January 3, 2023 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) will hold its annual Convention and Trade Show March 28-31, 2023 in St. Augustine, Fla., at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort. Former Notre Dame football player, Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, will give the Keynote Presentation.

“We are thrilled to have Ruettiger share his personal experiences with our attendees,” said R. Pete Gum, SEAA’s Executive Director. “More than just an exceptional athlete and motivational speaker, Ruettiger is also an entrepreneur with insights that members can apply to their own businesses,” said Gum.

2023 marks 30 years since Tristar Productions immortalized Rudy’s life story in the blockbuster film named for him. It’s a story of adversity and triumph about the Notre Dame football player who sacked the quarterback in the last 27 seconds of the only play in the only game of his college football career. Today, Rudy Ruettiger is an Emmy Award Winning motivational speaker, author, and producer.

The Convention will feature ten additional education sessions for Owners, Managers, and Field Personnel. This includes panel discussions with the 2023 Project of the Year, Safety Excellence, and Craft Training Excellence Award Winners and a panel discussion on current trends in structural fastening with representatives from several fastening suppliers. Other sessions will cover succession planning, fall rescue planning and execution, risk management solutions for crane operations in steel erection, and a session highlighting changes to the RCSC bolt code.

​The Trade Show provides erectors and fabricators a chance to see the latest products, services and innovations they need for a safer and more productive work site. “We will have more than three hours of dedicated trade show time at indoor and outdoor booths, with hands-on presentations from exhibitors for a highly-engaged trade show experience,” said Carrie Gulajan, SEAA’s Events Committee Chairperson.

Excursion highlights include the George R. Pocock Memorial Golf Tournament hosted by The Slammer & Squire Golf Course, a fishing tournament along the Intercostal Waterway, and a tour of the historic Lightner Museum.
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Learn more about SEAA’s annual convention and trade show at SEAA.net/events. Early Bird Registration for the event ends on January 31, 2023.

August 10, 2022 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) announces that it has received U.S. Department of Labor approval of its revised National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards. The revision was written to include the occupation Reinforcing Ironworker Concrete in addition to the existing occupation of Structural Steel Ironworker.
 
“This apprenticeship standard provides members with a model for creating and registering formal training programs that meet both State and Federal government requirements for local apprenticeships,” said Pete Gum, Executive Director.
 
“SEAA members work on both structural and reinforcing steel projects, however, the tasks and training needed to be a reinforcing ironworker are different from those for a structural ironworker. This apprenticeship standard more accurately reflects the knowledge and skills required for both types of ironworkers,” said Jack Nix, Chairman of the Membership Committee.
 
“It is equally important that we provide members with the training tools to support all ironworking occupations,” said Gum.
 
As an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor, SEAA already provides a robust structural steel ironworker training curriculum available for members to use. Participation provides members with administrative and implementation support in becoming an NCCER Training Unit and/or Authorized Assessment Site.
 
“To support the reinforcing ironworker apprenticeship standard, Tim Eldridge, President of Education Services Unlimited and SEAA’s Craft Training and Assessment Administrator, and member company Shelby Erectors, worked closely with NCCER to develop a complementary reinforcing ironwork curriculum,” said Gum. The custom curriculum can be purchased through the association.
 
In addition, SEAA members who participate in the association’s craft training program have access to the structural and reinforcing ironworker training materials, as well as many other NCCER craft titles. For more information, contact Tim Eldridge at 980-722-9373 or [email protected].
 
About Steel Erectors Association of America
Founded in 1972, SEAA is the only national trade association representing the interests of steel erectors, fabricators, contractors, and related service providers. The association promotes safety, education and training programs for steel erector trades, including its Ironworker Craft Training curriculum. The association works in partnership with other steel construction, design, and steel product organizations to protect the interests of those who construct steel structures. Learn more at www.seaa.net.

February 21, 2022 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) hosted nearly 300 students from five school districts and several dozen military veterans for its construction career fair in January 2022. SEAA’s Long Range Planning Committee spearheaded the event, which was hosted by member company Adaptive Construction Solutions, Inc., at their training facility in Houston, Texas.  ​

​Six member companies from the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) are providing Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to work with NCCER to revise curriculum for Ironworker, Reinforcing Ironworker, and Welding. In addition, the organizations are exploring the interest level for possible future development of a Steel Fabrication curriculum.

“SEAA’s relationship with NCCER goes back many years and continues to evolve as training needs change,” said Geoff Kress, President of SEAA. “We value the opportunity to contribute to curriculum development to meet the specific needs of our members,” he said.

