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SMART launched its brandnew website, smart-union. org, in February 2022, providing members with a revamped online hub for news, resources and up-to-date, personalized information — including the Sheet Metal Job Bank, Transportation Division employment opportunities, safety reports and more.

By rebuilding its website, SMART aims to meet the needs of union members and their families, as well as potential future members and other website visitors, with a userfriendly experience that presents valuable information in an easy-tonavigate format. Clearly marked sections of the new site provide information on what SMART is, the history of our union, how and why to join SMART, policy priorities, resources for union and nonunion workers alike, an action center for members and a variety of additional materials — delivering a comprehensive overview on how our union is fighting for working families across North America.

Most importantly, the website’s overhauled Member Portal is a one-stop shop for a range of information that SMART members will find useful, from pension benefit updates and personalized news, to job postings and video messages from the general president. Instructions on how to log into the Member Portal are below:

Sheet metal member instructions

Visit the Member Portal page (smartunion.org/members and enter your preferred email address, IA Number (number on your dues receipt) and the last four digits of your Social Security number to verify your membership. (Please note: If your Social Security number is not on file with the union, you will not be able to log in. To get that information placed on file, contact either your local financial secretary-treasurer or SMART International Headquarters in Washington, D.C. at 202-662-0800

You can also email info@smartunion.org. You will then be prompted to create a personal password of at least 12 characters for future logins.

Once complete, you will receive an email confirming your registration with a link in the body of the message. After visiting that link, your account will be activated and verified, and you will be able to explore and customize those union resources that are most important for you.

TD member instructions

Visit the Member Portal page (smart-union.org/members) and enter your preferred email address, the number of your TD local (if the local number is below 1000, the lead zeroes are optional) and the last four digits of your Social Security number to verify your membership. (Please note: If your Social Security number is not on file with the union, you will not be able to log in. To get that information placed on file, contact either your local secretary or the Transportation Division office in Cleveland at 216-228-9400.

You will then be prompted to create a personal password of at least 12 characters to log in in the future.

Customize your experience

Depending on your craft, role and degree of involvement in your union, numerous resources are available for sheet metal and TD members alike to customize your website experience in the Member Portal. On your first few visits, take the time to browse through or search the index of informational resources provided — by doing so, you can select your favorites, which will then be accessible for you every time you visit the portal. Available categories of resources include: financial, educational, retirement, recruitment, leadership, benefits, health, legal, safety, community and many more. Choose those categories that mean the most to you, and they will be readily available and up to date whenever you log in. If you don’t find a resource you are looking for, contact the SMART Communications Department, and your suggestion will be considered!

The new website is ready for you to explore — visit smart-union.org to get started.

From March 6–11, SMART once again celebrated Women in Construction Week, hosting a series of virtual events and distributing various videos to recognize the SMART sisters who make our union strong. The women of our union consistently strive to empower SMART and advocate on behalf of women and all workers — whether fighting against discrimination on the job or bargaining to include maternity leave in local benefits packages.

Women in Construction Week kicked off on Sunday, March 6, with a video message from SMART General President Joseph Sellers. During his address, General President Sellers used his time to both celebrate our union sisters and speak to the work currently being undertaken — and the work that still needs to be done — to make our union a leader in recruitment and retention for future generations.

“We are taking time this week to celebrate your valued contributions to our great union and to advance our plan of inclusion, diversity and equity for all members.”
– SMART General President Joseph Sellers

“We are taking time this week to celebrate your valued contributions to our great union and to advance our plan of inclusion, diversity and equity for all members,” he said. “With your dedication and professionalism, we will lead the way for future generations of SMART members.”

On Monday, SMART shared a video featuring Shamaiah Turner — a sheet metal worker out of Local 17 (Boston, Mass.) and a member of the women’s committee — and Mary Vogel, the executive director of Building Pathways, SMART’s sponsored organization for Women in Construction Week 2022. Building
Pathways connects workers in underserved communities with family-sustaining careers in the construction industry; a mission of vital importance for the future of unionized sheet metal.

