FOCUS FUNDS T H E COMBINED C O M B I N E D NMAGAZINE E W S L E T T E FOR R F O ITI, R I TSMOHIT I , S M O H IAND T A N NEMI-NEMIC D NEMIC THE

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Volume 8, Issue 1 • SPRING 2023

PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS

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PG. 6

SMART HEROES MARKS MORE THAN 500 GRADUATES,

FOCUS FUNDS THE COMBINED NEWSLET TER FOR ITI, SMOHIT AND NEMIC

ON

Volume 8, Issue 1 FOCUS on FUNDS is the combined magazine for the International Training Institute, Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust Inc., National Energy Management Institute Inc., and the National Energy Management Institute Committee

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3180 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 400 Falls Church, VA 22042 703.739.7200

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NEWS

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SAFETY

MATTERS NEVAD A

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QUARTERLY ITI QUARTERLY

INTRODUCTION Mike Harris

International Training Institute (ITI) Administrator

For as long as I can remember, joint apprenticeship training committees and funds (JATC/F) have claimed to produce well-rounded apprentices who can do a bit of everything, from layout to architectural, welding to CAD. But what many of them forget is that only approximately 10% of an apprentice’s education happens in the training center.

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Pause for a moment and take that in — 10%. A majority of apprenticeship programs have around 200 hours of related instruction, although it can vary, with about 1,800 available working hours of on-the-job training. This means the other 90% of an apprentice’s skillset is determined by what they learn, and who they learn from, on the job site. This means that the JATCs need to really consider what they are teaching during the 10% of the time they’re in school. Apprentices should be learning skills, procedures and protocols they aren’t already learning at work. And the time they spend on the job site should be spent learning skills, procedures and protocols necessary to complete the projects at hand. If more outdated skills are being taught than new skills that are needed in the marketplace, or vice versa, then the training model may not be as efficient, or effective, as it could be. How do you find the balance? The first step is communication between the JATC and all of its contractors. One of the first things all involved need to realize is neither party is in this alone. A contractor’s role and that of the training staff are vital to the evolution of an apprentice. Find out what projects contractors are working on and bidding, what they’re currently teaching apprentices on the job and what skills are needed going forward. Maybe the JATC needs to teach apprentices a specific skill they’ll need months down the road or maybe the contractor will determine that it is something that would be better taught as part of the apprentices’ on-the-job training. Working together is the first way to make sure your apprentices are getting the most out of their education, thus ensuring the industry is getting the highly skilled workforce that it needs. Once you know what is being taught 90% of the time, coordinators and instructors can better lay out the training required during the 10% of the training time that they are in school. As a JATC, you need to know your why! Why are you teaching what you’re teaching? Why do apprentices need to learn one skill over another? If you’re teaching what could be considered an outdated skill for your specific marketplace, why, and what could replace it? Who are you recruiting and what is the makeup of your apprenticeship? See how I threw that last question in there? It seems out of place, but it really isn’t. Who is in your apprenticeship

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is just as important as what is being taught to them. And it is important for JATCs to take a good look at entry requirements to determine if they are restricting applicants who could be beneficial to our industry. For instance, some JATCs require a driver’s license for apprenticeship acceptance, but who are you excluding? The National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards for Sheet Metal Workers, which have been approved by the Department of Labor, recommends a driver’s license, but if an apprentice has reliable transportation — rideshare, bus, family driver, etc. — why does not having a driver’s license exclude them from the apprenticeship if all other skills and protocols are met? A recommendation allows a JATC to decide. A requirement takes away the freedom of choice. A JATC could have the best candidate who doesn’t hold a driver’s license and, no matter what, that apprentice is inadmissible due to the driver’s license requirement. So, simply changing one word in your apprenticeship standards could open up the ability to a larger applicant pool in the future, and this is just one example. This is why I want to encourage all JATCs to examine the language in their apprenticeship standards regarding entry requirements and know the “why” behind them. Sometimes, requirements can handcuff you to decisions against your judgment. For instance, instead of requiring a driver’s license, you could give extra points to those who have one. There’s a balance between allowing anyone to apply and creating a welcoming environment where most people can apply. It gives JATCs flexibility. Over the years, I’ve known some really intelligent people who tested really well on the apprenticeship entrance exam and didn’t make it through the apprenticeship. I’ve also known people who struggled to pass the entrance exam and later became excellent sheet metal workers and leaders in the industry. With the number of mega-projects around the country, and the people who are needed to complete them, JATCs could be missing out on the next great apprentice if the doors aren’t open wide enough or they’re not teaching the skills they’ll need to succeed. So, who are you teaching and why?

TO PLAN THE FUTURE

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry In times of historic change, where outside events often outpace our ability to deal with them, having a strategic plan that is nimble, dynamic and proactive is more important than ever. That was the thinking behind three days of Funds’ strategic planning workshops held Feb. 8-10 in Austin, Texas. Or, as ITI Administrator Mike Harris put it, “Strategic planning meetings are invaluable to an organization, as they serve as a venue for all the associated stakeholders to assess where the organization has been, where it currently is and the direction it needs to focus on and move toward the future.” Each day-long session was devoted to a single Fund and facilitated by Clark Ellis and Nathan Scott, co-principals of Continuum Advisory Group, a management consulting firm specializing in transforming the worldwide building and construction industry through “revolutionary innovation.” Participants included Funds administrators and staff; highlevel leadership from the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA); and other stakeholders representing the organized sheet metal industry. In the weeks prior to the planning sessions, the facilitators conducted interviews with attendees and distributed survey questions in an effort to identify the top three areas of strategic focus, as well as the strengths and opportunities for improvement of each Fund. The answers were used as a reference for deeper discussions and analysis during the actual sessions. During the three session days, each workshop observed a similar interactive, team-building format, starting with brief introductions of team members, along with ice breakers in which attendees revealed an interesting and little-known kernel of information about the person sitting next to them.

Next came a detailed presentation outlining the context of today’s construction industry, which includes tens of billions of investment dollars in initiatives such as electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants, on-shore microchip fabrication, e-commerce infrastructure and more, as a result of the passage of recent federal legislation. Additionally, major sector market trends over the last five years were discussed, with particular emphasis on the areas of highest growth, such as public safety, water supply, sewage and waste disposal, health care, commercial and manufacturing. Together, these historic numbers are a double-edged sword, in that they present a generational opportunity for growth but could overwhelm the capabilities of the sheet metal industry if the proper preparations and resources are not in place, particularly in the area of a skilled and trained workforce.

ITI QUARTERLY

LEADERSHIP GATHERS

The presentation was followed by a comprehensive review of and conversation about each Fund’s current mission statement, leading to validation of some parts of the statement and updates to others. Workshops followed in goal-setting, measurements and strategy development and ended with consensus from the participants and a dialogue about next steps. They will include identifying the appropriate teams to finalize strategies, develop action plans, establish a review and approval process for the final strategic plan and identify ways to implement the plan. Feedback from participants was positive. SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger, who attended all three sessions, summed it up best: “It was great to participate in the strategic planning sessions for ITI, [the National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC)] and [the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT)]. Labor and management are actively working together to meet our challenges and could not have a better working relationship. The national Funds have a large role in meeting workforce needs and capturing new markets.”

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SMART Heroes cohorts from Local 9 in Colorado Springs celebrate their March graduation.

