A record attendance of 73 CAL SMACNA contractors, labor representatives, JATC coordinators and trainers took part in the Western States Apprenticeship Conference (WSAC) on October 6th and 7th in Honolulu, HI. Our gracious host was Art Tolentino (Business Manager of SMART Local 293) and the event was Co-Chaired by Rick Werner (Business Manager, SMART Local 104) and Paul Irwin, (Bay Area SMACNA, Bay Area JATC Trustee, Bell Products).
This two-day conference was organized by Dion Abril (Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers) with content and agendas thoughtfully laid out by Tim Myres (Co-Administrator Bay Area JATC). During this time, our contractor representatives joined hands with JATC coordinators, trainers and labor representatives from California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii to discuss critical training and recruitment challenges, best practices and other issues currently confronting our apprenticeship programs.
California management attendees included Paul Irwin, Mike Hilgert (CAL SMACNA President, Superior Duct), Sheri Learmonth (Bay Area SMACNA, Commissioner on the California Apprenticeship Council, Marina Mechanical), Michael Dean (SMACNA-SoCal, AireMasters, Trustee of Southern CA JATC), Gary Myers (Sacramento SMACNA, Intech Mechanical, Trustee Sacramento Valley JATC), Brian Hill (Tri-Counties, Northern San Joaquin, Central Valley SMACNA EVP, Administrator of Tri-Counties JATC) and recently retired Phill Phillips (Bay Area SMACNA, Southland).
The common thread amongst the management attendees in 2025 is their hard work and dedication to our JATC sheet metal training centers in southern, central and northern California. In addition to the high caliber of SMACNA contractors, it is a skilled and trained workforce that remains a primary distinction between union and non-union contractors within the industrial, commercial and residential sheet metal and HVAC marketplace. As such, the continued improvement and quality of our JATCs to be able to consistently produce the best talent available is essential to our collective success.
The agenda for the 2025 WSAC included: 1) Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence, 2) Outreach Best Practices, 3) Utilizing iTi Welding Curriculum, 4) NEMI Updates, 5) Western States Apprenticeship Contests, 6) Cyber Security Playbook for JATCs and 7) Mega Projects Training. Milwaukee Tools was also there to give us an update on their current line of products and support for our apprenticeship programs.
On day two of the conference, attendees enjoyed hearing the inspirational remarks and updates from Michael Coleman, SMART General President and John Daniel, SMART General Secretary-Treasurer.
In 2026, the WSAC will be in Arizona on October 5-9. If you’re not already involved in your local JATC – consider doing so. If you are already involved and interested in taking part in the 2026 WSAC please reach out to your local JATC Coordinator or SMACNA Chapter EVP for more information.