutting and official opening ceremony tentatively scheduled after the first of the year.

“ITI is excited about this new building and the possibilities that go along with it for the future of our industry,” said James Shoulders, executive administrator of ITI. “Emerging markets are a large part of getting workers back on the job, and this building will not only be used to house innovative programs but as a teaching tool to further opportunities for workers.”

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in theUnited States and Canada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout the United States and Canada. Located in Alexandria, Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

Sheet metal contractor finds it’s easy to be green

St. Louis’ Murphy Company completes LEED projects, opens door to business

ST. LOUIS – For more than a century, Murphy Company in St. Louis has experienced success in mechanical and plumbing design/build projects. In 104 years of history, however, the last 10 years has made the difference. Years before “An Inconvenient Truth” sent the word “green” buzzing into the stratosphere, Murphy Company adopted an environmentally friendly approach, giving clients the opportunity to design their projects to a green standard.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s internationally recognized green building certification system, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), provides a guideline for levels of energy efficiency in design, construction, operations and maintenance. Levels for all buildings include certified, silver, gold and platinum. Murphy Company has completed two LEED Gold projects for Washington University – Brauer Hall, the company’s first major LEED project, was finished in 2010 and Green Hall this July.

“We’ve been seeing more and more LEED buildings pop up here in St. Louis the last six or seven years,” said Don Lynott, project manager for Murphy Company. “The city itself is progressing more and more toward greener building. I think you see in St. Louis what you see around the country and not only in construction but recycling and being as paperless as possible.”

In Green and Brauer halls, where labs and mixed-use teaching facilities and administration offices are located, workers had to be familiar with tools such as lab exhaust, heat recovery coils and high efficiency hot water heater systems. This sort of specialization takes skilled current and incoming workers. Journeymen and apprentices alike require training and continuing education through the training center at Sheet Metal Workers Local #36.

The St. Louis Sheet Metal Industry Training School is operated by a joint trust made up of three members of St. Louis Sheet Metal Air Conditioning and Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) and three members of Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) and uses curriculum developed by the International Training Institute (ITI).

“Our local is pretty progressive when it comes to things like this,” Lynott said. “Our guys are coming out of there with a base level of working on a green project, and our field guys are very well educated.”

The apprenticeship program is a college curriculum rooted in basic skills and knowledge. Having a solid foundation is the basis for a worker who can adapt and learn throughout his or her life, said Dan Andrews, Local #36 training center coordinator.

“They are exposed to everything,” said Steve Sneed, assistant coordinator for the Local #36 training center. “We’re teaching at night as much as during the day so the apprentices can add to their skills. The journeymen, too. As the markets open up, the training center is ready.”

In addition to hiring skilled workers, Murphy Company rode the surge in energy efficiency and introduced the Energy Solutions Division four years ago. The division meets with clients about saving energy in their projects, whether they’re aiming for certification or LEED Platinum.

“We can offer to our clients energy savings so they can get rebates. It’s on the proactive side and a service to provide to our owners aside from building a building,” Lynott said. Aligning with local utility companies, and old fashioned word of mouth, has helped the division prosper. “It offers clients more value out of our organization. It’s starting to take traction now and we’re starting to get more business on that side of the company.”

Because building green is still relatively new, educating the clients about their long-term savings is a challenge, but because of increased demand, customers are eager to learn.

“The points in LEED are very clear, very straight forward,” said Matt Gildehaus, design and building engineer for Murphy Company. “It’s managing the process and educating the owner. We’re in front of them earlier than most. Those decisions have to be made early.”

Murphy Company is building their “green” presence in the community, exponentially in the last three years with the completion of the two halls onWashingtonUniversity’s campus. The initial investment was worth it, Lynott said, and the return is even better.

“Every job is different. We certainly refer back to Brauer or Green halls. We lean on those experiences,” Lynott added. “They’re successful for us, not just because of the awards, but because the client got a quality product.”

From a local level, sheet metal workers at Local #36 are anticipating the future of the industry inSt. Louis. The center was the recipient of a grant due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 

“There are more green construction projects coming up. I really think St. Louis is going to be a hub for sustainable construction in the country along with Portland (Oregon) and Denver,” Andrews said.

Sneed, who worked for Murphy Company for 31 years before coming to the training center, added, “Murphy Company is on the cutting edge when it comes to green building.”