SMART HEROES MARKS MORE THAN 500 GRADUATES,

PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS As of March, the SMART Heroes program has successfully graduated more than 500 veterans and current military members from its programs in Washington and Colorado. With an average retention rate of about 55%, Josh Moore, SMART Heroes coordinator for the ITI, said it’s a solid number but one that could use some work. “We would definitely like to see that [retention rate] number go up, but it’s what we expected,” Moore said. “We’re happy with that number — over half are staying in the trade — but we always want to improve on that.” Moore, who was hired late last year to oversee the SMART Heroes program, said his position was created to help SMART Heroes succeed. This includes knocking down obstacles between veterans and a career in sheet metal, which Moore accomplishes by tracking the graduates once they leave the program and ensuring they are connected with training coordinators in their areas. Once graduates finish the SMART Heroes program, they can choose from limited apprenticeship spots in SMART Heroes locations in Western Washington and Colorado, travel back to their hometowns or choose to go somewhere else to continue their apprenticeships, Moore said. “We would like veterans to relocate, if they can, to places such as Memphis, where large projects are taking place,” he said.

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Moore is working with training programs to make sure they are registered with the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program (VR&E), formerly the vocational rehab program. If a training center has ever had a veteran in its apprenticeship program, or if it’s affiliated with a community college, it has a facility code, which is needed to register with Veterans Affairs (VA). This registration makes it possible for veterans to receive post-9/11 or VR&E benefits. “I think what all veterans bring to the trade is leadership, the ability to adapt to any situation and adapt to stress,” Moore said. “I think we’re finding veterans are more accepting of those things due to their previous experiences.” Launched in August 2017 in Washington, the SMART Heroes program was established to provide free sheet metal industry training to enlisted U.S. military men and women who plan to enter civilian life within the year, thereby assisting in a successful transition into the civilian workforce. The second location in Colorado Springs began offering the same training in August 2019. In order to graduate, participants complete a sevenweek course to earn the equivalent of their first-year sheet metal apprentice training (224 hours). Upon discharge from service, these graduates may choose to receive direct entry and advanced placement as a second-year sheet metal apprentice at 148 SMART apprenticeship programs in the United States.

LOCAL 85 IN ATLANTA PREPARES

TO OPEN NEW, EXPANDED TRAINING CENTER Sheet Metal Workers Local 85’s current training center in Atlanta beckons new apprentices on their website, urging “get your sheet together.” Their new state-ofthe-art apprenticeship training center, slated to open in August, makes that call even more enticing. Local 85 has not expanded its training center since 1986. Members voted to approve an expansion that will double its size. “The training center was bursting at the seams,” said Alan Still, the local’s director of apprentice training. The new facility will have seven classrooms, up from three, and will include a new laser welder, 40 welding booths, virtual welders, a computer lab for Revit and CAD instruction, a plasma table, power brakes and power sheers. The virtual welders and laser welder were provided thanks to a grant from the ITI. “The sheet metal shop will be the size of the current building,” Still said. “We will be able to spread out a

ITI QUARTERLY

The new facility was recently toured by Local 85 membership, including, from left, Mike Patron, Local 85 president; Alan Still, training director; March Prince, journeyperson with R.F. Knox Co.; Wesley Ricks, apprentice at BHW; David Pruitt, journeyperson with R.F. Knox Co.; Landru Buckelew, journeyperson with BHW; and Steve Langley, Local 85 business manager.

lot more, increase our industrial training, and it will provide us with a dedicated testing, adjusting and balancing [TAB] lab, which we desperately needed.” Local 85’s new TAB lab will be the only certified TAB lab in the southeast region, and the hope is that the local’s partnership with the ITI will increase the reach of this training center into a regional facility, broadening its market share. “We have a lot of TAB signatory contractors, so increasing our ability to certify more members is going to allow our contractors to increase market share and drastically improve our recruiting of new apprentices and increase opportunities for our workforce,” Still said. Local 85 has been training apprentices and journeypersons since the 1940s, and apprentices in the program have been involved in the construction of some of the biggest projects in Georgia, including the Georgia Aquarium, State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Truist Park.

SPRING 2023

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ITI QUARTERLY

ITI ADDS TRAINING HISTORY TO WEBSITE As requested by many training coordinators over the years, the ITI has added a feature on its website that will allow them to view the online training history completed by their members for ITI online classes. JATC coordinators can log into the ITI’s website, and in the available options section, they will click on view JATC member online training history.

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By selecting this option, they will be taken to a screen where they can select their JATC, which will populate a grid of all their members who have completed ITI online training. The grid can be filtered by member number, class title, completed date and final grade. For the sake of convenience, the grid is also exportable to Excel.

BE4ALL IS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN “Be4All is our strategic plan,” SMART General President Joseph Sellers told Dushaw Hockett during a recent “Talking SMART” podcast. Hockett, who was acting as special guest host of the episode, is the founder and executive director of Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity (SPACEs), a Washington, D.C.based organization working with SMART, SMACNA and ITI to implement the Belonging and Excellence for All (Be4All) initiative.

Be4All has become a central part of the sheet metal culture which aims to foster a welcoming work environment for all members. As part of the program, SMART launched a series of toolbox talks in January. The bimonthly talks are issued to local unions, contractors, training centers, members and others. They are intended to be read aloud at job sites, union meetings and other group settings. Members can access current and archived Be4All Toolbox Talks in the “resources” section on SMART’s website. The January Toolbox Talk, “On Being a Good Crewmate,” focused on the importance of positive mentorships, formal or informal, and how those relationships on the job site have been linked to better productivity and fewer injuries. “Studies have shown that new employees, including apprentices, who receive support and mentorship, are twice as likely to complete their training and remain successfully employed,” as stated in the first toolbox talk. “A positive work environment has been shown to alleviate stress not only on the job site but in other areas of life as well.” The second Toolbox Talk in the series, “Effective Communication,” focuses on ways to resolve conflict on the job. Placing an emphasis on empathy instead of blame is a central tenet of effective communication. The episode also stresses that effective communication is a “learned skill, just like anything in our trade, and it takes practice.”

“BE4ALL envisions a sheet metal industry where all workers and contractors feel seen, heard and welcomed,” Hockett said. “To achieve this vision, it is not enough to talk about it. We have to build it.” The Be4All Toolbox Talks are one way SMART, SMACNA and ITI are working to build it. But Be4All isn’t meant or designed to be a quick fix, Hockett said. This is “forever work,” he added, noting that to truly transform an entire industry, it will take years. The Be4All committee, which consists of diverse members and leaders throughout SMART, including apprentices, journey-level members and union officials, makes recommendations to SMART leadership. The leadership and committees for SMART and SMACNA meet quarterly with the ITI to plan and coordinate Be4All activities across the industry.

ITI QUARTERLY

Aaron Hilger, SMACNA CEO, and Angie Simon, SMACNA immediate past president, joined Sellers on the podcast, and the group discussed the Be4All initiative.

The human side is about creating work environments that are welcoming and belonging for everyone served in this industry. The business side is about creating a thriving industry where workers and contractors are working to the highest standards of excellence. The toolbox talks are just one of the strategies used to accomplish both of these sides.

Click here to download the Be4All 2023 calendar. The Be4All committees are dedicated to doing the work and set annual benchmarks to ensure they are making progress. Hilger said embracing diversity and inclusion is not just a matter of good business sense in the sheet metal trade, it is a matter of survival in a highly competitive industry where finding qualified workers is an ongoing challenge. “Our industry is becoming more diverse and the union and the contractors that embrace that trend will be the group that wins the war of workforce development,” he said.

Each toolbox talk includes exercises and examples those leading the talk can use to discuss the topics. The presentations also ask for participant feedback and include a link to a survey about the talk. There are two sides to the Be4All program, Hockett said.

SPRING 2023

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ITI QUARTERLY

The first Bias and Belonging Train-the-Trainer course was offered in the fall and four are scheduled for 2023.

