PMSMCA hosts second annual youth apprenticeship signing day

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In an industry-style graduation ceremony, Wisconsin’s industry alliance of plumbing, mechanical and sheet metal contractors this week will host its second annual apprenticeship signing day.

The Plumbing, Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractor’s Alliance on Thursday will host the youth apprenticeship signing day, where member contractors and unions sign with apprentices in area high schools, at Milwaukee Tool in downtown Milwaukee.

The event will celebrate high school juniors and seniors signing their first youth apprenticeship, current youth apprentices signing their next year and graduating high school seniors entering their registered apprenticeship.

Depending on where a student is and where they are going, they will participate in an initial signing, the Pinning Ceremony or the Ceremony of Cords. With help from Milwaukee Tool and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the alliance created custom pins, hard hat stickers and the mechanical “red and blue” for corded graduates to illustrate their next career steps.

Industry partners such as Building Advantage, the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council, Steamfitters Local 601, Plumbers Local 75 and SMART Local 18 will be on site to answer question about registered apprenticeship, alliance officials said. Members of DWD and nonprofit WRTP | BIG STEP will share resources for students who want to develop their skills in the trades.

Amy Pechacek, the state secretary of workforce development, Chris Valerine of Steamfitters Local 601 and Erin Cherney, the youth apprenticeship coordinator at Milwaukee Public Schools, will speak at the event, officials added.

The association interacted with 126 students from 46 different Southeast Wisconsin schools at its previous Youth Apprenticeship Interview Day, said Jill Ackerman, assistance director of membership engagement and workforce development at PMSMCA, in a statement.

“The students being celebrated on May 14 have an amazing opportunity to get a head start in a very competitive industry,” Ackerman said. “New signers will see the path forward, hear from those who once stood where they stand now and realize that with dedication, this moment is just the beginning of many doors opening.”

PMSMCA extended an invitation to school districts, mentors, student counselors, contractors and students’ immediate family members to attend. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.