On Wednesday, SMART released a video featuring Emily Wigre of Local 66 (Seattle, Wash.), who spoke about how her passion for boxing has complemented her sheet metal career and contributed to a healthy work-life balance. As part of the Women in Construction Week festivities, SMART sisters were given access to a free BRWL boxing class.

Throughout the week, numerous women of SMART were featured in Sister Tips videos, offering a range of advice for their fellow union sisters. The Sister Tips varied widely in length, topic and location. Local 285 (Toronto, Ont.) member Emily Blacktopp shared her experienc– completing her apprenticeship as a full-time mom, as well as the importance of the support she’s received from her union brothers as a tradeswoman; Jay Matos of SM Local 63 (Western Mass.) spoke about self-respect and standing up for oneself; and multiple women, including members from Local 28 (New York) and Local 265 (Northern Ill.), spoke about the importance of knowing your union and taking advantage of all that your local has to offer. Despite the vast scope of the subject matter, a common theme emerged throughout the videos: the strength and importance of union sisterhood.

Women in Construction Week culminated in the SMART Women’s Committee’s Friday night happy hour and bingo event, where SMART sisters across North America came together for bingo, drinks and camaraderie, and the winners of the Kids Drawing and Sister Spotlight raffle were announced. The end of the happy hour marked the end of Women in Construction Week 2022 — another successful celebration of the sisters who make our union one of the most dynamic and diverse in North America. The advocacy and solidarity SMART members displayed throughout the week did not end, though. That continues, no matter the week.

View the Women in Construction Week 2022 portal page, with links to all the videos and related content shared during the week.

SMART TD hosted a round-table in January 2022 at the University of Kansas Medical Center campus with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, local elected officials, labor leaders and community members to spotlight how the bipartisan infrastructure law will create local jobs and spur economic growth across Kansas’ Third Congressional District, including in communities that are frequently overlooked.

The group was later joined by Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz, Kansas City Mayor Tyrone Garner, Rep. Sharice Davids and Secretary Buttigieg at the Rock Island and Cesar Chavez Bridges for an event highlighting the bridges’ complementary purposes as infrastructure and economic projects in the Kansas Third. Among the attendees were local labor and business community leaders, elected officials and transportation authorities.

“The bipartisan infrastructure law is innovative legislation that will bring thousands of jobs to the state of Kansas.”
– SMART TD Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo

“The bipartisan infrastructure law is innovative legislation that will bring thousands of jobs to the state of Kansas,” said SMART TD Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo. “My organization is uniquely qualified to reap its benefits because we are the men and women that physically transport the products created by our great unions and building trades. We are moving from the great resignation to the great innovation. From SMART members building new HVAC systems for our nation’s schools and hospitals, to SMART TD members transporting the much-needed resources to build and innovate this country: We get it done! Representative Davids was there when this much-needed legislation was drafted, and she voted to pass it into law. I am proud of both her and Secretary Buttigieg’s work to high-light the new law’s benefits.”

“It’s no accident when federal agencies call on our state directors to be at the table when these events happen,” added Dragoo. “Our legislative team is second to none in D.C. Director [Greg] Hynes and Alternate Director [Jared] Cassity are making great connections and advancing our cause in Congress. It’s proof when we get these calls: SMART is a key stakeholder in D.C. and throughout the country.”

US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in Kansas City. Photo by Christopher Smith for the USDOT.

Tags Department of Transportation, DOT, infrastructure, Kansas, Pete Buttigieg, SMART TD Disaster Relief Fund

SMART Local 66 member Vanessa Carman, left, operates a Trimble to do layout for Hermanson Company at the Harrison Hospital Acute Care project in Silverdale, Wash., in 2019.

In January 2022, journeyperson Vanessa Carman of SMART Local 66 (Seattle, Wash.) won the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Tradeswomen Heroes Award — a monthly recognition of tradeswomen who lead by example and perform their duties at an outstanding level.