BIAS AND BELONGING

TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSE OFFERED THROUGHOUT 2023 The three-day Train-the-Trainer course for Bias and Belonging will be offered to instructors four times throughout 2023 with the first hosted in April. Since debuting in September 2022, the training has been widely hailed as an effective and necessary introduction to the science of implicit bias. Dushaw Hockett, founder and executive director of Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity (SPACEs), will be leading all of the three-hour online sessions and facilitated the first training of the year in April. Tammy Meyen and Dale Clark, both ITI field representatives, will take over and teach the remaining three sessions. Ron McGuire, ITI program administrator, said feedback from the courses so far has been very positive. “I think it really gets your mind going about this,” McGuire said. “Makes you really think about your responses and how others may feel or think.” Examining preconceived notions and implicit bias, which tend to form and lay below the surface of awareness, is

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helpful on many levels. Learning about these typical human mindsets can help you overcome them, leading to better decision-making as well as becoming a better, more informed person. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the science and learn about strategies and interventions for the reduction and interruption of implicit bias. Training is open to instructors whose coordinators have attended, or are scheduled to attend, the Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors class prior to the date of the train-the-trainer course. These classes will take place at ITI headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. Instructors in attendance will be required to deliver a three-hour Bias and Belonging training at their local training center within 60 days of completing the class, which should be arranged with the coordinator upon registration. Remaining class dates are June 13-15, Aug. 7-9 and Nov. 14-16 and each class is limited to 12 participants. Visit the Instructor Training Program – Professional Development section of the ITI website to apply.

CLASSES AVAILABLE The ITI course catalog is available below and online for the rest of 2023. Options include professional development as well as train-the-trainer courses such as Bias and Belonging, available in August. The ITI course catalog and list of online classes can be found on the ITI website at www.sheetmetal-iti.org.

Arrival

Departure

Days

Intro to Revit - Jan 3rd Start

1/3/23

1/26/23

Tu & Th

Online

Intro to Revit - Jan 4th Start

1/4/23

1/30/23

M&W

Online

Instructor Development 102-January 2023

1/8/23

1/13/23

M-Th

Falls Church

Basic Service Tech-Part 1

1/10/23

1/26/23

Tu-Th

7-9 pm

Online

VVIAQ Tech-Pt 1-January 2023

1/10/23

1/26/23

Tu & Th

7-9:30 pm

Online

OSHA 502-January 2023

1/23/23

1/25/23

M-W

9am-4:30pm

Online

Inventor/Fusion 360

1/31/23

2/2/23

M-F

10am-3:30pm

Online

Laser Welder Grant ProgramFebruary 2023

2/5/23

2/10/23

M-Th

Las Vegas

OSHA 500-February 2023

2/5/23

2/11/23

M-F

Falls Church

TotalTrack for Administrators 101-February 2023

2/14/23

2/17/23

Tu-F

New Coordinators Workshop

2/21/23

2/25/23

W-F

2/27/23

5/12/23

M-F

8pm-9:30pm

Online

2/28/23

3/2/23

Tu-Th

10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm

Online

Basic Service Tech-Part 2

3/5/23

3/12/23

M-Sat

St. Louis

VVIAQ Tech-Pt 2-March 2023

3/5/23

3/10/23

M-Th

St. Louis

TotalTrack for Administrators 102-March 2023

3/7/23

3/10/23

Tu-F

CWI 101-March 2023

3/11/23

3/19/23

Su-Sat

Instructor Development 101-February 2023 Vent Verification for IAQ-Pt 1-February 2023

Times

10am-3:30pm

Location

ITI QUARTERLY

Class

Online Falls Church

10am-3:30pm

Online Falls Church

SPRING 2023

11

ITI QUARTERLY

Class

12

Arrival

Departure

Days

TAB Learning 101

3/12/23

3/18/23

M-F

Phoenix

OSHA 501-March 2023

3/19/23

3/25/23

M-F

Falls Church

3/27/23

5/8/23

M

7:30-9:30pm

Online

3/28/23

3/28/23

T

1:00PM 4:00PM

Online

TAB Teachers and Teaching

4/2/23

4/8/23

M-F

St. Louis

Rigging and SpyderCrane Instr. Training-April 2023

4/2/23

4/8/23

M-F

Phoenix

OSHA 511

4/3/23

4/7/23

M-F

9am-4:30pm

Online

Intro to Revit

4/3/23

4/7/23

M-F

10am-3:30pm

Online

4/10/23

4/15/23

Tu-F

St. Louis

4/12/23

4/14/23

W-F

Falls Church

4/16/23

4/22/23

M-F

St. Louis

FSDT & SCST for Instructors

4/16/23

4/22/23

M-F

St. Louis

Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors

4/18/23

4/18/23

T

1:00PM 4:00PM

Online

Bluebeam/PlanGrid/BIM360

4/25/23

4/27/23

Tu-Th

10am-3:30pm

Online

CWI 201-(TS)-May 2023

5/7/23

5/13/23

M-F

Vent Verification for IAQ-Pt 1-May 2023

5/8/23

5/10/23

M-W

10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm

Online

OSHA 510-May 2023

5/8/23

5/12/23

M-F

9am-4:30pm

Online

TotalTrack for Instructors-May 2023

5/9/23

5/12/23

Tu-F

10am-4:30pm

Online

Plasma Table Fabrication Class

5/15/23

5/18/23

Tu,W

Cleveland

Laser Welder Grant Program-May 2023

5/21/23

5/26/23

M-Th

Las Vegas

Business Development/Service Academy Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors

Vent Verification for IAQ-Pt 2-April 2023 Bias and Belonging - Train the Trainer Architectural-Wall Cladding - IMP & SS

FOCUS on FUNDS

Times

Location

Las Vegas

Class

Arrival

Departure

Days

Times

Location

OSHA 503

5/22/23

5/24/23

M-W

9am-4:30pm

Online

Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors

5/23/23

5/23/23

Th

VVIAQ Tech-Pt 1-May 2023

5/30/23

6/15/23

Tu-Th

6/4/23

6/9/23

M-Th

Falls Church

6/13/23

6/15/23

Tu-Th

Falls Church

Lagging

6/4/23

6/11/23

M-Sat

St. Louis

Service Instructor Training

6/5/23

6/9/23

M-F

10 a.m.- noon & 2-4 p.m.

Online

Basic Service Tech for Instructors-Pt 1-June 2023

6/12/23

6/16/23

M-F

7-9 p.m.

Online

WIT 101

6/11/23

6/17/23

M-F

OSHA 502-June 2023

6/19/23

6/21/23

M-W

6/19/23

6/23/23

Tu-Th

Falls Church

6/19/23

6/23/23

Tu-Th

St. Louis

6/20/23

6/20/23

T

6/25/23

6/30/23

M-Th

Cleveland

WIT 201

6/25/23

7/1/23

M-F

Las Vegas

Advanced Instructor Development 201-301

6/27/23

6/31/2023

Tu-Th

Falls Church

WIT 301

7/9/23

7/15/23

M-F

Las Vegas

Service Manager

7/11/23

7/13/23

Tu-Th

TotalTrack for Administrators 101July 2023

7/11/23

7/14/23

Tu-F

TAB Learning 201

7/16/23

7/23/23

M-Sat

3D Scanner/Total Station/3D Printing Soldering Training/Certification Train-the-Trainer Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors Vent Verification for IAQ-Pt 2-June 2023

Online Online

Las Vegas 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

1-4 p.m.

