dsharma, Author at SMART Union

By Terry Bierwirth, Second Story Marketing Group

No debt. No delay. Just work, school and a plan.

When Tobias Romero walked across the stage at Albuquerque’s Valley High School in May 2026, he carried more than graduation cords on his shoulder. He carried years of hard work, a long list of accomplishments and a life-changing decision most 18-year-olds are not fully prepared to make.

Tobias graduated fourth in his class with a 4.65 GPA. He had taken Advanced Placement courses, and he served as student council treasurer, National Honor Society secretary and student representative on the Instructional Council.

The biggest impact, however, was spending three years inside Valley’s Engineering the Future (EtF) magnet program, where he studied engineering and metals, learned CAD, worked with CNC machines and became the student other students counted on in the shop. Inside EtF, Tobias found the place where design and hands-on work meet.

EtF provides hands-on, project-based experiences that connect technical skills, problem-solving, leadership and real career pathways. One of those projects was a public stage mural for the Westside Community Center in Albuquerque’s South Valley. Tobias helped with the CAD work and blueprints, making sure the dimensions were right and the design could be sent out, cut and assembled correctly.

But EtF wasn’t Tobias’s introduction to the trades; he started working for AB Honest One Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, a local company owned by a family friend, when he was 13. He began as a laborer, carrying materials and helping wherever he was needed. Over time, he watched, listened, worked and learned.

Combined with the EtF program, that kind of work left a strong impression on him.

There is something different about building something that will exist outside of a classroom. Something that requires your mind, your hands and your attention to detail. That connection is part of what eventually led Tobias to sheet metal.

Choosing between college and a career in the trades

Tobias had done everything a high-achieving student is told to do. Because of that, he had choices.

He had not only been accepted to several universities — including University of New Mexico, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and Northern Arizona University — but he also received scholarship offers, including a full ride and presidential scholarship to High Point University in North Carolina. For a long time, college seemed like the obvious direction. Then Tobias began to look at the full picture.

He looked at the cost. He looked at the debt. He looked at the years it would take before he could begin earning a real income. He looked at his family.

And he made a difficult but clear decision. He stayed in New Mexico. Not because he lacked ambition — but because he had so much of it.

Tobias did not give up on college. He changed the order. He chose to go to work, become a member of SMART Local 49, begin the apprenticeship program and take online college courses. For Tobias, that decision was about responsibility.

“I do not want to get into any student debt,” he said. “I do not want to be struggling and paying off these loans later in life.”

He also did not want his parents to carry the financial weight of his education.

His mother is a nurse at Presbyterian Hospital and the primary source of income for their family. His father, a former corrections officer, was injured in his previous job. Tobias is the oldest of four children, with the youngest being only four years old.

“I feel like parents should not have to pay for your schooling,” he said. “You should be able to figure that out, especially with what you’re wanting to do in your life.”

How Local 49 showed Tobias the SMART union difference

Before he graduated, Tobias was still thinking about college. His former Valley welding instructor, Shawn Coffey, understood why. Coffey, now outreach coordinator for Local 49’s Training Center, had taught Tobias at Valley. He knew Tobias had the grades, intelligence and drive to pursue a traditional college path. He also knew Tobias had the mind for the trade.

“Tobias is a fantastic young man,” Coffey said. “It took some work to help him see the opportunity in the trade because he was originally focused on college. Once he learned about detailing and how he could use his engineering mind in this industry, he became very interested.”

Coffey also knew Tobias was not the only one who needed to understand the opportunity. His parents had questions too. Coffey sat down with them and explained the apprenticeship, the trade, the detailing opportunity and Tobias’s ability to begin earning an income right away. Once they understood the path, they were fully supportive.

That was the turning point. Tobias was not being asked to walk away from his interest in engineering. He was being shown a career where he could use it.

Through Local 49 and signatory contractor Yearout Mechanical, Tobias learned about detailing and design work in the sheet metal industry. He learned that the trade was not only field work. It was also planning, coordination, CAD, problem-solving and technical design.

Signing Day: Celebrating the next generation of the trades

Tobias interviewed with Yearout in January. From that point forward, he stayed in touch and waited for graduation so he could officially begin. Then came Signing Day.

Valley held a special stole ceremony for the 60 students who participated in EtF. Students were honored for their time in the program and for the pathways they had completed. Tobias received a stole recognizing his three years in engineering and metals. When the ceremony ended, the room shifted into Signing Day. One by one, students sat down to sign letters of intent, with nine EtF students signing with signatory contractors of Local 49.

