The International Insulation Industry Apprenticeship and Training Fund (IIIATF) held a three-day Joint Apprenticeship Conference (JAC) in June.
The event is traditionally held in conjunction with the Master Apprentice Competition (MAC), and as of 2019, it was combined with the Local Union Officers Meeting. Out of an abundance concern for the health and safety of all those who would have traditionally attended the in-person event, the decision was made to hold the training virtually.
Winners of the 2020 and 2021 W. F. Pablo Blieker Awards were announced at the beginning of the conference with General President Gregory T. Revard, General Secretary-Treasurer Douglas N. Gamble and the General Executive Board in virtual attendance.
Congratulations to 2020 Pablo Award Winner Local 24 Business Manager Brian Cavey and 2021 Pablo Award Winner Local 17 Training Coordinator Bob McGuckin.
Besides the awards, numerous other topics were covered during the three days. IIIATF Administrator John L. Stahl and IIIATF Administrative Assistant Christina Bouchard reviewed the Online JATC Training website and the Time Card Manager.
Local 14 Instructor Matt McDowell, Local 16 Instructor Johnathon Blaine and Local 17 Instructor Ben Frank reviewed a new layout for an Armaflex One Piece Equal Lateral, a Tank head Shortcut, updated files for layouts, as well as teaching the Geogebra Layout Program for application and use at the JATC level.
Tom Germuska and Laura Ziemianski from BMA Media Group reviewed a variety of online recruitment, online training and the updated video library assets that can be used by Instructors to teach certain techniques –both in and out of the classroom.
On the second day of the virtual conference, Local 17 Instructor Shawn Craven and Local 23 Training Coordinator Pete Deimler gave a Soft Skills presentation and provided the attendees with real-life examples.
Local 17 Training Coordinator Bob McGuckin and Organizer Bob Flynn discussed and gave an overview of the Mechanical Insulation CODE Presentation that their Local uses to garner work in the area.
This was followed by Workforce Risk and Worker Wellbeing Vice President Calvin Beyer and Client Executive Allison Hill from the brokerage firm of Cobb, Strecker, Dunphy and Zimmermann who provided mental health and suicide prevention training.
The last day of the conference started with a presentation from Local 95 Training Coordinator Trevor Weir on
the Hammerheads Group, an organization that works with members transitioning from the military in Ontario, and puts them to work in construction industry careers.
In a combined presentation that lasted the remainder of the day, Local 12 Training Coordinator Joe Rodgers, Local 16 Training Coordinator Billy Hodges and Instructor Johnathon Blaine, Local 17 Training Coordinator Bob McGuckin and Local 34 Training Coordinator Eric Houske co-presented on distance learning.
The topics included training and teaching techniques that can be used with online and distance learning. With many JAC classes remaining online or in a hybrid setting, the group discussed the updated U.S. Department of Labor Distance Education Requirements and what those classes look like. They also talked about the set up and execution and reviewed various programs that have implemented and found success with the practice.
The IIIATF thanks the members of the Steering Committee for their hard work and dedication to training to
make this event a continual success: Local 1 Training Coordinator Terry Walsh, Local 6 Training Coordinator Richard Rothwell, Local 12 Training Coordinator Joe Rodgers, Local 14 Training Coordinator Ed Krawczyk, Local 16 Training Coordinator Billy Hodges and Instructor Johnathon Blaine, Local 17 Training Coordinator Bob McGuckin and Instructor Shawn Craven, Local 18 Training Coordinator Todd Conn, Local 23 Training Coordinator Pete Deimler, Local 24 Business Manager Brian Cavey and Training Coordinator Jim Hoos, Local 32 Training Coordinator Derek Vergari, Local 34 Training Coordinator Eric Houske, Local 86 Training Coordinator Shane Hammock, Local 95 Training Coordinator Trever Weir and Local 110 Training Coordinator Dan Annett.