Over two weeks in February, 17 HFIAW members attended one or both of the Train the Trainer courses in Chicago to be better able to teach Advanced Pad Development and Advanced Metal Layout work.
The Advanced Pad Development class was taught by Gavin Daily from HFIAW Local 45 Toledo and Kevin Clark from HFIAW Local 17 Chicago over five days the week of Feb. 12. The following week, Daily, along with Shawn Craven and Ben Frank from Local 17, taught the Advanced Metal Layout class, which also lasted five days.
The two classes focused on complicated and detailed layouts and techniques that can be used when making removable pads or technical metal coverings. It is with advanced training that the IIIATF continues to foster education and betterment training within the Insulators Union.
Clark, who represented the At-Large Conference at the 2011 Master Apprentice Competition, recently transitioned to a part-time instructor position with Local 17. “Being able to teach the Advanced Pad Development class has been great. All of the lessons we are going over will help set my Brothers and Sisters up for success in the field,” he said.
Having previous experience with pads, Clark was able to educate the class attendees, but said he also learned from them in the process. “It all started with the instructors I had at Local 17,” said Clark. “They were great. I never pictured myself as a trainer or instructor, and I was a little bit nervous. After getting to have this experience, I would like to continue and hope my future includes being able to train the Insulators workforce.”
Daily, who has been teaching the IIIATF Advanced Pad Development and Advanced Metal Layout classes for the last five years said, “It is truly an honor to teach and educate the Brothers and Sisters around the International on the specialty crafts of our trade.”
The IIIATF would like to congratulate the HFIAW members who completed the Advanced Pad Development class: Daniel Kirwin from Local 6 Boston; Ryan Harshner from Local 27 Kansas City; Dave Gamble from Local 36 Portland; Irving Castillo from Local 67 Tampa; Sean Nagel from Local 81 Cedar Rapids; Trevor Weir from Local 95 Toronto; Bernard Alvarez, Kale Alvarez and Rodney Yoshikawa from Local 132 Honolulu; and Clay Starck from Local 133 Fargo.
The IIIATF would also like to acknowledge and commend the Brothers and Sisters who successfully finished the Advanced Metal Layout class: Dan Kirwin from Local 6 Boston; Jonathan Hughes from Local 8 Cincinnati; Rob Armour from Local 26 Rochester; Carl Dopson from Local 27 Kansas City; Dave Gamble from Local 36 Portland; Jacob Walker and Chris Harster from Local 67 Tampa; Ben Brummit from Local 81 Cedar Rapids; Joe Thomas from Local 86 Nashville; Trevor Weir from Local 95 Toronto; and Clay Starck from Local 133 Fargo.