“It is a great honor to nominate Sister Vanessa Carman, member of SMART Local 66, for the NABTU Tradeswomen Heroes Award,” read the press release announcing Carman’s nomination. “Sister Carman is a consummate trades-woman leader and a tireless advocate for her sisters.”

A detailer with Hermanson Company in Kent, Wash., Carman has worked in sheet metal for 18 years, advancing quickly from apprentice to journeyperson to foreperson after discovering her interest in the trades while helping her brothers repair a furnace. Along with her skill and experience on the job, Carman helped create the SMART Local 66 Women’s Committee and advocated for the implementation of a mentoring program for women sheet metal workers in her local union — an initiative that gives women in the trade, especially apprentices, a reliable support system. The mentoring program has led to significant growth in the number of women in Local 66.

Carman is also a trustee on the Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC and a member of the SMART Women’s Committee, where she has worked to champion constitutional amendments and resolutions to combat discrimination and harassment; to promote the recruitment and retention of women members; and to support a mentoring study for apprenticeship programs similar to the one at Local 66. As a complement to those efforts, Carman works as a trustee of the SMART Recruitment and Retention Council, helping SMART better recruit, retain and promote diverse groups at all levels in our union.

“Due to her drive, generosity, and courage, [Sister Carman] is a role model for many women in SMART and has made a tremendous impact on this union.”
– NABTU press release

Carman’s commitment extends to career fairs and outreach events, where she volunteers to recruit more workers into the sheet metal trade, and to community service. Throughout it all, she manages to find time for powerlifting, walking her dog and raising her three sons.

“Due to her drive, generosity, and courage, [Sister Carman] is a role model for many women in SMART and has made a tremendous impact on this union,” the NABTU press release concluded. “SMART is indebted to her for all of the selfless work she does to improve the conditions for all of our sisters in SMART — we are incredibly fortunate to have her as a leader and member.”

Another SMART member won the Tradeswomen Heroes Award in October 2021: Kimberly Mann of SM Local 20 (Indianapolis, Ind.), a journeyperson at Poynter Sheet Metal with more than 35 years of experience in the trade.

“Kim is a great honoree for this award because she never backed down from any adversity that she faced as a minority in her field,” read the press release announcing Mann’s nomination. “In fact, she flourished as a leader and business owner.”

Sister Mann began her career in the Local 20 pre-apprenticeship program in 1985, before serving an apprenticeship and graduating at the top of her class in 1994. Shortly afterwards, her perseverance and hard work earned Mann a leadership role as a site supervisor at Apex Industries, where — as she has done throughout her career — she gained the respect of contractors, operations teams, end users, journeymen and the apprentices and pre-apprentices she continues to mentor to this day.

In 2001, Mann formed her own company, K&M, which she successfully ran until 2014. During that time, Mann took on a variety of notable projects, working as one of the installing contractors on Indianapolis’s crown jewel and home of the Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium, during the initial build, and working as fabricator and installer on portions of the award-winning Indianapolis International Airport. After closing her business, Mann joined Poynter, where she is currently leading the HVAC sheet metal installation on a new hospital in Bloomington, Ind., valued at $460 million.

“Even with such an incredible resume, Kim remains humble in her accomplishments. She is generous with not only her knowledge and willingness to teach anyone about our industry, she also has a giving nature to anyone who needs a hand-up,” the NABTU press release added. “Kim is the total package!”

In December of last year, SMART, SMACNA and the International Training Institute (ITI) launched the Belonging and Excellence for All Campaign (BE 4 ALL).

We know that many of you have questions about this work, so we’ve taken the time to share a few answers.

Think of this article as a formal introduction. Brothers, sisters and siblings, please welcome BE 4 ALL.

1. What is BE 4 ALL?

BE 4 ALL is a joint effort of SMACNA, SMART and the ITI. The vision for the work is twofold:

A. To create a diverse and inclusive unionized sheet metal industry that is welcoming and fosters belonging for ALL people; and

B. To sustain a thriving industry in which:

We recruit, train and retain the best talent; and
Workers and contractors strive to achieve the highest standards of performance and excellence in their technical skills and crafts.

