N. Nevada Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship

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!

Local 26 JATC, helping our community!

Local 26 supporting the Wolf Pack! 🐺 ⚾️

Our first-year apprentices demonstrated outstanding adaptability and teamwork when the plasma table unexpectedly went down during lab operations.

Rather than allowing the setback to slow progress, the group stepped up and transitioned to hand layout with professionalism and determination. Their willingness to apply traditional layout skills, problem-solve under pressure, and continue producing quality work reflects the strong work ethic and craftsmanship we strive to develop in the apprenticeship program.

The experience highlighted not only their technical abilities, but also their resilience, positive attitude, and commitment to getting the job done regardless of the circumstances.