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in the United States and Canada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout the United States and Canada. Located in Alexandria,Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

Northern California company forges path with emerging market

Airco Automation writes own future with success of fire life safety inspections

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – It’s not often that an irritation on a job turns into a new branch of business for a company, but it happened for Airco Automation, Inc. in Sacramento, Calif. While testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) technicians were on the job, they noticed the smoke and fire dampers in many buildings were faulty, broken or used incorrectly. Seeing a piece of wood holding a damper into place was a common occurrence.

“The process of getting someone outside the company to take care of it was a nuisance,” said Brian Lehmkuhl, Airco Automation’s TAB supervisor. “We got educated, so we would better know what we were dealing with and found there was a lot more to it. Fire life safety is an emerging market, and we saw an opportunity to train more workers and put more people to work.”

Fire life safety is identified as an emerging market by the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI), with training courses conducted by the International Training Institute (ITI), the education arm of the unionized sheet metal and air conditioning industry. The program trains technicians and supervisors to inspect, test and maintain fire and smoke dampers, which limit the travel of smoke and fire throughout a building. The successful operation of these dampers may mean the difference between a minor fire and an uncontrollable catastrophe.

Because smoke and fire dampers are a safety feature, and not used on a daily basis, many building owners don’t recognize their importance until it’s too late. Maintenance and inspection helps safeguard the lives of the building’s occupants and protects investments of owners and tenants in case of fire.

In 2010, Lehmkuhl and colleague Michael Weaver earned their ICB/TABB HVAC Fire Life Safety Level I and Level II Technician certifications as well as their Level I supervisor certifications. Lehmkuhl will take the Fire Life Safety Level II Supervisor certification exam later this month.

Airco Automation had a service to offer clients they couldn’t have provided in the 36 previous years. In a short time, the company has made a name for itself in HVAC fire life safety. Today, the company has sent 16 employees to earn their Fire Life Safety Level I Technician certification and six for their Level II Technician and Level I Supervisor certifications.

“If we had half our crew certified, I think that would be a success,” Lehmkuhl said. “It’s one more tool in that tool box.”

Airco Automation supports employees and encourages them to earn their certifications. It only helps the company to fill an in-demand niche in the community.

“There was a need, and there weren’t enough trained technicians to take care of it. Many didn’t understand and recognize the importance of fire life safety,” Lehmkuhl said. “Our training has led to more work. We’ve been able to say, ‘not only can we provide the materials for the repair, we have the certified technicians to fix it.’ It’s giving workers a different skill set. It’s become a deciding factor on who gets the call.”

In 15 months’ time, Airco Automation has installed dampers in a dozen projects – anywhere between 20 and 90 per project, depending on the size. A few laid off sheet metal workers have even been put back to work due to their certifications.

“It’s diversification,” Lehmkuhl said. “If you can help a handful of guys, that’s something.”

Airco Automation isn’t hogging all the work for itself. In fact, the company’s goal is to have fire life safety expand within the local union, on both the employee and employer sides, putting even more people back to work. The company has aligned with the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers Association and has provided seminars on fire life safety at meetings with fire chiefs and other fire prevention officers.

“There is work out there for all of us,” Lehmkuhl said. “The goal is to enforce it and have so much work out there we can’t take it all.”

The National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) works hand in hand with the International Training Institute (ITI), a joint educational initiative of the Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). Through materials and programs, ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout theUnited StatesandCanada. Located inAlexandria,Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to unionized sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For additional information on courses offered by ITI in fire life safety, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

For more information on emerging market opportunities in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry, contact the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) at www.nemionline.org or call 703-739-7100.

New lab gives sheet metal apprentices on-site training indoors

Controlled environment allows for additional safety training, conditioning

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – One of the secrets to success in any new career is on-the-job training. At Sheet Metal Workers Local #105 nearLos Angeles, students in the apprenticeship program, along with seasoned journeymen, cultivate their skills in a state-of-the-art lab. From creating a spiral staircase from scratch and installing handrails to working on a domed or angled roof, most real-life work situations are duplicated in the comfort of the indoor lab. The controlled environment also is perfect for teaching safety skills and maneuvers.

