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 unveiled its newly expanded 19,000-square-foot training center. “Sheet Metal Workers Local 71 committed to making the city of Buffalo our home in 2000,” said Paul…

The International Training Institute (ITI), working in collaboration with the Copper Development Association (CDA), facilitated a soldering certification class at the training center for the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers’ Local 28 in Jamaica, New York, Sept. 7-9. As a result of that class, 16 Local 28 members earned a total of 22 American Welding Society (AWS) soldering…

SMART Heroes graduated seven active-duty members of the United States Army and one veteran from its program Dec. 3 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…

Six active-duty members of the United States military and three veterans graduated as the 25th class of the SMART Heroes program’s Western Washington location Monday, Dec. 6, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont. The graduates represented the ranks of the United States Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps and include Sgt. Titus Howard, Army; Corp. Juan…

Ted Kuczynski’s life set out on its course from the moment he joined Sheet Metal Workers Local 18’s apprenticeship program in 1971. He began teaching part time soon after his apprenticeship graduation in 1976. On the job, he took an interest in industrial ventilation and enjoyed his time at Butters-Fetting, a mechanical contractor in Milwaukee, working “on…

As the millennium appeared on the horizon, International Training Institute (ITI) leadership knew a change in training was needed for instructors and apprentices. For apprentices, the curriculum in place wasn’t matching the zeitgeist of the sheet metal industry in the mid- to late 1990s. The core curriculum was created to train sheet metal workers in overall industry…

SMART Heroes graduated nine veterans of the United States Army and one Air Force veteran from its program Friday, Oct. 1, at Fort Carson’s Freedom Performing Arts Center, 1129 Specker Ave. in Colorado Springs. In order to graduate, service members completed a seven-week course at Sheet Metal Workers Local 9 in Colorado Springs to earn the equivalent of their…

Eleven active members of the United States military and two veterans graduated as the 24th class of the SMART Heroes program’s Western Washington location Monday, Oct. 4, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont. The graduates represented the ranks of the United States Air Force and Army and include Spc. Jeremiah Biggs, Army; Spc. Robert Carlin, Army; Sgt.…

The first Ventilation Verification Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) pilot course for training coordinators and instructors was offered via virtual platform by the International Training Institute (ITI), the educational arm of the unionized sheet metal industry, May 25-27. The course was led by Cary Norberg, ITI field staff representative, with the help of ITI service and testing,…