Two Local 16 sheet metal workers
chosen as top 12 in the United States
This is only the second
Doug Haase and Amelia
year that the detailing cate-
Kelsay, members of Sheet
gory has been open to both
Metal Workers Local 16 in
apprentices and journeymen.
Portland, are two of only 12
Haase is an 18-year member
detailers in the United States
of Local 16, and Kelsay
and Canada to qualify as final-
joined the union in 2004.
ists in the detailing category of
“I am proud to represent
the 40th annual International
A MELIA
our local and compete with
Sheet Metal Competition,
K ELSAY
some of the best detailers,”
slated March 5-9 in Las Vegas.
Haase said. “The detailing
The competition is hosted
certification test is a very
by the International Training
good test — I bet this will be
Institute (ITI), the education
harder.”
arm of the unionized sheet
Kelsay is looking at the
metal and air conditioning in-
experience as a chance to
dustry.
watch and learn. Although
The Sheet Metal Institute,
which is the training center for D OUG H AASE she has yet to find full-time
work, she is a part-time in-
Local 16, was the only one to
produce more than one of the 12 detail- structor at the Sheet Metal Institute in
ers in the competition, and Kelsay is Portland.
ITI’s Benchmark building informa-
the first and only woman to make it
tion modeling software is one of the
into the top 12.
A sheet metal detailer designs com- tools detailers use to make sure that
plicated, behind-the-walls systems of every length of HVAC ductwork and
buildings which the public hardly ever each fitting is built to exact measure-
sees. To get to the finals, detailers com- ments and standards.
“The Benchmark certification has
pleted a two-and-a-half-day test, and
were ranked based on their scores. The provided me the education and knowl-
finalists represent different parts of the edge to take the next step in my career
United States, including Hawaii. Join- goal of becoming a full-time union de-
ing Haase and Kelsay in Las Vegas is tailer,” Kelsay said. “I am going into this
Jaymes Fleming of Western Washing- competition without any expectations.
ton Sheet Metal Workers Local 66 in Any success or jobs that may come from
this would be icing on the cake.”
Everett, Wash.
MARCH 2, 2012
In addition to the detailing category,
apprentices will compete in five sheet
metal disciplines, including HVAC
(heating, ventilating and air condition-
ing), industrial/welding, service, archi-
tectural and TAB (Test Adjust Balance
in heating and air conditioning).
The competition will take place at
Caesars Palace. It is held in conjunction
with the 2012 Partners in Progress Con-
ference, which is hosted by a partner-
ship between the Sheet Metal Workers
Union and the Sheet Metal and Air
Conditioning Contractors’ National As-
sociation (SMACNA).
A reception and awards banquet
will take place the evening of March 9.
The winner of the detailing category
will take home a new Harley-Davidson
motorcycle.
‘American Made’
in the Northwest
Mon-Fri 9:30-7:30 Sat 9:30-5:30 Sun 12-6
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
PAGE 5