2. The term “belonging” is new to me. What does it mean? And how is it different from diversity and inclusion?

Here’s a helpful way to think about the difference between the three terms:

A. Diversity means that everyone – regardless of their race, gender identity, age or other identity strands — is invited to participate in and benefit from our industry.

B. Inclusion means that everyone has a seat at the table and a way to make their voices heard

C. Belonging goes much deeper than diversity and inclusion. It means two things:

That when people come to the table, they feel that they can bring their full, authentic self – ALL parts of who they are as a human being; and
Belonging is also about building the table together. It’s about co-creation. To put it another way, transforming our industry and ensuring that we remain relevant and competitive will take all-hands-on-deck. We will only be successful if we’re working on this endeavor TOGETHER. BE 4 ALL is the vehicle for how we do this.

3. BE 4 ALL is a fancy name. It sounds good on paper. What exactly will the initiative do on a day-to-day basis?

For 2022–23, we have a four-part agenda for our work. The four parts are as follows:

A. Assessment — Survey and interview members and leaders across the industry to better understand their hopes, wants, needs and fears related to the BE 4 ALL work.

B. Awareness — Conduct training sessions for International staff and JATC coordinators focused on strategies for reducing bias and increasing belonging.

C. Alignment — Work with SMART’s newly formed BE 4 ALL Committee to convert findings from the assessment process into concrete action steps, and meet quarterly with SMACNA and the ITI to explore ways to collaborate across the industry.

D. Act — Begin implementation of the action steps.

4. Is BE 4 ALL only for women and people of color? How do ALL members benefit?

Without question, BE 4 ALL is for ALL members and contractors. We believe that EVERY human being (with an emphasis on the word “every”) should experience belonging (see the definition under bullet #2), regardless of your race, gender identity, etc. But we also know that this is not currently the case for some groups. So BE 4 ALL may need to tailor and target programs and strategies to ensure that particular groups have what they need to reach the universal goal of belonging. But make no mistakes about it, BE 4 ALL is for the benefit of ALL members.<

5. Is this work about attacking white people?

The short answer is no. We’ve all heard the reports. Across our countries, meetings turning into shouting matches. People blaming and shaming each other. This is NOT what BE 4 ALL is about. Yes, the work of belonging requires us to have hard conversations sometimes. But it also requires that we treat each other with dignity, respect and compassion. It requires that we see our common humanity in other people.

6. Talk to me about results. What do we hope will be different as a result of this work?

We’re still in the planning stages. But over the next few years, we expect to begin seeing results in five key areas. They are:<

A. Expansion — Expanding and diversifying the pool of people from which we recruit.

B. Recruitment — Proactively recruiting new members into our organizations.

C. Training — Equipping members with the skills, tools and values they need to be successful.

D. Retention — Creating the type of work and business environments where people want to stay — and where they can imagine a long career of service and contribution.

E. Advancement — Helping members climb the ladder into leadership positions or other opportunities.

7. How long will it take for BE 4 ALL to achieve its goals?

BE 4 ALL is not a quick fix project. As one person recently put it, this is “forever work.” That said, to truly transform an entire industry will take years. However, we plan to set annual benchmarks to ensure that we’re making progress along the way. Stay tuned for our plan for 2022–23, which will include measurable goals.

8. What’s the structure of BE 4 ALL? How is it organized?

BE 4 ALL is guided by a diverse committee of members and leaders from throughout SMART, including apprentices, journey-level members and union officials. The committee makes recommendations to General President Sellers and General Secretary Treasurer Powell.

SMACNA has a similar structure.

The leadership and committees for both SMACNA and SMART, along with the ITI, meet quarterly to plan and coordinate BE 4 ALL activities across the industry.

