Education

Heavy Metal Summer Experience introduces youth to sheet metal

California, Washington union training centers welcome students on interactive tours Each high school student touring the Western Washington Sheet Metal training center on July 13 left with a miniature Jeep…

Code Central introduces young women to coding, robotics

Female instructors demonstrate possibilities computer science can offer Almost two centuries ago, Lady Ada Lovelace, a young English mathematician who published her programming instructions in 1843, became the first person…

Dale Clark joins ITI as OSHA specialist

Second-generation union sheet metal worker Dale Clark began work on Jan. 1 as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specialist, a new position created to oversee health and safety classes…

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…

Speakers Bureau signs Renaissance man Prince Lorenzo de’ Medici

Banker, philanthropist, designer is descendent of historic House of Medici LAS VEGAS – Bruce Merrin’s Celebrity Speakers Bureau has reached an agreement to represent noted Italian artist, philanthropist, international investor,…

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…

Local business owner writes, illustrates children’s book

Raffi’s childhood experiences, creative outlook retold in whimsical metaphor LAS VEGAS – Alex Raffi, local author, artist and business owner, has written and illustrated “The Sound of Laughing Rabbits,” a…

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…

SMOHIT welcomes new administrative assistant, Abigail Livingston

Abigail Livingston recalls that the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was a strange time to get a new job as administrative assistant for the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT), but…

MGM fire 40th anniversary: The state of fire life safety

Smoke billowed into the blue sky above a 1980-version of the Las Vegas skyline on a crisp Nov. 21 morning. The cloud was coming from the MGM, which is now…

Summer road trip challenge shares local history highlights

Henderson Historical Society takes license plate on a tour through town HENDERSON, Nev. –The Henderson Historical Society has set out on a virtual summer road trip challenge to share many…

ITI program helps apprentices access online content throughout pandemic

When the pandemic hit, training centers had to find ways to continue education online for apprentices. While first-year apprentices are assigned an iPad at the beginning of the school year…

ITI, Interplay Learning team up to bring hands-on, VR service training to SMART members

The ITI has partnered with Interplay Learning to bring hands-on training to members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) and apprentices across the country through a…

When COVID-19 hit, training at Local 105 got creative

Across the country, schools of all types are trying to figure out how to operate while keeping employees and students safe from COVID-19. Training centers — each with their own…

Children’s Growth Awareness Week to focus on growth disorders

The MAGIC Foundation boosts awareness, advocacy Sept. 13-19 CHICAGO – Height is nature’s early warning signal — a potential visual alarm for parents and physicians. Growth can be an overall…

Endorsements rolling in for District B CCSD trustee candidate

Jeff Proffitt draws support from community leaders, local unions LAS VEGAS – Endorsements continue to roll in support of Jeff Proffitt’s campaign for Clark County School District Trustee representing District…

Path to Washington fire life safety legislation packed with strategy, hard work

When going into any large project, a plan makes life infinitely easier. For years, Steve Musser, business agent for Western Washington Sheet Metal Local 66, was in search of a plan…

Expert in the unconscious helps people of all ages understand pandemic dreams

Vivid and frequently frightening pandemic dreams are a nightly occurrence for many during worldwide stay-at-home orders. Author/dream analyst Patricia Eltinge is helping people nationwide by discussing what those dreams are…

ITI doesn’t miss a beat putting courses online amid isolation orders

On a Friday spring afternoon, participants in the International Training Institute’s Fire Smoke Damper Technician and Fire Life Safety Level 2 for Instructors class played a game of Jeopardy before the end-of-the-week…

Former Nev. attorney general offers 1 million free book downloads

George Chanos provides free copies of “Millennial Samurai” during quarantine LAS VEGAS – Former Nevada Attorney General George Chanos is giving away 1 million free downloads of his newest book,…

Biannual conference is a true sign of Partners in Progress

The sheet metal Funds were well represented at the Partners in Progress Conference held Feb. 25-26 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The biannual labor-management event brings together SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and…

Local 40 lab video helps educate all to value of fire life safety

Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local Union 40 in Connecticut created its Fire Life Safety lab two years ago to share it with politicians, fire officials and other Sheet Metal, Air, Rail…

Fifth annual Safety Champions Conference set for March

The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) plans to host the 2020 Safety Champions Conference March 22-24 at the Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, 420 W. Market St. The conference continues SMOHIT’s…

California sheet metal veteran makes mentorship a priority

Once on the dentist track, Bob Dak’s career has served generations of apprentices CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. – Bob Dak was well on his way to a career in dentistry when…

Indiana apprenticeship focuses on service

Sheet Metal Workers Local 20 training centers in Gary and Evansville, Indiana, are meeting industry demand for more service specialists with new five-year service-specific apprenticeship programs. Sean Webb, who instructs general…

SMART Heroes second location celebrates first graduating class

SMART Heroes Local 9 in Colorado Springs celebrated its first graduating class Oct. 7. Three participants completed a seven-week course to earn the equivalent of their first-year sheet metal apprentice…

Celebrity Speakers signs world record Everest climber Apa Sherpa

Riveting speaker focuses attention on education, opportunities for his people LAS VEGAS – Bruce Merrin’s Celebrity Speakers Bureau has agreed to represent world record mountaineer and inspirational speaker Apa Sherpa…

SMART Heroes celebrates first graduation in Colorado

Three service members graduated during Oct. 7 ceremony Three members of the United States military graduated as the first class of the SMART Heroes program’s Colorado location Oct. 7 at…

Sheet metal’s top Testing, Adjusting, Balancing honor goes to Davor Novosel

Davor Novosel, retired National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC) chief technology officer, was recently inducted into the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB) Hall of Fame during the 2019 International Certification Board (ICB)/TABB Conference…

SMART Heroes graduates 39 new members in first half of 2019, announces second location

The first half of 2019 was a busy time for the SMART Heroes program, located at Western Washington Sheet Metal near Seattle. The program graduated 39 new sheet metal apprentices during three seven-week sessions,…