“Success Occurs When Preparation Meets Opportunity”

No truer words have ever been spoken or have been more evident than at this year’s Apprentice Graduation Ceremony hosted by the Southern California Sheet Metal Workers JATC at Disneyland Hotel on September 9, 2017. The apprentices from both the Bakersfield & So Cal JATC who graduated from their respective programs that evening entered the trade during one of the most difficult economic times that our country has ever faced. Yet, amid the chaos of construction slowdowns and layoffs they persevered and took advantage of the opportunity that lay before them.

In contrast to when these members first entered their apprenticeship programs, Southern California is now in the mist of one of the largest construction booms this region has ever witnessed, and though there most certainly will be tough times ahead, there also is no doubt that their experiences, along with their training during these past 5 years, has prepared them to survive for the long haul. The Bakersfield JATC Committee would like to congratulate all of the graduates on their remarkable success and accomplishment. May your careers be filled with ridiculous amounts of overtime-work and overscale-pay, and may it only end with a dignified retirement fit for union sheet metal workers.

Pictured from left to right- Bakersfield JATC Executive Assistant Patty Darrah, JATC Trustee Randy Journey, JATC Trustee David Shaver, Graduate Saul Salcedo, JATC Trustee Chip Martin, Graduate Nicholas Chavez, Graduate Manual Martinez, JATC Trustee Chris Gonzalez, Graduate Richard Gonzalez, SMART Local Union105 Business Manger & JATC Trustee Luther Medina, JATC Training Coordinator Will Scott.

More photos from this years graduation ceremony can be viewed Here