9. Is this work about “lowering standards” or hiring people who are “unqualified?”

Absolutely not. At the recent Partners In Progress (PINP) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tim Carter, Northwest Regional Council president, and Julie Mueller, executive director for SMACNA’s Western Region, shared that they’ve seen a “dramatic reduction” in the apprentice wash out rates for women and people of color. They reported that they achieved this by “raising the bar,” not lowering it. Specifically, they improved the quality of training and support provided to apprentices to ensure that each person had what they needed to perform at the highest standards of excellence. Their approach reinforced two things: a) this work is NOT about lowering standards; and b) the work of belonging does not view people as inadequate or deficient. It sees talent and potential in all human beings. And it’s our job to nurture it.

10. Why are we even focused on this work? Can’t we just treat each other like human beings?

This is an excellent question. Yes, in the long term, the goal is to build workplaces (and a society) where we celebrate our shared humanity and where we appreciate ALL the ways that human beings are diverse or different. But in order to reach this goal, we have to remove the barriers that get in the way. These include the biases and stereotypes about each other that we’ve ALL internalized (oftentimes unconsciously) over the course of our lives. These biases and stereotypes may stem from the places where we grew up. Or the schools we attended. Or the families in which we were raised. So yes, getting to the point where we treat each other like human beings is the ultimate goal. BE 4 ALL is the pathway for how we get there.

11. If I want to get involved or support the work of BE 4 ALL, how do I do that?

If you want to learn more about BE 4 ALL, or if you’re looking to get involved, please reach out to Donna Silverman, assistant to the general president, at dsilverman@smart-union.org.

Tags Be 4 all, be4all, diversity, inclusion

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) added the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB) as a third certification body for certifying personnel and contractors who perform testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); water balancing; and sound and vibration equipment testing. The addition was effective Nov. 1, 2021.

With endorsements and acceptance/ inclusion from the VA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) and construction companies nationwide, TABB is the professional’s choice for the testing, adjusting and balancing of HVAC systems.

“Certification provides assurance to building owners that a particular contractor will meet a specified level of quality. The need for highly skilled technicians has increased with the complexity of HVAC systems.”
– From a 2020 white paper released the University of California, Davis, Western Cooling Efficiency Center (WCEC)

The decision was based, in part, on a white paper released in 2020 by the University of California, Davis, Western Cooling Efficiency Center (WCEC) — “Testing, Adjusting and Balancing HVAC Systems: An Overview of Certification Agencies” — which examined the benefits of using certified contractors and favorably positioned TABB as the first and only personnel-certifying body accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in this field. The paper also stated TABB conforms to ISO/IEC 17024, an internationally recognized standard for personnel certification bodies.

TABB has developed certifications to serve as verification that technicians and supervisors have the knowledge and experience needed to complete the job tasks at hand. A well-balanced HVAC system isn’t just efficient; it’s also safer due to enhanced ventilation rates and overall indoor air quality.

“Certification provides assurance to building owners that a particular contractor will meet a specified level of quality,” the white paper explained. “The need for highly skilled technicians has increased with the complexity of HVAC systems.”

TABB is the first program to gain ANSI accreditation for certification in the testing, adjusting and balancing industry. Certification is a statement that the technician, supervisor and contractor demonstrate the highest level of professional expertise

Tags Department of Veterans Affairs, HVAC, TABB, testing and balancing, veterans

In early September, two musicals returned to Broadway — “Hadestown” and “Waitress” — and in the future, many more will return.

Actors, producers, directors, musicians, stagehands, costume designers, audiences and the litany of others who make live shows possible will all be a little safer thanks to a recent partnership between the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and NEMI. The two organizations have joined forces to implement theater ventilation protocols aimed at creating safer work environments that will mitigate the dangers of COVID-19 as well as other pathogens.

Actors, producers, directors, musicians, stagehands, costume designers, audiences and the litany of others who make live shows possible will all be a little safer thanks to a recent partnership between the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and NEMI.

The partnership began after union representatives from the AEA attended a presentation given by NEMI Director of Training Chris Ruch on indoor air quality and ventilation verification assessments of buildings.

After the presentation, the AEA reached out to NEMI and asked for help in creating guidance they wanted to institute for theater owners and operators.

As NEMI and AEA began to formulate guidelines, it quickly became clear that there was a disconnect between what the AEA was asking for and what theater owners, operators and their contractors were providing regarding indoor air quality assurances.