10 a.m.- noon & 2-4 p.m. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Online

ITI QUARTERLY

Instructor Development 102-June 2023 Bias and Belonging - Train the Trainer

9:00AM 12:00PM 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm

Online

Online Online Phoenix

SPRING 2023

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ITI QUARTERLY

Class

Arrival

Departure

Days

OSHA 500-July 2023

7/16/23

7/22/23

M-F

AutoCad/ Fabrication

7/17/23

7/21/23

M-F

10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Online

7/20/23

7/20/23

Th

9 a.m.-noon

Online

7/23/23

7/30/23

M-Sat

St. Louis

Coordinators Conference

8/2/23

8/5/23

Th,F

Washington D.C.

Bias and Belonging - Train the Trainer

8/7/23

8/9/23

M-W

Falls Church

CWI 202 (TS Refresh)

8/6/23

8/12/23

M-F

Las Vegas

VVIAQ Tech-Pt 2-August 2023

8/6/23

8/11/23

M-Th

St. Louis

FSDT & SCST for Technicians-Part 1

8/8/23

8/24/23

Tu & Th

8/15/23

8/17/23

Tu-Th

8/15/23

8/18/23

T-F

8/19/23

8/27/23

Su-Sat

Falls Church

8/27/23

9/1/23

M-Th

St. Louis

9/5/23

11/17/23

M-F

Arch-Wall Cladding-MCM Systems

9/10/23

9/16/23

M-F

Business Development/Service Academy

9/11/23

10/16/23

M

OSHA 510-September 2023

9/18/23

9/22/23

M-F

Revit 2 - Intermediate

9/18/23

9/22/23

M-F

Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors

9/19/23

9/19/23

T

CWI 301 (WS)

9/24/23

9/30/23

M-F

Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors Basic Service Tech for Instructors-Pt 2-July 2023

Vent Verification for IAQ-Pt 1-August 2023 TotalTrack for Administrators 102-August 2023 CWI 101-August 2023 Mini-Splits and VRV/VRF for Instructors Instructor Development 101-September 2023

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FOCUS on FUNDS

Times

Location Falls Church

7-9 p.m. 10 a.m.- noon & 2-4 p.m. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

8-9:30 p.m.

Online Online Online

Online St. Louis

7:30-9:30 p.m. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 1-4 p.m.

Online Online Online Online Las Vegas

Class

Departure

Days

10/2/23

10/7/23

Tu-F

Cleveland

10/8/23

10/14/23

M-F

Phoenix

OSHA 501-October 2023

10/8/23

10/14/23

M-F

Falls Church

FSDT & SCST for Technicians-Part 2

10/9/23

10/13/23

Tu-Th

St. Louis

TotalTrack for Instructors-October 2023

10/10/23

10/13/23

Tu-F

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Online

VVIAQ Tech-Pt 1-October 2023

10/10/23

10/26/23

Tu & Th

7-9:30 p.m.

Online

Edge Estimating for Architectural

10/16/23

10/18/23

M-W

10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Online

CWI 101-October 2023

10/21/23

10/29/23

Su-Sat

Falls Church

Direct Digital Controls

10/22/23

10/28/23

M-F

St. Louis

Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors

10/31/23

10/31/23

T

Advanced Service Technician

11/12/23

11/18/23

M-F

St. Louis

11/14/23

11/16/23

Tu-Th

Falls Church

11/28/23

11/28/23

T

VVIAQ Tech-Pt 2-December 2023

12/3/23

12/8/23

M-Th

Phoenix

WIT 401 (Grinding and Polishing)

12/3/23

12/9/23

M-F

Las Vegas

CWI 201-(TS)-December 2023

12/10/23

12/16/23

M-F

Las Vegas

Vent Verification for IAQ-Pt 2-October 2023 Rigging and SpyderCrane Instr. Training-October 2023

Bias and Belonging - Train the Trainer Bias and Belonging for Coordinators and Instructors

Times

9 a.m.-noon

1-4 p.m.

Location

Online

ITI QUARTERLY

Arrival

Online

SPRING 2023

15

REGION 3

ITI QUARTERLY

APPRENTICE CONTEST

16

Second-, third- and fourth-year apprentices competed in Region 3’s annual apprentice contest held March 2325, hosted by Sheet Metal Workers Local 4 in Memphis, Tennessee.

In the third-year apprentice category, Brandon Strunk, Local 32, placed first; Jonathan Barber, Local 4, took second place; and Turner Hawkins, Local 177, was in third place.

Thirty-six apprentices competed from Local 4 in Memphis, Tennessee; Local 5 in Knoxville, Tennessee; Local 15 in Tampa, Florida; Local 32 in Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida; Local 48 in Birmingham, Alabama; Local 85 in Atlanta, Georgia; Local 177 in Nashville, Tennessee; Local 441 in Mobile, Alabama; Local 399 in Charleston, South Carolina and Local 435 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Among the fourth-year apprentices, Jacob Biehl, Local 15, placed first; Ryan Davila, Local 435, placed second; and Andrew Brock, Local 5, took third place.

Apprentices competed in plans and specs, written exam, shop projects and welding, depending on their year of apprenticeship. Of the second-year apprentices, Jason Chiu, Local 85, took first place; Jay Smoot, Local 4, placed second; and Benjamin Cohen, Local 48, came in third place.

FOCUS on FUNDS

In addition, Region 3 holds a screw challenge for fun to see which apprentices can get the most #10 screws in a piece of duct within 45 seconds. Every year, competing locals have a chance to win the contest and bring the trophy — or in this case a belt — back to their locals. This year, fourth-year apprentice Kyle Roos took the prize home to Local 85 with 27 screws.

ITI QUARTERLY SPRING 2023

17

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

®

®

NEWS

NEMIC APPOINTS LISA DAVIS AS ADMINISTRATOR

“What can women do in the trades” was the Google search that changed everything for Lisa Davis, who was recently hired as the administrator for the National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC). After working a series of odd jobs both in and out of the trades and experiencing a lot of discrimination, she had almost given up on the building trades as a career path.

18 FOCUS on FUNDS

Today, Davis would be the first to tell you women can do a lot in the trades, as she is the first woman to hold the position of administrator at NEMIC. Davis is enthusiastic about the challenge and said she is grateful to those who came before her and built a solid foundation for NEMIC. “I am very excited to be a part of the NEMIC fund — there are so many powerful initiatives that this brilliant team is working hard on moving forward to help bring more work to our members,” Davis said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to collaborate with our contractors on what efforts best serve our industry to give us the edge, and to bring public and stakeholder awareness to issues that matter the most, like energy efficiency and public safety.” “Lisa is a fantastic choice to lead NEMIC into the future,” said David Bernett, former NEMIC administrator who recently stepped down to accept a position as SMART international representative covering the U.S. Northeast Region 1. “She worked closely with our NEMIC team over the last several years and her work ethic, integrity and honesty shine through in everything she does. Honestly, on more than one occasion I wished I had hired her instead of the ITI, [International Training Institute] because she is just that good.” Davis took an unconventional career path into the sheet metal industry. She attended the University of California, Davis, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology. With aspirations of becoming a doctor, she then moved to Oregon to attend the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. In the meantime, Davis became a perfusion assistant and helped to monitor the medical equipment that keeps patients’ hearts and lungs functional during surgeries. The job was grueling, as she worked 20-

hour shifts and was on call day and night. She felt burned out after two years and realized medicine wasn’t for her. Davis had worked in a bowling alley as a mechanic during her undergraduate studies, so she found another position at a bowling alley in Oregon. Not only was this work hard, it was made more difficult by the misogynistic behavior she faced as the only woman on the mechanical staff. It was around this time she typed in that critical Google search. While her studies at Oregon Tradeswomen gave her faith there was a place for women in the trades, it took nearly two years for her to be accepted into the Sheet Metal Institute, Local 16’s fiveyear apprenticeship program. It was 2008 and the country was at the height of a recession. Jobs were sparse.