For HVAC installations in the lab, apprentices work three feet off the ground, giving them the feeling of what it feels like to work at greater heights. Safety taught in the lab gives apprentices more confidence and a better knowledge base in the field, said Roy Ringwood, business manager and president of Local #105.

“It was designed in this manner for the safety of our apprentices and instructors,” Ringwood said. “Safety is in ITI’s (International Training Institute) curriculum, but now we get to practice it firsthand.”

Throughout the new facility, safety is a large part of training. Architectural apprentices will work from the third floor level equipped with built up pitched roof designs that allow students to be tethered and wear safety harnesses to perform the task at hand.

“It’s safe, and they get the feeling of what it’s like to be tied off at 30 feet,” said Lance Clark, Local #105’s training center administrator. “It’s going to show me if they can cope with working on the building, being safe and handling materials and tools, the same conditions as in the field.”

The lab fills a niche in the sheet metal apprentice training. In the past, apprentices completed their fieldwork entirely on the job site. In the controlled environment of the lab, instructors can better guide apprentices, ensure their safety and knowledge of safety protocol and better evaluate their students, Ringwood said.

“It’s a major part, in my opinion, that’s been missing in our training – the job site conditions,” Ringwood added. “They have to build it inside. It’s a continual refreshing of the job site. They build it, install it, take it out, build it again under different conditions with obstacles we put in their way, and then install again under different conditions.”

The 5,000-square-foot lab, created inside the 75,000-square-foot established training facility, was in the planning stage for two-and-a-half years before getting the green light and receiving funding from the local training center. The space includes 30-foot ceilings and three floors. The first and second floors allow for the installation of HVAC equipment and ductwork from supply and return to diffuser systems. Although it will open to full capacity for the fall semester, the open house for the facility isn’t scheduled until the first of the year.

“It’s a building within a building. This has been done around the country to an extent, but this sets a whole new parameter to our training,” Ringwood said. “It’s fairly condensed because there’s a lot in these 5,000 square feet. But it allows for materials to be fork lifted into the job site for installation.”

For the industrial side, apprentices will measure, fabricate and install a spiral staircase from steel through the center of an octagon as well as remove, remake and reinstall safety handrails on permanent staircases. Architectural apprentices will experience the installation and building of louvers as well as ornamental column covers and decorative siding. Dramatic steep roof inclines – one at a 45-degree angle – allows for real-life experience installing copings and sheet metal roofing. It also allows for the installation of ornamental cathedrals, cupolas, dormers, church steeples and domes. Overhead concrete slabs were installed for training in drilling and powder actuated inserting. Apprentices and journeymen will install commercial expansion joints, sheet metal gutters will be built for radius fascia and compound mitered gutters and concealed gutters will also be fabricated and installed.

For the union, instead of testing a potential journeyman applicant on the job site, workers can be tested in the lab to prove their journeyman qualifications.

“They can measure the job, draw the job, fabricate the sheet metal products, install the sheet metal and meet specifications all in one place,” Ringwood added.

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in theUnited StatesandCanada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout theUnited StatesandCanada. Located inAlexandria,Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

Welding a viable option for women seeking life-long career

Three women talk about career, need for more females in sheet metal industry

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – When it comes to sheet metal welders, the adage “anything you can do, I can do better” isn’t a phrase of competition or ego. Women welders in the industry are the minority – by far – but a few of them are looking to show their male counterparts that when it comes to their craft, the question of who is the most talented is a toss-up.

Three women from across the United States took to welding at different times in their lives, all through the International Training Institute (ITI), the education arm of the unionized sheet metal industry. Misty Whaley of Conyears, Ga. is a single mom who wanted to provide for her family. Irais Gandarilla of Portland, Ore. always wanted to create metal sculptures, and she found a career she loves in the process. Rachel Koon of Charleston, SC followed her husband into the sheet metal industry and found her steady hands helped her earn a living at a career she enjoyed.

Although different, they each share a passion for welding as well as the empowerment and challenge it brings to them, not to mention the innate ability to not sit still.

“Women are known for paying attention to detail, and we’re not in a rush,” Whaley said. “It takes patience.”

Koon’s steady hands and patience have proven priceless in her newfound career. She participated in the concentrated welding program, an intense three-week class meant to fast track welders for large multi-year projects in the Southeast.

