Building More Than Metal: Creating Career Pathways with SMART Local 16 & The Sheet Metal Institute
Posted by katie.weibel
When you step inside the world of sheet metal, you quickly realize it’s far more than a single trade—it’s an entire ecosystem of skills, creativity, and opportunity. That was clear in my conversation with Ben, Training Coordinator for the Sheet Metal Institute apprenticeship, and Dustin, an organizer with SMART Local 16, whose passion for both the industry and the people entering it is unmistakable. Their work centers on outreach to high schools, community colleges, and CTE programs, helping students better understand what a career in the trades can look like and how accessible it can be.
At the core of SMART Local 16/Sheet Metal Institute’s apprenticeship is a model that challenges the traditional idea of higher education. Apprentices earn while they learn, receiving hands-on training without paying tuition or taking on student debt. Their education is primarily driven by real-world experience—about 80% on-the-job training—paired with classroom instruction provided through the Sheet Metal Institute, which delivers the educational portion of the apprenticeship. This structure ensures that learning is both practical and industry-aligned. With around 280 apprentices currently enrolled and approximately 75 graduating each year, the program continues to serve as a strong pipeline into the workforce across Portland and the Springfield/Eugene area, even as industry demand fluctuates.
What makes this pathway especially compelling is the sheer diversity within the sheet metal industry. Rather than training for a single role, apprentices are introduced to a wide range of specialties—HVAC, industrial fabrication, architectural work, residential and commercial projects, service, and testing—what Ben describes as “nine or ten trades in one.” While apprentices may gain exposure to different aspects of the trade, many develop deeper expertise in a particular area over time, depending on opportunity, interest, and job placement. This breadth strengthens their technical abilities while supporting long-term adaptability in a changing workforce.
Success in the program requires more than technical aptitude. Ben emphasized the value of being a hands-on, kinesthetic learner—someone who can take a flat piece of metal and envision how it becomes a functional, three-dimensional product. It’s a blend of spatial reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving, something he likened to industrial origami. Dustin added that soft skills are just as critical: showing up on time, taking direction, working collaboratively, and maintaining a willingness to learn. Safety awareness is also foundational, rooted in the reality of construction work and the importance of going home each day with all ten fingers intact.
For many apprentices, this program represents a meaningful pathway into the middle class. Apprentices begin earning at 50% of a journeyman’s wage and receive raises every six months as they progress. By the time they complete the program, many are earning well over $100,000 annually, with no college debt and a job—they don’t need to search for employment since they are already working. In addition to strong wages, members benefit from comprehensive healthcare, dental coverage, and pension plans that support long-term stability. Dustin shared his own experience as a single father raising four children, reflecting on how entering the trades provided the opportunity to support his family—a decision that has since influenced others in his family to follow a similar path.
SMART Local 16/Sheet Metal Institute is also deeply committed to meeting students where they are, particularly those who may not see themselves reflected in traditional college pathways. Their outreach includes partnerships with organizations such as ˿Ƶ, Oregon Tradeswomen, Constructing Hope, Portland Youth Builders, and Oregon Corrections Enterprises. Through these partnerships, they regularly participate in classroom presentations, career fairs, mock interviews, networking events, and student tours of their training facilities. Their collaboration with PCC Career Pathways and STEP has been especially impactful, with consistent engagement in welding cohorts, on-site presentations at Swan Island, and direct hiring of students into apprenticeships over the years.
Their training program is designed to evolve alongside industry needs. As Ben described it, the curriculum is a “living document,” constantly updated to reflect new technologies, employer demands, and large-scale projects shaping the region. With major contracts and rapid development happening across the Northwest, the need for skilled workers continues to grow, and SMART Local 16/Sheet Metal Institute is committed to ensuring their apprentices are prepared to meet that demand.
Looking ahead, the organization is preparing to host a regional apprenticeship competition that will bring together top apprentices from across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. The event will highlight multiple divisions within the trade, from HVAC to industrial work, and serves as a celebration of the skill, precision, and pride that define the profession.
SMART Local 16/Sheet Metal Institute continues to be an invaluable partner to PCC and a powerful example of what workforce development can look like when access, training, and community are prioritized. Their commitment to student success, industry excellence, and inclusive outreach makes them not only a strong employer partner, but a transformative force in the lives of the students they serve.