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

But in 2008, after typing in that question, Davis found the website of Oregon Tradeswomen, an organization that focuses on providing opportunities for women in building trades apprenticeships. There, she enrolled in the organization’s trades and apprenticeship career class, which eventually led her to the apprenticeship program at the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers Local 16 in Portland.

Once Davis began her training at the Sheet Metal Institute, she proved a dedicated and skilled apprentice. Within a year of completing her apprenticeship, Davis was recruited by her alma mater to develop and implement a service apprenticeship program. In 2016, she was hired as a full-time service apprenticeship program instructor at Local 16, and two years later she was scooped up by the ITI. “Lisa has had the words ‘first woman’ attached to her name a lot over the past several years,” said Dan McCallum, executive director of the Funds, which comprise NEMIC, ITI and the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT). “While that distinction is important and notable, it didn’t factor into our selection process. Lisa was, by far, the most qualified candidate for the job.” Aaron Hilger, CEO of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), agreed, as the NEMIC fund often engages/works with SMACNA members. “I couldn’t agree more with Dan’s assessment,” he said. “Lisa is the most qualified person for the job, and I am very excited to work with her. Lisa’s strategic leadership at NEMIC will help SMART members and SMACNA contractors gain market share and work hours and help guide us through the complex waters of indoor air quality and ventilation verification.”

SPRING 2023

19

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

ASHRAE GUIDE PUTS EDUCATORS

IN COMMAND OF CLASSROOM INDOOR AIR QUALITY During the pandemic, indoor air quality in schools took the spotlight as lawmakers, parents and the public realized the importance of proper ventilation and filtration in keeping children safe from airborne pathogens. Long before this, ventilation professionals were working on ways to inform educators, administrators and school districts about indoor air quality — the pandemic only increased the urgency to get easy-to-use information into the hands of those who could make the most difference. Recently, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) released a guide, developed by the ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.7 – Educational Facilities, for educators, administrators and school districts on indoor air quality. The document, “Design Guidance for Educational Facilities: Prioritization for Advanced Indoor Air Quality,” provides a checklist as well as prerequisite and optional tasks in order of importance. Design professionals and contractors can use the guide as a tool when sitting down with school personnel to discuss options to improve indoor air quality based on existing HVAC equipment, regional objectives and available funding. (After recent consultation with various government agencies, the guide will be updated to reflect the needs of government grants.) Teachers, administrators and parents can consider a range of change options from base minimum to advanced recommendations to improve indoor air quality, all under the guidance of a licensed, certified ventilation professional. They don’t have to know much about indoor air quality to take the first steps, said Catherine Tinkler, a former classroom teacher and administrator who now serves as a strategic planning consultant and commissioning professional for Page Southerland Page and a member of the ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.7 – Education Facilities working group. A certified and licensed professional is closer than many decision makers may realize. “This guidance walks them through some prerequisites for what they should understand before they start,” Tinkler said. Partnering with a skilled, trained and certified ventilation expert at the beginning of the process is integral to how the rest of the guide is used. “It also gives them guidance using a defined rubric, so they can score their environment to see if it meets the base minimums,

20 FOCUS on FUNDS

almost like a pass-fail. Then, it recommends tasks to complete, including high and very high priority tasks, to improve the score and the environment.” Raj Setty, president of Setty, a full-service mechanical, electrical and plumbing consulting engineering firm and co-author of the guide, said while scientists did a good job telling us what needs to be done to prevent the spread of disease — improving ventilation, filtration and air flow — it is now the purvey of consulting HVAC engineers to tell the public how to implement this advice with their specific use cases. The guide does just that. Once a school has a ventilation verification assessment performed and educators meet with a design professional to assess their system and determine their needs, they can use the guide for simple tasks, such as determining what temperature and weather conditions to open windows; calculating which air filters to use; learning when to open and close dampers due to outdoor air quality; and planning placement and proper use of carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors, air cleaners and UVC, or ultraviolet light, in their classrooms. The ventilation professional can help determine if these fixes are enough, or if upgrades or repairs to the HVAC system are also warranted. Flexibility, especially in an environment as dynamic as a school, is optimal, Setty said. “It’s really about putting the systems in place to give operators the option,” he said. “It’s a common-sense guide.” Knowledge is power. The guide not only gives educators a roadmap to use when sitting down with their ventilation professional, it helps them make educated decisions about their classrooms’ indoor air quality at any point during the day. “The guide gives schools a tool to help them determine their risk. It helps to identify the problem and allow clients to make choices,” said Chris Ruch, co-author of the guide, NEMIC director of education and a former classroom teacher. “This guide will help customers be better informed when they meet with contractors and design professionals and help them understand more about the air they breathe.”

OF TAB LABS, STREAMLINES PROCESS Certification credentials maintain the sheet metal industry’s high standards of practice and can also open up additional job opportunities for qualified professionals. NEMIC develops and maintains industry-recognized certifications in a variety of specialty areas for HVAC. The International Certification Board and Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (ICB/TABB) are certification programs of NEMIC, and ICB/TABB certification is a statement that the technician, supervisor and contractor demonstrate the highest level of professional expertise. The ICB is a personnel certification body accredited to ISO/IEC 17024 by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), with eight scopes of accreditation, including the TABB Technician. Members who receive JATC training in testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) will be encouraged to continue on with formal training and education in TAB to achieve certification. Individuals attaining ICB certification make a statement to the industry that ICB-certified TAB technicians are competent, reliable and qualified professionals able to perform without on-the-job supervision, and they are adept at the testing, adjusting and balancing of air and hydronic building, environmental and industrial systems to meet design objectives.

Before any certification testing occurs, a JATC’s TAB lab must become an authorized TABB performance testing facility. That process requires the JATC to submit blueprints of the lab and prove it meets all criteria and has the established minimum equipment needed for certification testing. Up until recently, that authorization was handled by the International Training Institute (ITI) with some assistance from NEMIC. Now, NEMIC has become the official entity responsible for authorizing TAB labs for certification performance testing administered by the ICB. Becoming an authorized TABB performance testing facility ensures that test reports, skills and knowledge from that facility are acceptable and comparable across the board. In the lab setting, this enables ICB to compare test data with other accredited labs to assess and compare credentials with confidence.

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

NEMIC TAKES OVER AUTHORIZATION

Duane Smith, director of certification for NEMIC, noted the process had been a bit complicated by the involvement of two overseeing entities. “The authorization of TAB labs hasn’t changed,” explained Smith. “We’ve just streamlined the process. NEMIC did some things and ITI others, it just made sense to streamline.”

Local 46 in Rochester, New York, opened a TAB lab in spring 2022.

