Outreach Specialist with the Central Midwest Carpenters, Gavin Gottfried, along with three others across the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), were given an award for the unwavering support that they have provided to the Military Veterans Program (MVP). They were presented a Flag of Valor by Executive Director of the UBC Millwright/Pile Driver Labor Management, Mark Benacquisto, at the UBC Millwright Leadership Conference held at the Carpenters’ International Training Center in Las Vegas.
https://www.cmwcarpenters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_180797.png20662611Marci Ping/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CMWCarpenterslogoFIN.pngMarci Ping2025-03-24 15:29:592025-03-25 10:29:56Military Outreach Makes Big Impact
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In February, we celebrated 863 graduates from 2020, 2021, and 2022: with over 400 walking across the stage for the Ohio Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program’s graduation ceremony. Read more
The Career Connections program is designed to help high school teachers introduce students to a career in carpentry. Students learn basic and intermediate carpentry, advanced skills in commercial and residential construction, and the essentials of construction site safety. The program also includes training in the employability that research shows employers value most, including: goal setting, positive attitude, punctuality, teamwork, and taking initiative.
The new Learning Management System (LMS) digital curriculum offers schools and teachers a way to engage students with both online and with limited in-person, hands-on learning. Completion of the program offers students a direct-entry into the apprenticeship program.
The apprenticeship is a four-year program that offers a solid education, in the classroom and on the job. Apprentices learn from a hands-on approach within the training centers and in the field. We take an “earn-as-you-learn” approach to our apprenticeship, ensuring you can earn a good, living wage with benefits for your family – right from the start. Apprentices also receive college credits throughout their program at no additional cost.
IKORCC apprenticeships offer a direct path to a rewarding career and a financially solid future. Financial security, high demand careers, pride in your skills, and a sense of community: the IKORCC apprenticeship delivers it all in a comprehensive, highly respected program.
Individuals interested may contact:
Indiana & Kentucky
Hope Harp Career Connections Specialist
771 Greenwood Springs Drive
Greenwood, IN 46143
P: 502.889.1677 hharp@ikorccjatf.org
Ohio
Jeremy Dennis Career Connections Specialist
1899 Arlingate Lane
Columbus, OH 43228
P: 419.566.3270 jdennis@ohcap.org
Written by: Dan Sustin, Training Coordinator of the Ohio Carpenters JATC, Richfield Campus
During the week of March 2nd–6th, the Richfield Training Center hosted a special out-of-town guest. Levi Beauchamp, the Training Coordinator and Instructor from the Alberta Carpenters Training Center, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, decided to take a field trip to Ohio.
It’s even easier than ever to get started in a new career. The Ohio Carpenters’ Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program is offering a new direct-entry pre-apprenticeship program at no cost.
This 40-hour class offered during evenings or weekends acts as a condensed orientation into carpentry, millwright, pile driving, and floor covering careers. Enrolling now for classes beginning in March, Pre-Apprentices will learn to use power tools in a safe manner and will receive college credit for the hours.
“I was considering becoming an electrician, but after I learned about the millwrights I changed my mind. I can’t wait to get started,” a high school senior at the Merrillville, Indiana open house said.
This high school senior summed it up perfectly. At the Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters we know that once students see our training in-person and learn more about the program, joining the apprenticeship is a no-brainer.
Students Get Hands-On Experience
Students particularly enjoyed the hands-on activities including virtual welding, nail challenge, and the floor covering challenge. Next year training centers plan to add a hands-on ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assesment) challenge which will teach students the importance of using barriers during construction in medical facilities to protect patients.
According to the Department of Labor, careers in skilled trades like carpentry, flooring, and welding are in high demand and the need for skilled workers will continue to rise with coming infrastructure improvements. This fact was evident in Grayson, Kentucky on Thursday when over 1,200 students visited the Grayson, Kentucky training center open house.
High Demand Jobs in Skilled Trades Help Boost Attendance
Over 30 busses lined the drive to the Grayson, Kentucky training center where students learned about our apprenticeship, participated in hands-on activities and met with contractors ready-to-hire.
