N. Nevada Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship

Congratulations to our 2nd Year A Class apprentices on successfully completing their second year of training!

We would also like to recognize the winners of our End-of-Year Sheet Metal Contest:

🥇 1st Place – Marie Smith
🥈 2nd Place – Blake Freed
🥉 3rd Place – Nicholas Luna

A special thank you to the Local 26 Union team for joining us to present the awards and share valuable insights on what apprentices can expect as they begin the next phase of their training.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to JATC Trustees Sean O'Keefe and Shane Henderson for their continued support and commitment to our apprenticeship program.

What a great time at Aces Ballpark for Apprenticeship and Union Night! ⚾

JATC Trustees, Sean O’Keefe and Shane Henderson, enjoyed connecting with the community and sharing information about Local 26 and our JATC training program. It was a fun evening of baseball, networking, and highlighting the opportunities available through apprenticeship.

Congratulations to our third-year apprentices on successfully completing their third year of training! With just one year remaining, they are entering the final stretch of their apprenticeship journey.

We would also like to recognize the winners of our end-of-year Sheet Metal Contest:

🥇 1st Place – Oscar Gonzalez
🥈 2nd Place – Brian Killingsworth
🥉 3rd Place – Drake Morrow

A special thank you to the Local 26 Union team for joining us to present the awards and speak with the class about what to expect in their final year of apprenticeship. We greatly appreciate the support of JATC Trustees, Sean O'Keefe and Shane Henderson and Local 26 Organizer, Cesar Carrillo.

Great job to all of our apprentices on another successful year!

Congratulations to these outstanding Local 26 members on earning their AWS welding certifications:

Jordan Wilson — AWS D9.1 Sheet Metal Welding Certification
Daniel Olivas — AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Certification and AWS D9.1 Sheet Metal Welding Certification
Brandon Reyes — AWS D9.1 Sheet Metal Welding Certification
Matt Solomon — AWS D9.1 Sheet Metal Welding Certification

These certifications represent countless hours of training, precision, preparation, and dedication to the craft. Earning these qualifications is no small feat, and each accomplishment reflects the pride and professionalism these members bring to the trade every day.

Congratulations again to all, we’re proud to see your continued growth and commitment to excellence!

Thank you to everyone who joined us today at Pinocchio’s Bar and Grill to celebrate our 4th-year apprentices at their graduation lunch!

All of our apprentices truly appreciate the support from Shane Henderson, Sean O’Keefe, and Tom Blotzke, along with everyone from Local 26, Ivan Perez from the International, Andrew Scolaro, Aleks Peraza, and the instructors and staff at the JATC. And Local 26 retiree, John Gavin.

It was a wonderful celebration and a great way to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of these apprentices. Special thanks to Pinocchio’s in Sparks for doing an excellent job hosting us!

Our 4th Year Apprentices successfully completed their year-end project — building a Super Bender! Their hard work, skill, and teamwork truly brought this project to life. “Shiny metal success!”

Congratulations to our 4th Year Apprentices, Class of 2026!

We are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved through years of hard work, dedication, perseverance, and growth. Your commitment and determination have brought you to this milestone, and it has been amazing to watch your journey.

The future is bright, and we know each of you has incredible opportunities ahead. Congratulations Tinners!

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting students from Debbie Smith CTE Academy High School’s Engineering and Welding programs at our JATC Training Center for an exciting, hands-on field trip experience. Leading the group was engineering instructor Brian Fitzgerald, along with several talented students who participated in this year’s SkillsUSA competition hosted at our training center.

We were especially proud to welcome Sam, this year’s SkillsUSA Architectural Drawing Champion!

During their visit, students toured our facility, including the sheet metal and welding shops, classrooms, and computer lab. They also had the opportunity to work side by side with our 4th year apprentices on a sheet metal project, guided by our dedicated instructors and staff.

We wrapped up the day with a Q&A session and pizza lunch, giving students the chance to learn more about careers in the trades and the many opportunities available through apprenticeship programs. Our program allows apprentices to earn while they learn, attend classes at our training center, and earn college credit along the way.

One student is about to graduate and has already applied to our apprenticeship program! It was a great day with a great group!

Today, we attended the Ace High School Career Fair held at Truckee Meadows Community College. It was a great opportunity to connect with students and share information about our apprenticeship program and careers in the construction industry.

Our JATC Instructor, Cody Camacho, and 4th-year apprentice, Aiden Arnold — an ACE High School alumnus — attended the event and spoke with students about their experiences and career paths.

A big thank you to Kellie Jonas, Workforce Development Administrator at ACE (Academy for Career Education), for organizing the event and inviting us to participate!