SPRING 2023

21

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

Smith explained the process, saying, until recently, a JATC would contact the ITI and let them know they wanted to host an exam. The training center would request a date, and the ITI would generate a schedule. The ITI would then pull the blueprints of the lab and contact everyone to schedule any needed training for proctors and judges, order consultant checks, assemble exam documents and ship everything to the JATC. The exam documents would later be shipped back to NEMIC for review of scores and certification by the ICB. “There was a lot of back and forth,” Smith said, noting that things will seem the same for participants. “From the outside looking in, candidates, judges and proctors shouldn’t see a difference, but the administration of the exam, from the time a request comes in and the ICB comes back with results, now runs entirely through NEMIC.” ITI and NEMIC worked together during the transition. They established a TABB Technician Quality Assurance Committee to ensure a smooth changeover of responsibilities. The committee is made up of two staff members from each organization who work closely together to guarantee that training and certification can be successfully conducted in the TAB lab. “TAB labs authorized to conduct performance testing allow technicians to demonstrate that they have the skills, knowledge and system understanding to work on TAB projects alone or as part of a team,” explained Jeremy Zeedyk, NEMIC northeast region representative and Quality Assurance Committee member. “Having multiple facilities across the country that deliver the same type

and quality of training, as well as being able to administer the practical examination in the same manner as other facilities, provides a consistent and thoroughly capable workforce anywhere in the country.” The ITI has 150 training centers across North America and 23 authorized TAB labs. A TAB lab need only be authorized once if they are holding regular exams at that location. If a long time elapses between exams, however, a lab may need reauthorization to ensure it still meets the minimum standards. For example, Local 88 in Las Vegas wanted to hold a performance exam but had not done so in about six years. Changes had been made to the lab over those years, so NEMIC and the ITI went out to the training center to review the lab and ensure it met the standards to move forward with the exam. In this instance, the Quality Assurance Committee was the determining body. A similar situation is currently happening at Local 17 in Boston, and the committee will ensure they, too, can host an exam. An authorized TAB lab administers the TABB Technician certification exam to apprentices and journeypersons. To become an ICB-certified TABB Technician, candidates must take the 100-question online exam offered by the ICB. After passing this online exam, members schedule time to take the ICB’s performance exam at one of the 23 authorized testing facilities. Click here for additional information on ICB certifications.

NEMIC

ATTENDS AHR EXPO Cassandra Kline, NEMIC director of building construction technology, and Vince Alvarado, NEMIC director of implementation, took the ICB/TABB credo on the road to the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), held Feb. 6-8 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Kline and Alvarado were there to promote HVAC Fire Life Safety, TAB, indoor air quality and Ventilation Verification certification programs to develop more work opportunities for the sheet metal industry. The AHR Expo is an important annual event for HVACR professionals, attracting a comprehensive gathering of manufacturers and suppliers of all sizes and specialties from around the globe.

22 FOCUS on FUNDS

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT

CREATED TAX CREDITS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT The Inflation Reduction Act created a number of tax credits for commercial and residential building energy efficiency. To help you navigate the information, Tiffany Finck-Hayes, SMART government relations representative, broke down the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and rebates to include a summary of each rebate, the eligible recipients, base credit amount, bonus credit amount and any labor standards. For additional information, visit the Better Air in Buildings website. TAX CREDIT NAME: ENERGY EFFICIENT COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS DEDUCTION (179D) Summary of deduction: Provides a tax deduction for energy efficiency improvements to commercial buildings, such as improvements to interior lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water and building envelope. Period of Availability: Permanent. New rules generally begin in 2023. Eligible recipients: Owners and long-term lessees of commercial buildings; designers of energy efficient building property (architects, engineers); and tax-exempt owners of commercial properties, pending U.S. Treasury guidance on deduction allocation. Base credit amount: $0.50-$1 per square foot, depending on increase in efficiency, with deduction over four-year periods capped at $1 per square foot. Inflation adjusted. Alternatively, taxpayers can deduct adjusted basis in “qualified retrofit plans” that reduce a building’s energy use intensity by at least 25%. Bonus credit if labor standards met: Five times the base amount if the project meets prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship requirements.

SPRING 2023

23

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

TAX CREDIT NAME: ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME CREDIT (45L) Summary of credit: Provides a tax credit for construction of new energy efficient homes. Period of Availability: 2023-32. Eligible Recipients: Homebuilders. Base Credit Amount: $2,500 for new homes meeting Energy Star standards; $5,000 for certified zero-energy ready homes. For multifamily, base amounts are $500 per unit for Energy Star and $1,000 per unit for zero-energy ready. Bonus Credit Amount: For multifamily homes, five times the base amount if prevailing wage requirements are met.

TAX CREDIT NAME: CREDIT FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY HOME IMPROVEMENTS (25C) Summary of credit: Provides a tax credit for energy-efficiency improvements of residential homes. Period of Availability: 2022-32. Eligible Recipients: Homeowners; renters for certain improvements. Base Credit Amount: 30% of cost, with limits for each type of improvement and total per year. Credit capped at $600 for “energy property,” e.g. efficient heating and cooling equipment; $600 for windows; $250 per door, $500 total for doors; $2,000 for heat pumps. Total annual credit capped at $1,200, with a separate annual $2,000 limit for heat pumps. $150 credit for home energy audits. Bonus Credit Amount: None.

TAX CREDIT NAME: RESIDENTIAL CLEAN ENERGY (25D) Summary of credit: Provides a tax credit for the purchase of residential clean energy equipment, including battery storage with capacity of at least 3 kWh. Period of Availability: 2022-32, with phasedown over 2033-34. Eligible Recipients: Homeowners (including renters). Base Credit Amount: 30% of cost of equipment through 2032; 26% in 2033; 22% in 2034. Bonus Credit Amount: None.

REBATE NAME: HOME ENERGY PERFORMANCE-BASED, WHOLE-HOUSE REBATES (HOMES) Summary of rebate: Creates a $4.3 billion program through 2031 to help state energy offices develop and implement a HOMES rebate program to provide rebates to homeowners to reduce home energy bills through energy efficiency retrofits. Rebates can be up to $4,000 or 50% of the cost of a project and are encouraged to be provided to low- and moderate-income households. Rebate applicants must submit a plan outlining reduction in home energy use. Labor standards: None.

REBATE NAME: HIGH-EFFICIENCY ELECTRIC HOME REBATE PROGRAM Summary of rebate: Allocates $4.5 billion to state energy offices and $225 million to tribal governments to implement a high-efficiency electric home rebate program. Provides up to a total of $14,000 per household, including up to $8,000 for heat pumps, $1,750 for heat pump water heaters, $840 for a heat pump clothes dryer and up to $1,600 for insulation, air sealing and ventilation. Rebates are available for low- or moderate-income households, an individual or multifamily building where at least 50 percent of the residents are low- or moderate-income households or a qualifying governmental, commercial or nonprofit entity. Labor standards: None

24 FOCUS on FUNDS

FOR INFLATION REDUCTION ACT REBATES

Rewiring America, an electrification nonprofit focused on electrifying homes, businesses and communities, has developed an Inflation Reduction Act calculator, a widget that can be embedded on a website so visitors can get the same clear guide to Inflation Reduction Act incentives alongside other content you provide. Visitors can enter their ZIP code, household size, income, tax filing and homeowner status. The calculator will then summarize the total incentives available, including details about each potential project and how to claim the credit/rebate. To sign up and agree to the terms and conditions, visit rewiringamerica.org/api and create an API key at api.rewiringamerica.org/docs. Visit api.rewiringamerica.org/docs/v0/embed to find the HTML that you can add to your website or content management system (CMS).

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

EMBEDDABLE CALCULATOR AVAILABLE

Rewiring America IRA Calculator Widget You can now embed our IRA calculator into your own website! Rewiring America’s IRA savings calculator offers personalized information about the tax credits and forthcoming upfront discounts provided by 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act. Visitors enter their zip code, household size, income, tax filing, and homeowner status. The calculator summarizes the total incentives available. It offers details about each potential project, and how to claim the credit/rebate.

We are now pleased to offer an embeddable IRA calculator widget for your site, so your visitors can get the same clear guide to IRA incentives alongside other content you provide. To get started with our widget: 1. Sign up and agree to our terms at rewiringamerica.org/api 2. Create an API key at api.rewiringamerica.org/docs 3. Visit the documentation at api.rewiringamerica.org/docs/v0/embed to find the HTML that you can add to your website or content management system (CMS). See embed.rewiringamerica.org and rewiring-america-calculator-widget.glitch.me for additional examples and information.

