AIA Approves IMI “Green” Topics
The American Institute of Architects has issued new sustainability requirements for its 2009 continuing education program, and IMI offerings fit the bill. Approved topics include LEED and Masonry, Energy Efficient Masonry, and Air Barriers.
To learn more about sustainable masonry and IMI seminars, click here, or contact Maria Viteri at mviteri@imiweb.org. |
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“We’re looking for a level playing field,” says BAC Local 1 President Lanzafame |
Jobseekers and Politicos Crowd NYC Apprenticeship Awareness Day
Anyone wondering whether people are interested in construction careers got an answer just walking down the street outside IMI’s John B. Scola Training Center in Long Island City, NY recently, as 225 applicants waited for a chance to join BAC. Cheering them on were prominent national and local politicians who came to learn more about apprenticeship and IMI training. { more } |
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Expanding Minds and Manhours with New Products
While research and development of new products and applications is ongoing at The Flynn Center, a critical step is getting local designers and contractors comfortable using them at the local level, with programs like the recent
New Jersey New Products Expo. { more } |
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Flashing class for pre-job apprentices |
Connecticut Training Center Runs “Full Tilt”
In just 6500 square feet of classroom and shop space, the BAC Local 1 CT/IMI training center packs in a lot of learning, “We wanted to create a steady flow of quality craftspeople to strengthen our local,” says President and Secretary-Treasurer Gerry Marotti. That also assures owners that “you get what you pay for,” he says. { more } |
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 Reaching the Next Generation through ACE
Getting the best candidates into the trowel trades is more important than ever, and IMI is working more closely than ever with groups like the ACE Mentor program in key cities. { more } |
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| FLYNN CENTER PROFILES |
Contractors Stay Sharp with OSHA 500 Classes
Professionals from Kinateder Masonry in Wisconsin and Lorton Stone in Virginia are among many contractors and BAC officials taking advantage of OSHA train-the-trainer classes offered by IMI. It’s a streamlined way to bring staff up to speed, “and you always learn something new,” says Safety Director Jim Kinateder. { more } |
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Jobseekers and Politicos Crowd NYC Apprenticeship Awareness Day
 Political visitors, who included U.S. Congressmen Gary Ackerman (bottom left), and Joseph Crowley (bottom right), five state assembly members, Queens borough president and members of the NYC Council, were clearly impressed by the range of trades training offered by IMI, as well as the safety training that distinguishes BAC members. That training, plus union benefits and wages, enriches the community much more than contractors who skip benefits and even taxes, President Lanzafame told the officials,“We are not looking for any special help. We are just looking for a level playing field.” |
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Expanding Minds and Manhours with New Products
IMI New Jersey’s first New Products Expo this January introduced scores of local architects, engineers and BAC contractors to three new systems: Boston Valley Terra Cotta’s Ceramic Rain Screen Walls, Arriscraft’s Thin Clad Stone and New World Stoneworks’ laser cut natural stone. These systems are gaining popularity in the area, and IMI has helped prepare contractors and craftworkers for the work. Holding the event at the IMI training center helped underscore that point.
“It was great to have the designers and contractors blend at this event, which raises the comfort level for both,” says BAC New Jersey Administrative District Council Director Richard Tolson. “And there is always value to having the design community see our training in action.”
IMI also designs custom familiarization courses for new products, as needed. When BAC established jurisdiction over Arriscraft’s Arrisclip system last fall in New Jersey, IMI responded quickly. Now, several prominent projects, including Virtua Hospital sites and Rutgers University are using it, along with BAC craftworkers. In Boston, IMI runs a series of new product training  sessions for area contractors.
Next up: IMI Connecticut’s Masonry Day and New Products Expo, April 6. |
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Connecticut Training Center Runs “Full Tilt”
Between classes for pre-job and working apprentices, journeymen, contractors and even designers, “we run full tilt,” says Apprentice Coordinator Anthony Pacific. The center’s high utilization stems from the local’s decision a few years ago to switch from night classes to mandatory weekday attendance, as a way to boost quality union workmanship, and in turn, the union’s reputation.