What NEMI produced, in collaboration with the AEA and contractors from SMACNA, was a set of guiding documents that helped overcome what NEMIC Northeast Representative Jeremy Zeedyk called the “language barrier” between AEA members and the contractors who would provide the work. This helped standardize the requirements and clearly outline the responsibilities of all concerned parties for AEA signatory theaters throughout the country.

“NEMIC created a cover page of sorts for the theater owners and operators.” said Zeedyk, who worked closely with AEA representatives in drafting the information. “It basically explained what the steps are and what their role in the process would be, which includes contacting the contractors with the proper certifications to perform the work.”

NEMI’s guidelines outline the standards, and the forms provided in the packet include sample test forms and procedures so contractors can understand the scope of work required to bring a facility into compliance. After completing the testing per the specifications, a report of the findings would be submitted by the owner to a licensed design professional to review and make suggestions for adjustments, repairs or replacements.

Per the partnership agreement, the contractors would then utilize a skilled, trained and certified workforce — SMART members — to perform the testing, adjusting and balancing, as well as any necessary repairs to bring the building into compliance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.1 or the local code, whichever is more stringent. The contractor would also help the owners develop long-term maintenance plans to ensure buildings stay in compliance.

“So far, this partnership has been a resounding success. It has allowed a group concerned with indoor air quality in the buildings where they live and work to create safer environments that will last far beyond the pandemic.”
– NEMIC Northeast Representative Jeremy Zeedyk

“So far, this partnership has been a resounding success,” Zeedyk said. “It has allowed a group concerned with indoor air quality in the buildings where they live and work to create safer environments that will last far beyond the pandemic. It has educated a whole new audience on the importance of indoor air quality and the effectiveness of ventilation verification assessments. It has spotlighted SMACNA contractors and SMART members, and the important work they do, and through NEMIC’s efforts, we have been able to help AEA effectively communicate their needs to both theater owners and the contractors performing the work.

Zeedyk noted that the benefits have ripple effects into communities beyond just the AEA members — professionals in the HVAC industry make the indoor air quality safer and more productive for AEA members and the theater patrons who come to see them perform, he said.

“I know of facilities in Maine, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California, just to name a few, that have actively followed the guidelines,” Zeedyk said. “I like to say we are helping to reopen theaters from Broadway to Hollywood and all points in between.”

When unions collaborate, even from different industries, a gathering place can be safer for everyone, said Mary McColl, AEA executive director.“This is especially true in this case, where not only will the workers benefit, but so will the audience,” McColl said.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHEET METAL WORKERS AVAILABLE IN NORTHWEST OHIO

GEM Inc. has a long history of working jointly with trade unions to make sure customers receive the quality, safety and return on investment they deserve. It recently added to this history by becoming a signatory contractor to SMART Local Union 33 (Toledo District), also becoming a member of SMACNA in the process.

GEM has supported more than 45 customers in multiple industries since launching its sheet metal group in February 2021. It currently has over 50 sheet metal workers, with room for many more, said Nathan Schroeder, GEM’s piping/mechanical manager.

“There are positions we are looking to fill up. There are a lot of opportunities, from entry level to project management.”
– GEM Inc. Piping/Mechanical Manager Nathan Schroeder

“There are positions we are looking to fill up,” Schroeder said. “There are a lot of opportunities, from entry level to project management.”

All sheet metal fabrication is completed by Local 33 members at GEM’s 12,000-square-foot shop in Walbridge, Ohio, which also supports GEM’s regional offices in the Cleveland, Lima and Detroit markets. At present, sheet metal workers are working on two large projects in northern Ohio, a two million-square-foot solar manufacturing facility and a one million-square-foot canning plant.

GEM’s philosophy is to treat tradespeople with the respect they deserve by supporting their professional development with training, superb facilities and equipment, as well as by creating an environment where their input is encouraged and appreciated.

“GEM has a reputation in this industry as a great contractor to work for,” Schroeder said.