SPRING 2023

25

NEMI-NEMIC NEWS

BERNETT EXITS NEMIC

FOR POSITION AT SMART

Seven years ago, David Bernett took over the position of administrator at NEMIC. During his tenure, Bernett quietly built alliances across government and industry, managed the exponential growth of NEMIC’s education and certification programs and navigated concerns the COVID-19 pandemic raised over school and business air quality from parents, teachers, building owners, and occupants, as well as the Biden administration. In January, Bernett stepped down as NEMIC administrator to accept a position as international representative covering the U.S. Northeast Region 1 for SMART, of which he has been a member for 35 years. “I’m excited to be a part of this SMART staff working to fulfill General President [Joseph] Sellers’ vision,” Bernett said. “The emphasis that he has set on growth, diversity, and inclusion really spoke to me, and I see this as an opportunity to serve our local unions in a way I couldn’t necessarily as the administrator at NEMIC.” As international representative, Bernett is responsible for ensuring the constitution and ritual are followed in the region, but he also sees it as an opportunity to combine what he was doing at NEMIC — promoting the industry, identifying emerging markets and effecting change through legislation — with more one-on-one contact with local union leaders. “Dave has been a great asset to NEMIC as administrator,” said Dan McCallum, executive director of the Funds, which comprise NEMIC, the ITI and SMOHIT. “SMART is lucky to have him.” Since joining NEMIC, Bernett has led the nonprofit with distinction. He helped to institute new certification programs and oversaw the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accreditation and renewal processes for programs under the NEMIC umbrella. His leadership also ushered in new emerging market research, pioneering studies and legislative initiatives that have helped SMART locals across the country effect change. Bernett has also built new alliances that will help shape the sheet metal industry for years to come. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, NEMIC built a database of certified contractors so concerned parents, school systems and building owners and operators could easily find technicians to perform indoor air quality and Ventilation Verification assessments. That database would later become part of the Better Air in Buildings website — a collaboration between NEMI and the Biden

26 FOCUS on FUNDS

administration. Generally not one to toot his own horn, Bernett also quietly served as a volunteer on the U.S. Department of Labor Agency Review Team for the BidenHarris transition in 2020, a position that allowed him to help shape the administration’s policy agenda and personnel decisions. Bernett is a native of Pittsburgh and a member of SMART Local 12. He began his apprenticeship in 1987 after serving four years in the Marines. At Local 12, Bernett served as an organizer and business representative and later as the business manager/financial secretary-treasurer. Over the years, Bernett has also acted as a trustee and subsequent labor co-chairman of Local 12’s labor-management funds, trustee for the Pittsburgh Building & Construction Trades and labor trustee of SASMI, the Stabilization Agreement of the Sheet Metal Industry. Continuing his education after finishing his apprenticeship, Bernett holds a bachelor’s degree in labor studies from the National Labor College, a master’s degree in union labor administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a certificate in general practices of paralegal from Duquesne University.

SAFETY MATTERS ®

ALDO ZAMBETTI

ADMINISTRATOR

SHEET METAL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH INSTITUTE TRUST (SMOHIT) Hard work pays off, especially when your team is 100% committed to its mission. That’s exactly what we’re seeing — and feeling — when it comes to the SMOHIT-SMART Member Assistance Program (MAP), which is continuing to build a full head of steam after more than five years in existence. As a reminder, SMART MAP programming focuses on the mental and emotional health of members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers and their families, providing direction, guidance and resources to help deal with problems associated with substance use disorder, mental health and suicide.

These federally funded megaprojects, which include the onshoring of semiconductor fabrication facilities and the construction of manufacturing plants to produce batteries for electric vehicles, are a boon for the country and our industry, creating jobs and opportunities for our members. But, as is often the case, the construction industry can come with a downside of unintended consequences. For example, let’s say that 700 members travel to a relatively remote area to work on a new sewage and waste disposal facility. What happens when these workers, many far from their homes and families for the first time, find themselves struggling with loneliness and isolation? How many will turn to alcohol or substance abuse in an effort to cope? We already know that close to 15% of all those working in our industry experience substance use disorder. Will these areas have support programs and other services in place, or will they be overwhelmed by the sudden demand? SMOHIT and our partners are already preparing to provide the needed support, including providing peer-to-peer training, employee assistance programs and drug and alcohol treatment center evaluations, as well as shoring up other mental health support for our members in, and traveling to, those areas.

Speaking of momentum, we are seeing an uptick in requests from business managers and other union officials for more training sessions and resources, a clear indication that our consistent efforts at building awareness are making real headway. In addition, calls to the SMOHIT Helpline are increasing regularly. We started the Helpline in 2017 as a free resource for members and their families experiencing an immediate crisis or who needed a helpful ear in talking about grief or loss, family issues, money problems, substance and alcohol abuse, or feelings of depression, anxiety and stress. The voice on the other end of the line belongs to Jeremy Holburn, a mental health professional based in Denver. Jeremy, with assistance from a variety of other mental health professionals, is available 24 hours a day to address callers’ needs, referring them to the best local resources to proactively address their concerns. The SMOHIT Helpline number is 877-884-6227. All in all, SMART MAP is a team of caring and empathetic professionals ready and available to help our members in need. No matter the situation, our entire SMART MAP team is answering the call.

SAFETY MATTERS

I am more excited than ever to see this program making a real positive difference in changing and saving lives. I witnessed this firsthand when I sat in our strategic planning meetings in February, and was heartened to see labor, management, administration and even our vendors all in the same boat and paddling together in the same direction. I find it particularly gratifying that all three sheet metal Funds — SMOHIT, the National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC) and the International Training Institute (ITI) — are cooperating so closely to ensure that members’ mental health needs are met in the context of national megaprojects that have already kicked off or are on the verge of commencement.

Much of the groundwork has already been laid by the SMART MAP team. Chris Carlough, SMART MAP program coordinator, and team member Ben Cort have been working tirelessly in the Western region to relaunch peer-to-peer in-person training after COVID-19 put all such events on ice. These peer training events, unlike the three-day general awareness sessions, are conducted at the local level with rank-and-file members who are trusted by their peers, empathetic in nature and willing to become peer advocates in their local unions. The training focuses on communication, confidentiality and building local resources. Peer-to-peer is the heart and soul of SMART MAP. It gets us out of the classroom and back on the street, doing what we were trained for. That’s where the momentum comes from.

SPRING 2023

27

SAFETY CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE

SAFETY MATTERS

SET FOR JULY

28

SMOHIT will host its annual Safety Champions Conference this summer, bringing together sheet metal contractors, owners and safety professionals from across the country to discuss best practices, new technologies and emerging trends in workplace safety.

anxiety and depression, can have a significant impact on worker safety and productivity. The conference will explore strategies for promoting good mental health among workers, including providing access to mental health services and creating a supportive work environment.

The seventh annual SMOHIT Safety Champions Conference will take place July 12-14 at the Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park, 3111 Fairview Park Drive in Falls Church, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.). This will be the first time the conference has been held in person since 2019.

The virtual conferences held over the last two years were a great success, but the one thing they could not achieve was spontaneity. The in-person conversations between labor and management that take place around the tables during breakout sessions or in hallways, lobbies and restaurants during free time are key to generating new ideas and increasing engagement in the topics.

The conference will feature a variety of keynote speakers, workshops and panel discussions aimed at promoting a culture of safety within the sheet metal industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and network with their peers to share their own experiences and strategies for improving workplace safety.