“A lot of women, when they think of this, they think it’s hot and sweaty and dangerous. It’s very safe,” said Koon, 22, who grew up on a farm and isn’t afraid of hard work and dirt. “It’s a great way to support your family, and I think if other women gave it a chance, they’d enjoy it as well.”

Gandarilla, 30, meets once a month with other female sheet metal workers as a sign of solidarity and sisterhood. In the fourth year of the industry’s five-year apprenticeship program, she takes every opportunity to learn and explore her creative side.

“We’re trying to break into a male-dominated field. Many guys think sheet metal is a man’s job, and it is, but it’s a woman’s job, too,” she said. “Every time I go to the training center, I know I’m going to get to fabricate and build. I love it. It’s dirty work, but I love it. For me, I’ve always wanted to build metal sculptures. I’ve always liked putting metal together to create art.”

Another similarity of these three women is they are all currently working. Gandarilla is working on the Sandy High School project in Sandy, Ore.; Whaley works as the only welder in the shop at Perimeter Sheet Metal in Georgia; and Koon is in the fabrication shop at Inter Mech in South Carolina.

With large projects coming up in the Southeast, as well as smaller jobs across the rest of the country, welding is a viable skill that can open doors to work, said Steve Kowats, quality assurance manager and industrial specialist for the ITI.

“Someone from the local community needs to recruit women and prepare them for welding in the trade,” Kowats added. “From my experience, women generally tend to approach any job with more forethought and are less likely to rush into the task as many men I have taught and worked with do. This isn’t to say that jumping in and getting it done does not have a place, which can be a lesson for anyone entering the construction trade – when to contemplate and when to get busy. Welding lends itself to careful planning.”

Needless to say, all three female welders said they would like to see more women in the industry, especially in welding, but they don’t think many know it’s a viable option.

“As a woman, I’m taking these amazing skills and applying them to a real job, real pension, real benefits. I can’t believe I can do this. Every day I walk away in awe. It’s hard work, but it’s fun,” Gandarilla said. “I can’t sit behind a desk. If other women find themselves saying ‘I worked on a project in the garden or at home,’ and they walked away from it feeling good, they need to be looking into this trade.”

The next concentrated welding program will take place from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 3-21 (Monday through Friday) at the Local 85 Training Center, 575 Fair Drive SW in Atlanta. The program is open to union members in good standing, and those interested can contact their local training center or Alan Still at 404-753-6466.

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in the United States and Canada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout the United States and Canada. Located in Alexandria, Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

Gene Kennedy inducted into ICB/TABB Hall of Fame

Chicago retiree awarded during ceremony at conference, 48-year career honored

John Hamilton, Howard Stein, ICB co-chair and Gene Kennedy, 2011 ICB/TABB Hall of Fame inductee.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Gene Kennedy, 2011’s inductee into the International Certification Bureau (ICB)/Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB) Hall of Fame, set out to be an electrical or mechanical engineer when he entered college, but just as many things in his life, he took a chance and it changed his path.

In 1961 at age 20, Kennedy left college to get married and took a summer job that eventually led him to the sheet metal industry. The right answer to the right person at the right time led him to the fabrication department at Haines Company, and he stayed on the bench for the next seven years.

“In those days, you had to make everything,” Kennedy said. “There was no buying fittings and such.”

As the industry evolved, items such as fittings were being manufactured and no longer needed creating in the shop. Kennedy didn’t feel challenged, and being the layout man became boring. Again, chance stepped in, and one day, he performed a repair on a whim, using what he knew of electrical components, and landed in the service department.

During this time, he completed a refrigeration course and started to recognize problems between refrigeration and airflow in the field. Around the same time, he ran into John Christie, the TABB Hall of Fame’s first inductee in 2003, who suggested he take the second testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) course ever offered in Chicago. From then, he was hooked.

“Every day my feet hit the floor I couldn’t wait to get to work. I know that sounds geeky or corny, but that’s the way it was,” Kennedy said. “You had to understand so much stuff.”

He went to work for Aero Testing and Balancing in 1992, and stayed there until he retired in 2008. In all, Kennedy worked three places during his career, including the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI).

“I don’t care how good you are, if you don’t have good people working for you, forget it,” Kennedy said.

Officially retired, Kennedy spends his time shuttling between grandchildren and teaching TAB classes at the training center at Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #73 in Chicago.

