Apprentices

Sisters are ‘total opposites’ but feel right at home in apprenticeship

Arias sisters are second-, fourth-year apprentices at Sheet Metal Workers Local 88 LAS VEGAS – When Ruby Arias had some trouble passing the apprenticeship exam at Sheet Metal Workers Local…

A picture or Antonette Ventura wearing protective gear and working in a sheet metal lab.

Reservist returns from deployment to sheet metal apprenticeship

Staff sergeant recalls the support union leadership showed during deployment Staff Sgt. Antonette Ventura’s path to becoming a sheet metal journey person took an unexpected detour when she was deployed…

Local 71 expands training center, state-of-the-art equipment

This summer, months after the planned ribbon cutting was derailed by COVID-19, Local 71 of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers in Buffalo, New York, formally…

Oklahoma instructor promoted to national role in sheet metal union

Local 124’s training coordinator chosen to instruct trainers, build curriculum Trent London, a second-generation sheet metal worker and longtime training coordinator at Sheet Metal Workers Local 124, in Oklahoma City,…

Apprentice owes life to CPR, instructors at Local 20

When first-year apprentice John Walker returned to Sheet Metal Workers Local 20’s Indianapolis training center after lunch in January, he didn’t feel well — his legs were shaking, he was lethargic…

Minnesota sheet metal workers create opportunities with new learning lab

The pandemic didn’t slow down progress at Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Beginning in March 2020, construction began on the training center’s new 3,700-square-foot commercial…

Tale of two cities: reopening sheet metal training centers in 2020

There are more than 140 union sheet metal training centers in the United States and Canada, and they vary in size — from city to rural, a few dozen apprentices…

Local 7 apprentices, leadership help Michigan residents after May flood

While cooped-up residents were getting ready for the first signs of summer, residents of Sanford, Michigan, were picking up the pieces and sweeping away mud and water to see what…

Sheet metal locals share hosting duties for Mid-Atlantic state competition

Sheet metal locals in the Mid-Atlantic states came together May 2-4 at Local 27 in Farmingdale, New Jersey, to share camaraderie and competition during the region’s annual contest. Participating locals…

Northwest Apprentice Contest welcomes students from seven states

For the third year, sheet metal apprentices, coordinators, instructors, business managers and contractors came together in Portland, Oregon, for the Northwest Apprenticeship Contest, which hosted sheet metal students from Washington,…

Indiana local hosts Ultimate Apprentice Contest

Indiana Sheet Metal Workers Local 20 apprentices from Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis, Lafayette, South Bend and Terre Haute competed in the Indiana Ultimate Apprentice Contest April 4-6 at the…

Atlanta hosts second year of regional contest

Atlanta played host to this year’s Region 3 Sheet Metal Apprentice Contest and welcomed 13 second-, third- and fourth-year apprentices from the Local 399 training center in South Carolina; Local…

Heroic apprentice saves life of fellow co-worker, mentor

A few days following the Fourth of July last summer, journeyperson Scott Hintz and Dan Hubbard, a third-year apprentice, were working in the industrial shop with fellow craftspeople at Doral Corporation…

Sheet metal workers to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week

Local 88 to participate in events to educate, highlight program benefits Nov. 12-13 Sheet Metal Workers Local 88 will participate in two events to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, which is…

SMART Heroes to graduate veterans into workforce

Program celebrated first year, sixth class Aug. 27 Fifteen members of the United States military graduated as the sixth class of the SMART Heroes program Aug. 27 at the Western…

Female sheet metal apprentice finds home in the shop, at work

Motivation, hard work makes Etimani stand out from the guys LAS VEGAS – Marina Etimani has bachelor’s and master’s degrees but the native American Samoan found her niche as a…

Indianapolis woman makes recruiting apprentices her mission

Rogers, a sheet metal apprentice, aims to introduce the trade she loves to others INDIANAPOLIS – If you happen to live in the Indianapolis area, and are approached by a…