Among the SMEs representing SEAA working on these projects are:

• Mike Adams, Gulf Coast Rebar Inc.
• John Garrison, Garrison Steel Erectors Inc.
• Greg MacLiver, All Things Metal
• Bryan McClure, Trivent Safety Consulting
• Jack Nix, Shelby Erectors Inc.
• Scott Wilson, Steel Fabricators, LLC

Jack Nix, Vice President of Operations, Shelby Erectors Inc., is acting as an SME for the Reinforcing Ironworker curriculum. “Rodbusters require somewhat different skills than structural ironworkers. I am glad NCCER has decided to update this training to acknowledge those differences. The Reinforcing Ironworker craft training program provides the knowledge needed to succeed. The work itself is physically demanding and labor intensive, but a well-trained crew is safer and more efficient when properly trained,” said Nix.

In addition, several SEAA members include steel fabricators who have been seeking training for fabrication personnel for skills such as blueprint reading, math and measuring, in addition to cutting and welding techniques. NCCER is actively exploring the interest level for development of this type of curriculum. Fabrication companies can provide input by completing this survey.

“Participation in the SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Craft Training Program gives SEAA members access to dozens of other construction craft training, assessments, and certifications,” said Tim Eldridge, President of Education Services Unlimited and SEAA’s Craft Training and Assessment Administrator. “Popular with SEAA members is Crane Operator, Rigger, and Signalperson training.” There are currently more than 30 SEAA members across the country that participate in the SEAA/NCCER network of training units and assessment sites. For more information, visit SEAA.net/craft-training.

April 5, 2021 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) The Steel Erectors Association of America supports the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. The week-long focus on fall prevention will be held May 3-7, 2021.

The SEAA Board of Directors announces that Tom Underhill, Executive Director, retired as of December 31, 2020. He served in that role from 2011 to 2020.

“We appreciate Tom’s years of service both as the association’s director and before that as a past
president of the association,” said Geoff Kress, SEAA President.

Under the direction of Underhill, SEAA implemented its Ironworker Craft Training Program and achieved U.S. DOL-approval of its Ironworker Apprenticeship, re-launched Connector magazine, and has worked closely with other industry groups on technical standards, workforce development issues, and promotion of erector and fabricator interests.

“Hiring a new Executive Director is the first priority of the Board of Directors,” said David Deem,
Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee. “However, the association is first conducting a full evaluation to assist in selecting an Executive Director that will help the association position itself to meet the future needs of members.”

“Like many organizations, the past year has forced us to re-examine how we conduct the business of the association in a way that assures we will remain relevant and responsive to the needs of steel erection and fabrication contractors,” said Kress. In the meantime, the association continues business as usual under the management of its Board of Directors and with assistance of staff.

SEAA is preparing its 2021 editorial calendar for Connector magazine. We’d like to know what you are interested in reading about next year. Topics can be on technology, steel erection challenges,
management processes, practical field issues or techniques, etc. Submit your suggestions
to [email protected]. Our archive of past magazines is available online. 

Not receiving Connector? Subscriptions are free to qualified industry representatives.

The Steel Erectors Association of America announces that the Ironworker Skills Institute, Pell City, Ala., which educates future generations of ironworkers, will receive this year’s SEAA Craft Training Grant.

Designated for member companies who are newly implementing SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Training and Assessment programs, the grant covers initial setup, training for administrators, instructors, and coordinators, and custom training materials for Ironworker Levels 1-3, or similar curriculum.

“The committee awarded Ironworker Skills Institute the craft training grant based on its unparalleled commitment to recruiting and developing future Ironworkers. The impact that they have made on their community in such a short period of time really is incredible,” said Bryan McClure, Chairman of SEAA’s Safety & Education committee.

Now in its fifth year of operation, the Ironworker Skills Institute was established by John Garrison of Garrison Steel, for ironworkers to get training on rigging, welding, and the use of safety equipment and tools. In 2017 Garrison was able to partner with a local community college, where he taught classes. After the first semester, he realized the Institute needed a place of its own, and moved it permanently to property next to his company. Today, instructors teach students from area high schools, who come from as far away as an hour’s drive.

“With this grant, we can provide students with their own course materials, which can be a resource to them in the future,” said Patty Daigle, ISI director. “It will also allow us to incorporate new technology into our training program, which is growing and changing as we learn the needs of the high schools we work with.”

With an average of 25 new high school juniors, seniors and recent graduates each fall, the Institute uses NCCER coursework and live situations in its training programs. The organization plans to offer adult education classes in January 2021. “It is an honor to receive this grant,” said Daigle. “We thank SEAA, and hope we can continue to make them proud in our efforts to train ironworkers in Alabama.”

About Steel Erectors Association of America
Founded in 1972, SEAA is the only national trade association representing the interests of steel erectors, fabricators, contractors, and related service providers. The association promotes safety, education and training programs for steel erector trades, including its Ironworker Craft Training curriculum. The association works in partnership with other steel construction, design, and steel product organizations to protect the interests of those who construct steel structures. Learn more at www.seaa.net.