Receiving the ICB/TABB Hall of Fame award, “took my breath,” he said. “There are so many people who are knowledgeable in TABB, I’ve always felt I was at the tail end of these people. I’ve been driven by some of those names already in the hall of fame.”

His legacy? ICB/TABB, Kennedy said, is the future of the sheet metal industry as it is responsible for the health of the buildings. With “green” being a buzz word today, he suspects energy conservation will create more work for those interested in a career in testing, adjusting and balancing.

The ICB/TABB Hall of Fame began awarding inductions in 2003 with John M. Christie of Chicago and continued with Jack R. Webster of Westerville, Ohio in 2004; Thomas Wilton of Bayonne, NJ in 2005; Timothy Perry of Los Gatos, Calif. in 2006; Erik S. Emblem of Sacramento in 2007; Richard Wing of Branford, Conn. in 2008; Vincent A. Del Vacchio of Media, Pa. in 2009; and Mary Coffey of New Jersey in 2010.

ICB/TABB is the first program to gain ANSI (American National Standards Institute) accreditation for certification in the testing, adjusting and balancing industry. Certification is a statement that the technician, supervisor and contractor demonstrate the highest level of professional expertise.

For more information, call 703-739-7100 or visit www.icbcertified.org or www.tabbcertified.org.

Students earn top awards at annual Skills USA Conference

Partnership with sheet metal union raised awareness of industry education

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Skills USA’s 47th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference came to Kansas City, Mo. June 19-24 to shine the light on the nation’s best and brightest in trades from beauty technician to sheet metal work. The International Training Institute (ITI), the education arm of the unionized sheet metal and air conditioning industry, partnered with Skills USA to raise awareness of the ITI, with 3,000 students competing in the building trade categories on the high school and college levels.

Olivia Keech, 16, won gold in the high school sheet metal category – the second gold award for Delcastle Technical High School in Newport, Del. For the competition, the high school junior completed a written test and constructed a fitting.

“They said because I’m a junior I shouldn’t expect anything,” Olivia said. “You’re supposed to go get the experience (at the competition), go back as a senior and win. But I won, so I can come back next year and try to do it all again.”

As the only girl in her sheet metal class at school, Olivia was aware she was a minority in the competition. Only two females competed in the nationwide sheet metal competition. Olivia credits her teacher, John Fitzgerald, for helping her succeed.

“I figured out how special it was when people got excited (when I won),” she added. “I hope more girls come into the sheet metal trade.”

Barbara Keech sees how far the impact of her daughter’s win can reach in the community and the industry. Watching her 5-foot-6-inch blonde daughter stand next to large bearded men in the competition was a proud visual, she said.

“I am so excited for her,” Barbara Keech added. “She’s always liked to help my dad in his workshop, so it was right up her ally. I totally supported her. I’m so glad she found something she loves doing. It helps if you like what you do.”

This year marked the first time ITI co-sponsored the welding competition in order to educate students about secondary education and career training ITI can provide. The partnership between Skills USA and ITI allows for the exchange of information, so schools with Skills USA programs can reach out to the professional community for mentorship, expertise and guidance, while ITI can recruit from a talent pool that already understands and practices leadership skills. ITI has contacts at each of the students’ respective schools. The partnership also will eventually allow Skills USA to track their graduates through the sheet metal industry and check on their progress.

“We were impressed with the sheer amount of talent displayed at this year’s competition, especially in the sheet metal, HVAC and welding categories,” said Larry Lawrence, instructional development specialist with ITI. “With this caliber of young talent, and the partnership between Skills USA and ITI, the future of our industry is a bright one.”

In the high school sheet metal category, aside from Olivia’s gold win, Hunter Crook of Monroe, NC earned the silver and Alec Higgins of Jefferson, Iowa took home the bronze. In the college/post-secondary group, John Halwix of Elgin, Ill. received the gold award; Allen Travelstead of Fitzgerald, Ga. earned the silver; and Derek Daufeldt of Bettendorf, Iowa took the bronze.

In the HVAC high school category, Jeffrey Nelson of Palmer,Mass.earned the gold award; Christopher Kuhn of Oberlin, Ohio took the silver; and Bradley Higdon of Hollywood, Ala. won the bronze. In the college/post-secondary group, Connor Stidham of Henderson, Nev. earned the gold award; Robert Scott of Elizabethtown, Ky. won the silver; and Andrew Beckman of Norfolk, Neb. took the bronze.

