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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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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Head shot of Mike Harris

Harris assumes helm at International Training Institute

Michael Harris, a longtime staffer at the International Training Institute (ITI), has taken the reins as its administrator. A second-generation sheet metal worker, Harris got his first taste of the industry at age 16 when he spent the summer working in a sheet metal shop. Initially opting for college, Harris later changed course and worked in a…
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Feb 2022 Smart Heroes Local 9 graduates

Fort Carson soldiers graduate from first SMART Heroes class of 2022

SMART Heroes graduated six active-duty members of the United States Army and one veteran from its program Friday, Feb. 18, 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…
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Feb 202 WWSM graduates.

Army, Air Force members graduate from first SMART Heroes program of 2022

Six active-duty members of the United States military graduated as the 26th class of the SMART Heroes program’s Western Washington location Monday, Feb. 14, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont. Graduates represented members of the U.S. Army and Air Force and included Spc. Tyler Foster, Army; Senior Airman Wylie Jaggli, Air Force; Staff Sgt. Dan Mobilio, Army;…
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Ariel shot of Local 71

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 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…
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Picture of a soldering class with students and a teacher having a conversation.

ITI, CDA host soldering training for sheet metal workers in New York

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…
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SMART Heroes graduates standing together for a picture.

SMART Heroes prepares Colorado soldiers for civilian careers

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…
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