GEM designs, fabricates and installs commercial and industrial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) sheet metal ductwork. Its fabricators are also experienced at projects that require welding or heavier metals. Duct testing, balancing and cleaning services are available through the GEM service division, providing a seamless, single-source vendor experience. GEM’s investment in all-new shop equipment includes:

Trimble automated software for ductwork fittings and layout

Trimble automated software for ductwork fittings and layout
5’ x 10’ Mestek Lockformer Automated Plasma Table
Complete set of power roll forming equipment including:
– Pittsburgh lock, both male and female, with cleat forme
– TDF ductwork flange former
– 4&1 roll forming
– Power cleat former
Hand brakes and formers including:
– 10-foot 16GA sheet metal hand break
– Cheek benderDrive/bar folder
– 3- and 4-foot hand rollers
Ductwork insulation liner equipment including:
– Liner processing and cutting table
– Industrial glue application equipment
– DuroDyne Pinspotter
Large power equipment:
– 10-foot 14GA Roper Whitney Power Shear including precision back gauge
– Roper Whitney 10-foot 14GA Computerized Auto-Brake including a 10-foot box break and precision back gauge
– 6-foot 10GA Power Roll

GEM’s in-house Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) group uses virtual 3D scanning, CAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. Laser scanning can do everything, from providing data for detailed surveys of existing conditions, to creating and verifying the accuracy of as-built drawings. A 3D laser scanning system streamlines difficult “in-place” measurements by generating a precise and accurate 3D computer image of a structure, piece of equipment or an entire area. Laser scanned images form a point cloud that is imported into CAD software, enabling the shop to create the ductwork with high accuracy.

“These technologies enable us to plan and design the work virtually before it gets to installers on the jobsite,” Schroeder said. “Issues that could arise in the field and cause costly delays are resolved in the design phase, saving the customer time and money.”

Tags GEM Inc, Local 33, Ohio

Army veteran and SMART Heroes graduate Richard Quintana.

Two members of the first class of SMART Heroes — the unionized sheet metal industry’s bridge from military life to a civilian career in sheet metal, welding and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) — are set to graduate in the next few months.

Army veterans Joshua Buckley, 40, and Richard Quintana, 55, were members of the first SMART Heroes class, which began in August 2017. Upon graduation from the program, they entered the apprenticeship as second-year students at Western Washington Sheet Metal, the training center of Sheet Metal Workers Local 66, in Dupont. This means Buckley and Quintana will graduate the five-year apprenticeship in four years — Buckley in November, Quintana in January.

Both veterans said they chose sheet metal because they enjoy working with their hands, as well as the camaraderie and benefits the union provides.

“It was a really smooth transition,” Buckley said. “You stand together. You’re stronger together than you are apart. The Army is the same way.”

“I had choices after retirement. I knew sheet metal would be actually working. I didn’t want to sit at a desk anymore,” Quintana added. “I also didn’t want to be in charge of a bunch of people. The Army isn’t the easiest thing to be in charge of people. You can go somewhere and you will come back with half of them. It takes a toll. I needed a break. I wanted to work with my hands, and this sort of fell in my lap.”

Buckley currently works in architectural sheet metal. Quintana plans to work in HVAC service.

In order to graduate from SMART Heroes, participants completed a seven-week course to earn the equivalent of their first-year sheet metal apprentice training (224 hours). Upon discharge from service, these graduates may choose to enter any of the 148 SMART apprenticeship programs in the United States and be provided direct entry and advanced placement as a second-year sheet metal apprentice, including a high probability of obtaining second-year apprentice wages and benefits.

SMART SM Local 67 (San Antonio and Austin, Texas) was able to team up with the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, Texas Union Roofing, former NFL running back Priest Holmes, the San Antonio Building Trades and Humana for a festive fishing event. Fish were caught, people were fed and great memories were made. Close to 200 fishing poles were donated to the next generation of young men and women to enjoy the outdoors. According to SM Local 67 Business Manager James May, “We had a great turnout Saturday morning for this event. We look forward to partnering up with these organizations in the future and thank them for their support.”