In the high school team welding fabrication category, Jared Martinez, Brennan Clelland and Joshua Ellrod of Farmington, NM earned the gold award; Skeeter Judd, Aaron Jamerman and Joe Lake of Douglas, Wy. took the silver; and Kyle Alexander, Mason Hart and John Stratz of Cottonwood, Ariz. earned the bronze. In the college/post-secondary group, Austin Welch, Mike Montoya and Joseph Fournier of Price, Utah earned the gold award; Boaz Millar, Stephen Millar and Ricky Lovell of Sallisaw, Okla. took the silver; and Ryan Dauel, Brandon Versnon and Lucas Boshart of Lincoln, Neb. won the bronze.

In the high school welding category, Tim Saxton ofCambridge,Minn.earned the gold award; Kaleb Parsch of Attica, Mich. won the silver; and Evan Vogler of Petersburg, Ind. took the bronze. In the college/post-secondary group, Spartak Matvyeyenko ofSacramento,Calif.earned the gold award; Blake Parks of Torrington, Wy. took the silver; and Micah Hoover of Williamsport, Pa. received the bronze.

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in theUnited StatesandCanada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout theUnited StatesandCanada. Located inAlexandria,Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen. 

For more information about ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

For additional information about Skills USA, visit the website at www.skillsusa.org.

Sheet metal workers get educated to keep working

Testing, adjusting and balancing certification fills niche for Michigan workers

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Matt O’Rourke and Mike Stolber of Michigan took their sheet metal careers into their own hands when they made the decision to specialize in testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB). With the jobless rate in Michigan the sixth-highest in the nation, finding work was their job and they hoped TAB would be the niche they needed.

Both men are members of Sheet Metal Local #80 in Detroit, but O’Rourke is a fourth-year apprentice while Stolber is a seasoned journeyman. Other than their local, the men also had something else in common – the need to succeed and be happy doing it.

While they were laid off, they each enrolled in their first introductory TAB technician training course offered by the International Training Institute, the education arm of the unionized sheet metal and air conditioning industry. The training was made possible by a $5 million Energy Training Partnership grant awarded in 2010 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

The 120-hour class taught the theory of heat transfer, psychrometrics, related math formulas, proper procedural usage of instruments, development reporting and hands-on industry standard testing, adjusting and balancing techniques. From then, they were hooked.

“I got the temporary lay-off at the shop the same week they were offering the class. I wasn’t even sure there would be room,” O’Rourke said. “It fits my capabilities.”

Stolber was interested in TAB from the beginning. Not only did he complete the 120-hour TAB course, he went on to graduate from the TAB supervisor, and TAB commissioning supervisor courses.

“I’ve always been interested in it, and I took the course hoping it would help my job chances,” Stolber said. “In TAB, you learn more about how a system actually works instead of just doing ductwork.”

With their corresponding TAB certifications under their belts, O’Rourke and Stolber each found jobs at Enviro Aire Total Balance in St. Claire Shores, Mich., about 19 miles northeast of Detroit. Networking with instructors and fellow classmates helps in the job process following graduation, O’Rourke said.

“They gave me the basics of everything I do,” added O’Rourke, who has one more year of apprenticeship. “I’ve done a lot of learning on the job, and I’ve got a lot of learning to do, but they did a great job in my preparation. I try to encourage everybody to take classes. It’s not a quick fix. You may not find a job as soon as you graduate, but it’s something you’ll learn … and it looks good to potential employers.”

Unionized sheet metal workers in good standing can attend the TAB 120 course in Cleveland, St. Louis, Detroit and Southern California. Once participants finish the course, they will be given the opportunity to take the TAB technician written certification exam, which must be passed to move on to the hands-on performance portion. If all exam aspects are passed, participants can exit as a certified TAB technician.

“These are only two examples of how constant training and diversification can truly help sheet metal workers stay working,” said John Hamilton, chief operating officer of TABB (Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau). “Education will move any industry into the future, and it’s no different in sheet metal. These two men are examples of how dedication to your career and the ability to be flexible can really pay off.”

The next 120-hour TAB courses are set for Sept. 11 through Oct. 2 in St. Louis, and Oct. 9 through Oct. 30 in Southern California. The application deadlines are Sept. 1 and Sept. 29, respectively.

