Shot of a engineer using a digital tablet on a construction site

Digital curriculum opens up learning to all members

Nothing is built and installed in the sheet metal industry without plans and specifications (or specs). Where a piece of duct fits into a plan, how the ventilation is created and where the fine details of a decorative hood belong in a project are all designed according to plan. And for decades, those plans —…
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Coordinators Conference hosted in person for first time since 2019

The International Training Institute (ITI) held its annual Coordinators Conference Aug. 11-12 at the Hilton in Union Square, San Francisco, just as the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Leadership Conference wrapped up at the same venue. The ITI staff and approximately 70 coordinators convened in person for the first time since 2019, and…
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SMART Heroes graduates members of Army, Marine Corps, Air Force in 31st class

Four veterans and seven active-duty members of the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps graduated from the SMART Heroes program’s Western Washington location Monday, Nov. 21, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont. Graduates included Staff Sgt. Kendrick Smythe, Air Force veteran; Sgt. Brennen Lindberg, Marine Corps veteran; Sgt. Anthony Moye, Army; Spc. Jake Bauchert, Army; Sgt.…
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SMART Heroes marks fifth anniversary, celebrates 30th class of graduates

Seven active-duty members of the U.S. Army graduated as the 30th class of the SMART Heroes program’s Western Washington location Monday, Sept. 26, at 2725 Williamson Place, in DuPont. This graduation also marked the program’s fifth anniversary. Graduates included Spc. Abraham Bibeau, Spc. Hector Cardenas, Sgt. Shane Erickson, Spc. Andrew Houry, Sgt. Tyler Petersen, Sgt. Zachery Simpson…
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Colorado SMART Heroes graduates eight soldiers to sheet metal apprenticeship

Eight members representing the ranks of the U.S. Army graduated the SMART Heroes program’s Colorado location Friday, Sept. 30, at Sheet Metal Workers Local 9, 1420 Quail Lake Loop in Colorado Springs. The graduates included Spc. Grayson Collins, Sgt. Sergio Guzman, Spc. Kelly Hagerman, Spc. Ethan Marshall, Spc. Myles Nickelsen, Spc. Jennifer Recendes, Sgt. 1st Class Billy Reniva and…
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Headshot of David St. Peter

ITI names Illinois instructor new director of research, development and technology

The International Training Institute (ITI), the educational arm of the unionized sheet metal industry, has welcomed David St. Peter, of Sheet Metal Workers Local 265 in Carol Stream, Illinois, as its new director of research, development and technology. Even though he comes from a sheet metal family — his father and two older brothers are now retirees…
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Welding Booths

Local 104 to open new, state-of-the-art training center

Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 Bay Area Industry Training Fund is scheduled to open a new training facility Oct. 1. The new 32,000-square-foot facility was renovated from an existing warehouse space in Livermore, California, to a state-of-the-art training center, replacing the aging training center in San Leandro about 20 miles away. Although similar in size to…
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Colorado SMART Heroes program graduates standing by SMW logo

Colorado SMART Heroes program graduates active-duty military, veterans

In its third year operating in Colorado, SMART Heroes graduated one veteran and eight active-duty members of the United States Army from its program Friday, Aug. 5, 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…
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Attendees at the hand-held laser welder training standing together

Instructors train on hand-held laser welders for first time thanks to ITI grants

Representatives from 10 training centers for the International Training Institute (ITI), the educational arm of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers, attended the first hand-held laser welder training the week of May 2 at Local 88 in Las Vegas. Representatives included training directors and instructors from the first set of centers awarded an ITI grant…
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Dushaw Hockett facilitating the course.

ITI hosts Bias and Belonging for Coordinators training

A new class offered to International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) training coordinators is designed to aid in the fight against problems with implicit bias in the workplace and beyond. The course, Bias and Belonging for Coordinators, is facilitated by Dushaw Hockett, founder and executive director of SPACES — Safe Places…
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