All contractors and apprentices get training schedules, and apprentices even get reminder calls. Apprentices who miss school get terminated, period. While that causes some grumbling, “they are getting the message now that ‘the more you learn, the more you earn’,” says Marotti.
The concentrated training approach, which begins with careful screening, is a hit with contractors, too, he says. “They’ve seen the finished product and are pleased with what they get for their money.” Some contractors even accompany their foremen to specialty classes on a wide range of topics such as OSHA, First Aid/CPR, blueprint reading and foreman training.
For pre-job apprentices, Connecticut offers in-depth courses in brick and cement. For other trades like tile or PCC, where separate programs would stretch resources too thin, Local 1 takes advantage of The Flynn Center’s ongoing courses, plus specialized applications like tile mud work or Jahn restoration mortars. “We’re like a sponge,” says Marotti. “We’ll take whatever we can get there, and then we’ll keep it up here.”
Working apprentices have to fulfill 160 hours of related instruction, in addition to their on-the-job training hours. When they hit 70%, they face a series of skills tests. “We are heavy on the skills” to meet contractor’s demands for productivity, says Pacific.
That relentless emphasis on quality is necessary, says Marotti. “If we do not have a solid base of apprentices and solidly prepared journeymen, we will not have a local.” |
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Reaching the Next Generation through ACE
ACE, which stands for architecture, construction and engineering, was launched in 2002 to help high school students experience the design and construction professions. IMI helps give some “real world” experience by hosting ACE teams at its training centers, where they learn more about trade and safety training, and the technical resources available through IMI.
In January, 25 ACE Pittsburgh students got hands-on exposure to the trowel trades at the BAC Local 9 PA training center. It also provided a good opportunity to hear from BAC apprentices and officials about career options.
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Future construction managers at the University of Cincinnati saw what good masonry workmanship looks like. Competing in the annual IMI/UC Brick Column Competition, students got expert assists from Local 18 OH instructor John Eddings and apprentice Dave Meister. |
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| FLYNN CENTER PROFILES |
| Contractors Stay Sharp with OSHA 500 Classes |
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Jim Kinateder is hardly a novice about safety. In addition to his full time duties as safety director for the national firm, he co-chairs key industry mast climber committees.
Safety is ingrained in the firm itself, which last year won the Associated General Contractors of America’s prestigious Construction Safety and Excellence Award in the specialty division, with zero lost time accidents. Along with safety training for all new employees, the firm has a silica awareness program, engineering controls, scaffold training, and hearing testing. “We never want to put production over safety,” says Kinateder.
At the end of the day, a company’s safety performance “is only as good as the guys you’ve got working,” he believes.
Another belief is never stop learning. “I spend a lot of time being trained in everything,” says Kinateder. He is pleased that his new OSHA 500 certification will allow him to teach both the OSHA 10 hour and 30 hour courses, in a way that makes the most sense for his employees. “I want to train them on what we use every day.” Going through the IMI OSHA 500 program,’ he says, “is an opportunity to train all our personnel.”
Mark Sanders, superintendent for Lorton Stone, LLC, agrees. The Flynn Center course was the best way “to make sure that all our employees have OSHA training,” he says. With more than 120 employees to train in-house, the firm sent several key personnel, including two bilingual foremen.
In addition to the curriculum and the training materials, the IMI course was valuable “because it taught me how to teach,” says Sanders. “The trick is to keep their attention.”
Lorton foreman Jose Bugallo had two motivations: “to keep my company safe, and to improve myself.” With a largely Spanish-speaking workforce, he plays a key role in delivering safety training, and he plans to return for MSHA training later this year. “It’s good to refresh,” he says.
Some OSHA materials are available in Spanish through BAC locals. For more information, contact Mike Kassman, mkassman@imiweb.org. |
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Total Masonry Design Software
“ ...is a very thoughtful strategy grounded in good engineering and historic concepts.”
—William Thompson, AIA, Thompson & Burns, LLC
» Learn More |
IMI Contractor College offers a great way to polish management skills and keep up on the latest industry trends.
» 2009 Contractor College Schedule |
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The BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest is
coming this September. |
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