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in the United States and Canada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout the United States and Canada. Located in Alexandria, Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

International Training Institute, Skills USA partner to promote labor

National competition brings talent to Kansas City, awareness of sheet metal union

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Skills USA’s 47th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) returns to Kansas City, Mo. June 19-24 with a new partner in hand – the International Training Institute (ITI), the education arm of the unionized sheet metal industry. The championships, which consist of more than 5,500 young adults from across the country, will take place on June 23. At least 3,000 of those students are directly related to the building trades.

This year marks the first time ITI will co-sponsor the welding competition in order to raise awareness of the secondary education and career training the unionized sheet metal and air conditioning industry can provide. The partnership between Skills USA and ITI allows for the exchange of information, so schools with Skills USA programs can reach out to the professional community for mentorship, expertise and guidance while ITI can recruit from a talent pool that already understands and practices leadership skills. The partnership also will eventually allow Skills USA to track their graduates through the sheet metal industry and check on their progress.

“Skills USA teaches the skills we are looking for, and it’s not just welding,” said Larry Lawrence, instructional development specialist with ITI. “It’s a win-win for both sides. Students come out of Skills USA with the leadership skills, a working knowledge and their safety training.”

As a result of the economy, recruitment has been difficult, Lawrence said. Through the partnership with Skills USA, ITI will be able to recruit apprentices like college campuses recruit student athletes.

“Right now, we don’t know who we’re getting until they arrive,” he added. “We can get someone from a technical academy who has hands-on talent but no leadership skills. Or we can get someone who went to college and can’t apply what they’ve learned. In the Skills USA instance, most of their programs are industry-driven programs, and they have experts who advise the students, so we get the best of both worlds.”

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in theUnited States and Canada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout theUnited StatesandCanada. Located in Alexandria,Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about  ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

Events for this year’s conference will take place at the H. Roe Bartle Conference Center, the American Royal/Kemper Arena, the Municipal Auditorium and The Marriott, Phillips andCrownePlaza.

For additional information about the Skills USA’s National Leadership and Skills Conference, visit www.skillsusa.org/about/mediakit.shtml.

Secretary of Labor appoints union sheet metal administrator to committee

Batykefer represents employees, industry for first-ever sheet metal appointment

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Gary Batykefer, administrative director for the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Trust (SMOHIT), was one of eight new members appointed by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) on June 7. The 15-member committee meets twice a year. The eight newly appointed members will join seven current members.

This marks the first time a member of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) has been appointed to the committee. Batykefer is looking forward to taking his “seat at the OSHA table” and becoming involved in the decision making process regarding worker safety, he said.

“As a committee member, I hope to offer common sense ideas that benefit the worker without causing undue burden to the employers who employ construction workers,” Batykefer added. “This appointment is a testament to all sheet metal workers and the SMWIA who have engaged in creating a safety culture in our industry, and I would like to think that SMOHIT has been instrumental in promoting a culture of safety as a primary mission.”

Batykefer is one of five members to represent employees on the committee and will serve alongside Laurie A. Shadrick, training specialist for the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters; Erich J. (Pete)Stafford, director of safety and health for the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO; Frank L. Migliaccio, Jr., executive director of safety and health for the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, and Walter A. Jones, associate director of occupational safety and health for the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America. Other members of the committee represent the public, employers and state governments.

“The new ACCSH members possess a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience on a wide range of construction health and safety matters,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “I am confident these new members, representing the interests of labor, management, government and the public, will use their expertise to provide valuable advice and recommendations on important workplace safety and health issues. We share the goal of good, safe jobs for all American workers.”

The ACCSH has advised the assistant secretary for occupational safety and health on construction standards and policy matters for nearly 40 years. Additional information on the committee can be found at www.osha.gov/doc/accsh.

The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) was founded in 1986 to address the impact of decades-long asbestos exposure on those working in the sheet metal industry. To date, more than 55,000 sheet metal workers have been screened as part of its ongoing Asbestos Screening Program.

SMOHIT has since expanded its mission to include health and safety training products, health and safety training curriculum, and health and safety services. SMOHIT works directly with the International Training Institute (ITI) to offer the training programs.

For more information on SMOHIT visit www.smohit.org or call 703-739-7130.