Intern Training Day At New Livermore Facility
This year’s Intern Training Day was held at the new Livermore JATC. Twenty-five interns started their morning with an introduction by Kathy de Jong, who talked about Bay Area SMACNA’s role in benefiting our industry and our relationship with the apprenticeship program and SMART. Training Coordinator Nate Vennarucci then gave the interns a detailed tour of the new facility, showing how they use the equipment and training rooms to give the apprentices hands-on, real-world experiences.
The mix of shop, field and office interns had the opportunity to listen to three unique leaders in our industry who have grown exponentially in their careers:
Duane Davies, CEO of National Air Balance and Bay Area SMACNA Executive Board member, discussed his start as a sheet metal apprentice and how he took advantage of opportunities to learn and contribute to the organization — eventually purchasing the company. He also spoke on numerous topics, including the importance of TAB and smoke control systems.
Yindy Felkins, Vice President of Western Allied Mechanical and Bay Area SMACNA board member, shared her distinctive story of starting as an intern and working her way up to increasingly challenging roles to eventually become a part owner of the company.
Tony Lowe, Superintendent of Southland Industries, also shared his rise in the organization leading crews on small to complex $300M projects. He shared the importance of defining your success by your actions and reputation, and gave those attending the class a new perspective. When he asked how many people in the room would he look to hire and why he/she stood out, interns got the “aha” that they were sending signals on their attitude and aptitude whether they realized it or not. For example, Tony stated those who were taking notes and asking good questions would be the first ones he would hire as apprentices.
All three speakers reiterated that having strong technical skills as interns and apprentices is crucial for success in their roles. However, they also stressed the significance of punctuality and consistency. Arriving early to work every day demonstrates a strong work ethic and commitment to the job. It also reflects positively not only on the individual, but on the reputation of the company they work for.