The Safety Champions Conference is just one of the many ways SMOHIT helps promote a culture of safety within the industry. By bringing together workers, employers and industry experts, the conference provides a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, discuss emerging trends and learn from one another.

During the conference, participants attend popular breakout sessions where participation is highly encouraged. Guest speakers from all facets of the industry inspire, educate and share best practices involving safety and health. The conference is the forum for exciting annual announcements including the winners of the annual Safety Matters Awards and the Safety Design Contest.

In an industry as complex and challenging as sheet metal work, safety must always be a top priority. The Safety Champions Conference provides an opportunity for workers and employers to come together and share their experiences, knowledge, and strategies for promoting a safe and healthy workplace.

Another important theme will be the importance of mental health in the workplace. Mental health issues, such as stress,

Click here for more information on the Safety Champions Conference.

FOCUS on FUNDS

SMOHIT WELCOMES JEFF BRADLEY

AS FIELD REPRESENTATIVE

Bradley said he is up to the challenge of getting out there and bringing this information to members so they can utilize the help available, from the Helpline, available 24 hours a day at 877-884-6227, to SMART MAP and other initiatives. After growing up and graduating high school in St. Louis, Bradley heard about the opportunities in sheet metal while attending Vatterott College, where he completed an associate degree in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. He applied for apprenticeship and graduated the program at Local 36 in 2008. Bradley gravitated toward teaching quickly, becoming a night instructor during his fourth year of apprenticeship. He later took classes at the University of Central Missouri in Career and Technical Education, becoming a full-time instructor in 2017.

“I wanted to give back to the sheet metal industry, as it’s changed my life,” Bradley said. “As an instructor, I was able to help apprentices and let them know what health and safety resources were available during [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] OSHA training, and this new role will be like doing that full time.” He started his apprenticeship with Coleman Heating and Sheet Metal as a service technician and spent the last five years as a service manager there prior to becoming a fulltime instructor. At Local 36, Bradley went on to become the vice president, then, early in 2021, the organizer and director of marketing. Similar to Zambetti, who was an OSHA specialist during his years with the ITI, Bradley also specialized in OSHA classes while he was an instructor. That experience, plus his natural drive to help his union brothers and sisters, made him a great fit for the role of SMOHIT field representative.

SAFETY MATTERS

Jeff Bradley, a first-generation sheet metal worker from Local 36 in St. Louis, Missouri, has joined SMOHIT as a field representative. Bradley is working closely with SMOHIT Administrator Aldo Zambetti, visiting locals and educating members about all the programs SMOHIT offers. These programs have been built up over the years, increasing beyond basic job site health and safety and moving toward an approach that includes coping with stress from work or home, suicide prevention and awareness of substance abuse disorders.

“When I was an instructor, the OSHA training was what I was most proud of, because it helped ensure everyone would go home from a jobsite safe and uninjured,” he said. Bradley lives in St. Louis with his wife of 27 years, Christina, and the youngest of their three children. In their spare time, the Bradleys enjoy remodeling houses together for resale.

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SMOHIT EXPANDS HELPLINE FOR WIDER COVERAGE,

ADDING SECOND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL The SMOHIT Helpline, available 24 hours a day at 877-8846227 to SMART members and their immediate families, was put in place long before the pandemic disrupted the world. The idea emerged when stressors from an uncertain economy and a slew of natural disasters created financial and personal stress for many. Then the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented levels of hardship and anxiety, along with feelings of isolation and loneliness, to a workforce already facing significant risk of mental health problems.

SAFETY MATTERS

One way to address the problems facing members was to expand access to mental health professionals via a helpline. The SMOHIT Helpline has provided a safe and confidential space where members, or their families, can talk to a trained mental health professional about their concerns. According to Jeremy Holburn, who heads up the SMOHIT Helpline, SMART recognized the increase in call volume necessitated the expansion. So they’ve recently added a second staffer, J.D. Sparks, to answer calls on the weekends. “Our call volume is increasing,” Holburn said. “That’s a good thing because we’re reaching more people and that increase shows a breaking down of mental health stigma. We’re finally getting it through to people that making a call to deal with your mental health is not a sign of weakness.”

Another benefit of the service is its accessibility. People can reach out from the comfort of their own homes or any other location at any time of the day; however, there may be times when someone is unable to answer right away. Holburn urges people who don’t get their call answered to leave a message if they are comfortable getting a call back, or, if someone is in serious crisis, call the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which also provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day for people in distress in the United States. “Our helpline is a 24/7 helpline, but we’re not a crisis line,” Holburn said. “Sometimes we’re on the line with someone else, and cannot break away to answer another call. You need to leave a message or call back a bit later. We will call you back. Crisis lines like 988 get answered immediately. So for a true emergency, call there.”

Holburn noted that the helpline may be just a first step for some people, or it can be a one-time safe space for people to talk out a single issue.

One of the biggest benefits of the helpline is the pairing of resources. The mental health professionals will help get callers connected with local support and can help navigate insurance challenges as well. And until callers can get the local help they need, they can keep checking in with the SMOHIT Helpline.

“We’re there to listen and provide support to anyone who is struggling,” he said. “Sometimes, we need to pair a caller with a local health care provider, which can take time. Sometimes, we can just provide a sympathetic ear, an authentic safe space for people to talk it out. Situations are unique.”

It’s OK to not be OK, and sometimes the first step toward feeling OK again is reaching out to a friendly and knowledgeable voice. SMOHIT’s Helpline is only ten digits away, at 877-884-6227.

The SMOHIT Helpline offers immediate support and can be very helpful in crisis situations. The expanded helpline also remains free of charge. Any member can access the service, regardless of their current situation.

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One of the benefits of the helpline is confidentiality. Allowing callers to retain their anonymity, Holburn noted, can provide relief to individuals who may feel too embarrassed or ashamed to seek help in person. They may be more comfortable discussing their concerns over the phone or online as a first step. People can feel safe talking about their feelings without fear of judgment or repercussions.

FOCUS on FUNDS

THE TRUTH ABOUT

10-MINUTE WORKOUTS

The latest trends in fitness are leaning toward the shorter-is-better philosophy — but do dramatically shortened workouts really get the job done? No one can deny the days of spending hours running, biking or doing any other number of slow, cardio-based exercise sessions are long gone. We simply don’t have the time, and we have come to realize that these long, drawnout workout sessions don’t give us the best return on our time investment. But how much of this desire for short, efficient workouts stems from shortened attention spans or just plain laziness? Is there true science behind the claims that 10-minute workouts deliver results? In fact, there is a slew of research that points to the true benefits of short, intense bursts of exercise.

1. It burns fat. Multiple studies have proven the effectiveness of workouts like those in Tabata (named for Dr. Izumi Tabata) and high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise sessions. These techniques take short bursts of activity and create a heart-pounding workout in 10 minutes or less. The key to making these workouts as effective as possible is to crank up your intensity to the max.

2. It makes you happy. We all know that exercise releases endorphins, which makes us feel good in the aftermath of a great workout. But don’t worry if you only have 10 minutes to exercise; studies have shown that an intense 10-minute burst of exercise is enough to get those juices flowing.

3. It protects your heart. According to researchers in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, people who get just seven minutes of intense exercise each day are 45% less likely to die from heart disease. It’s also worth noting that people who maintained their exercise routine for six years or longer saw the greatest benefit.

SAFETY MATTERS

This is great news for all of us with hectic schedules. Here are the top three reasons that 10-minute workouts are worth your time:

Not sure where to start? Check out this 10-minute at home work out from the American Heart Association.

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