TALKING SMART

  Jeff Proffitt Our guest this episode is Jeff Proffitt, who has been a member of Local 88 in Las Vegas, NV, for 28 years. He was previously the local’s training director and is currently serving as a business manager at Local 88. Brother Proffitt is also running for the Clark County School Board as a trustee from District B. It's a big position with one of the fastest-growing school districts in...

  Rich McClees This episode, we step back for a moment from the news of the day and talk with a long-time SMART member, apprenticeship instructor and international leader who helped build our union into what it is today. Outgoing SMART General Secretary-Treasurer Rich McClees sat down with us just before his retirement in 2019 to discuss changes he has seen in the industry, where SMART has been as...

  Mechelle McNew Last episode , we heard from two SMART sisters — Lisa Davis and Vanessa Carman — who discussed how they got into the industry, training and mentoring, growing diversity in construction and opportunities for women in the sheet metal trade.  In Episode 6, we continue that conversation with two more female leaders and activists in SMART who have taken the lead in creating new opportu...

  Lisa Davis In our fifth episode of Talking SMART, we hear from members of the SMART Women's Committee. While at the Partners in Progress conference in Las Vegas in February, we had a chance to sit down and talk with four SMART sisters who have taken the lead in breaking new ground for women in the building trades. They discussed how they got into the industry, growing diversity in construction a...

In the fourth episode of Talking SMART, we continue our focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on our members and their communities, and how SMART is mobilizing across North America to help members stay informed and be safe at home and on the job during this crisis. Our first guest is Steve Dodd, SMART’s director of government and legislative affairs.  Steve addresses emergency stimulus legisl...

In the third episode of Talking SMART, we hear from two local sheetmetal leaders about how they are working with signatory contractors to help us all get through this crisis. We also hear new updates about important COVID-19 related legislative issues impacting SMART members.  Our first guest is Andy Bredeson, business manager of Local 45 in Des Moines, Iowa, who talks with us about a collaborativ...

March 30, 2020 In the second episode of Talking SMART, we talk with SMART leadership about the impact the COVID-19 crisis is having on our members and their jobs, as well as how SMART is mobilizing across the United States and Canada to help and support members and communities in need.   We first hear from Randy Krocka, the head of SMOHIT – the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust. Rand...

The inaugural episode of the Talking-SMART podcast looks at a new proposal from Senate Republicans that poses a serious threat to our retirement security. Presented in a white paper by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), this plan would impose a new 10 percent tax on retirees and punish healthy plans with an 11-fold jump in fees. SMART General President Joseph Sellers is our featured guest as he disc...

SMART General President Joseph Sellers answers your questions about important topics facing union members, including rail safety, women in the sheet metal industry, the upcoming election and more.