L-R Santiago Gallegos, EtF Grad, Shawn Coffey, Tobias, EtF Grad, Gabriel Carrillo

For years, students have been celebrated for signing athletic scholarships or committing to universities. James Magofee, director of safety and manpower for Yearout Mechanical, saw the value in bringing that same level of recognition to students choosing skilled trades careers. He understood that students committing to work, apprenticeship and a skilled career deserve to be honored too.

As Tobias signed with Yearout, he knew he was making a real commitment. He was signing with an employer, stepping into Local 49 and beginning a career.

“I was definitely relieved and happy because I knew I was investing into my future,” he said.

Paving the way to a long-term career via SMART’s apprenticeship program

The work Tobias will begin with Yearout as a detailer is a rare opportunity for someone coming directly out of high school.

“Less than one percent of applicants get the opportunity to begin in an office position as a detailer,” said Isaiah Zemke, Local 49 business manager. “Tobias has earned a rare opportunity, and we are excited to see what he does with it.”

Cassandra Gonzales, assistant principal for Engineering the Future at Valley High School, is not surprised.

“Tobias is a great young man,” Gonzales said. “I believe in him. He was one of our strongest students, and he is capable of doing whatever he puts his mind to.”

Tobias started Local 49’s orientation the week after graduation and entered the sheet metal apprenticeship with advanced credit for his experience in EtF.

Grades matter. Scholarships matter. Recognition matters. But Tobias understands something else too. Work ethic matters just as much.

“I want to be seen as somebody who is reliable and trustworthy and sticks to their word,” he said. “I am continuously ambitious and continuously push myself to grow.”

Welcome to SMART, brother!

Also signing letters of intent with Local 49 signatory contractors were:

Nicole Campos, Yearout Mechanical
Santiago Gallegos, Yearout Mechanical
Allan Marquez, Yearout Mechanical
Andres Andrade, Butler Sheet Metal & Mechanical
Adrian Alvarez, Yearout Mechanical
Armando Silva, Butler Sheet Metal & Mechanical
Gabriel Carrillo, Butler Sheet Metal & Mechanical
Eli Hershey, JB Henderson

Edmonton, AB – On National Indigenous Peoples Day, SMART Canada recognizes the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples while reaffirming its commitment to creating meaningful pathways into the unionized skilled trades.

Through partnerships with Indigenous communities, training organizations, service providers, and local unions, SMART Canada is expanding access to pre-apprenticeship programs, apprenticeships, and long-term careers in the sheet metal and roofing industries. These partnerships help remove barriers to entry, provide mentorship, and connect Indigenous workers with rewarding careers.

“National Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to celebrate the history, cultures, and achievements of Indigenous Peoples while recognizing the importance of building strong partnerships that create opportunities for future generations,” said Jack Wall, Director of Canadian Affairs for SMART Canada. “SMART Canada is committed to working alongside Indigenous communities and organizations to ensure more Indigenous workers can access high-quality training, lifelong careers, and the many benefits of SMART union membership.”

One example of a successful partnership is the collaboration between SMART Local 8 (Alberta) and Trade Winds to Success. Together, they are helping Indigenous community members explore careers in the sheet metal trade by connecting them with pre-apprenticeship training, mentorship, and hands-on learning opportunities. This is a new partnership designed to support participants at every step of their journey, from initial recruitment and engagement through to apprenticeship entry and beyond. Through support and industry connections, this partnership helps participants develop the skills, confidence, and experience needed to enter apprenticeship programs and build rewarding careers with SMART Canada.

“Trade Winds has seen many Indigenous people build better lives for themselves and their families through careers in the skilled trades. These successes are made possible through strong partnerships that bring together shared strengths and a common commitment to reducing educational and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with SMART Local 8 to offer the Sheet Metal Worker pathway,” said Carol Lee, Manager – Program Delivery, Trade Winds to Success.

SMART Canada recognizes that building an inclusive workforce requires ongoing commitment and collaboration. By working with Indigenous communities and organizations across the country, SMART is helping ensure that the next generation of skilled tradespeople reflects the diversity, talent, and strength of Canada.

“At SMART Local 8, we are committed to recruiting, training, and supporting members through every stage of their career journey. Our partnership with Trades Winds to Success reflects that commitment by helping introduce Indigenous Albertans to the sheet metal trade through pre-apprenticeship training and focusing on hireable skills. By connecting participants with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities available through SMART, we are supporting Indigenous communities, strengthening our workforce, and ensuring the next generation of sheet metal workers have the tools they need to succeed,” said Dan Lee, Training Coordinator at SMART Local 8.