Sheet Metal Workers Local 80 soldering class aerial photo of members in the workshop

Detroit sheet metal workers gather to learn, certify soldering skills

The International Training Institute (ITI), the education arm of the unionized sheet metal and air conditioning industry, and the Copper Development Association (CDA) recently facilitated a soldering certification class for members of Sheet Metal Workers Local 80 in Detroit. The class, heavily requested by local contractors, certified 23 members (11 of which were local apprentices). Contractors requested the class because…
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Headshot of Ron McGuire

McGuire takes new role as ITI program administrator

Ron McGuire said he knows he has some really big shoes to fill in his new position as program administrator for the International Training Institute (ITI), the education arm of the unionized sheet metal industry, following in the footsteps of Mike Harris, who was promoted to the role of administrator as of Jan. 1. “Mike did such…
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Western Washington SMART Heroes graduating class all standing in a line for a photo

Twenty-eighth class graduates Western Washington SMART Heroes program

Upon completing a condensed training period designed to prepare them for a civilian career in sheet metal, four active-duty members of the United States military graduated from the SMART Heroes program’s Western Washington location Monday, June 6, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont. The graduates represented the ranks of the United States Army and include Sgt. Michael…
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Man holding a white board with "in loving memory" written for Carrie Barber.

Recent sheet metal grad shares ‘I got your back’ story from her apprenticeship

Chelsey Bus recently graduated from her apprenticeship at Local 16 in Portland, Oregon. During her five years of training, she experienced much of the same adversity other women have faced in the trades. Although the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers has made great strides to recruit and retain women,…
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A picture of a ventilation verification assessment.

ITI ramps up train-the-trainer courses for Ventilation Verification for IAQ curriculum

The results from a ventilation verification assessment can advise anything from new equipment to minor adjustments such as higher-grade filters. The Ventilation Verification for Indoor Air Quality curriculum took another step earlier this year when the ITI hosted eight training instructors at its first train-the-trainer course at Sheet Metal Workers Local 359 in Phoenix. It…
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Graduating class at Local 9.

Active-duty Army soldiers graduate from Colorado SMART Heroes program

SMART Heroes graduated 10 active-duty members of the United States Army from its program Friday, April 15, at the training center of Sheet Metal Workers Local 9, 1420 Quail Lake Loop in Colorado Springs. In order to graduate, service members completed a seven-week course at the center to earn the equivalent of their first-year sheet metal…
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International Training Institute welcomes two to field staff

Joe Potesta, of Indianapolis, and Craig Reehten, of St. Louis, were selected earlier this year for two positions on the field staff of the International Training Institute (ITI), the education arm of the unionized sheet metal, air conditioning and welding industry. Potesta will serve on the welding team, working to educate instructors and training directors…
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27th SMART Heroes class posing for a picture

Veterans, active-duty military graduate from 27th SMART Heroes class

Five active-duty members and three veterans of the United States military graduated as the 27th class of the SMART Heroes program’s Western Washington location Monday, April 11, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont. Graduates represented members of the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps and included Sgt. Chris Ashby, veteran, Marine Corps; Cpl. Jacob Cooper, veteran, Marine…
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Screenshot of AutoCAD class

Local 7 launches remote AutoCAD class thanks to student licenses

Remote learning has only been the latest progression Darek Scarlavai has overseen as training coordinator at Sheet Metal Workers Local 7 in Michigan. Now, with the flexibility afforded by student licenses for AutoCAD through Autodesk’s Membership Training Provider (MTP) program, he has launched a hybrid approach that combines live Zoom instruction, recorded sessions and self-paced learning, offering flexibility and…
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Man using technology

The ITI Turns 50: Embracing innovation

Technology is traditionally a good predictor — it can identify what innovations are on the way and how the industry will use them to teach apprentices and journey people in the future. Asking technology to predict the next 50 years is a tall order, but if the past is any indicator, the one thing safe…
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