“We have a great partnership with all of the local schools and a lot of people in Grayson work in the trades, so students understand the great life they can have with a career in our trades. Getting them out here to see it first-hand solidifies that idea and gets them ready to start their apprenticeship right after high school,” says IKORCC Senior Business Representative Jerry Yates.
Richfield, Ohio also had a very large turnout with 1100 attendees getting to see additional areas of our crafts, including millwork, pile driving, cabinetry, furniture making, stairs, and ceiling work.
“Work is so good here and word of that really alerts people to the fact that there are bonafide opportunities here. In this part of Ohio, we’ve got the majority of Ohio’s career connection partner schools, and these schools want their students to see what the next step is and that is our apprenticeship,” says Dan Sustin, training director for the Richfield Carpenters Training Center Campus.
Thank you to all the students, teachers, community leaders, politicians, vendors, contractors, and staff that helped make this year our most successful yet! Check out all the photos & videos from each open house by following the links below:
Last weekend we invited first-year carpenter apprentices in central Indiana to an apprentice appreciation breakfast. IKORCC senior representative Steve Hoyt says it’s the first of many events planned around Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio aimed at retaining and mentoring apprentices throughout their training.
“First, we want the apprentices to learn as much as they can & try to get as many tips as they can to be successful in the carpenters union. The other is for our staff to help mentor these individuals,” Hoyt says.
“We’re looking for the standouts, those are the kind of people we like to hire and we like to keep on,” says Wes Simpson with Mr. David’s Flooring.
In addition to a great breakfast, carpenter apprentices say they learned a lot of valuable information that will help them succeed with the carpenters.
“The most important thing is to always show up on time for everything, whether it’s your schooling or work,” says first-year carpenter apprentice Christopher Hudson.
“Basically keep a positive attitude, show up for work and do what you got to do to succeed,” said first-year apprentice Antoine Havvard
First-year carpenter apprentice Justin Eastman added, “The most important thing I learned today is how much support we have here and how many outlets we have to avoid a catastrophe with our apprenticeship. These people are here to help us, they have no ulterior motives, they don’t want to make our lives complicated, they just want to help. We aren’t here to make friends, but at the end of the day, we are brothers. Whatever you need help with reach out and make that phone call.”
This week, Indiana and Kentucky Instructors and on-the-job trainers had the opportunity to participate in a rigorous training for the latest Trimble Robotic Total Station. The Trimble Robotic Total Station is key to performing layout tasks more efficiently than with conventional mechanical systems. This training prepares our students and instructors alike to evolve with technological instruments that are leading the way in the Carpentry industry.
Director of Training for Indiana and Ohio, Jerry Burke says, “The Trimble training has given our Instructors the knowledge and resources to not only show our members how to perform Building Construction Layout and Data Collection in the most productive and efficient way, but will show increased value of our IKORCC workforce as the most innovative skilled craftsman.”
The training included an informational classroom lecture and hands-on learning with assistance from Trimble certified instructors. During the hands-on learning, instructors were able to conveniently set up the Trimble and perform positioning around the training center. The Trimble will allow for positioning up to 300 meters (9,843 feet) away with the prism pole. The new instrument can also be set-up and performed efficiently by one user. This will be the first hands-on robotic instrument in the training center for instructors and students to use. Ari Perez, an instructor out of the Indianapolis, IN Training Center said, “As instructors we feel that it is our duty to keep pace with the technological advancements of our industries.” We look forward to the many opportunities the new training will provide for our members.
For more information on Trimble Robotic Total Station Training, contact a Training Center near you.
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Did you know that the IKORCC Apprenticeship Program pays you to learn and allows you to graduate debt-free with an associate degree from Cuyahoga (Tri-C), Ivy Tech, or Owens community college? With thousands of apprentices and hundreds of thousands of hours of training per year, our three state apprenticeship is leading the way against the competition. Learn more about the IKORCC Apprenticeship Program by contacting your local IKORCC office or by emailing website@ikorcc.com.
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High school students interested in trade programs have new options amidst the pandemic. With many schools going virtual or shifting to a hybrid learning model, technical programs are adapting to meet new standards. The 
Steve Hoyt says it’s the first of many events planned around Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio aimed at retaining and mentoring apprentices throughout their training.
