SPOTLIGHT
Heavy Metal Summer Experience 2023
Day 1 of Heavy Metal Summer Experience – Kansas City is in the books! Today, our 31 participants started at the Builder’s Training Center, where they each received a pair of new Red Wing Boots; an orientation from our Board Member, Mindy Rocha; and a safety overview from Lockton.
We headed out to SMART Local 2 Training Center for lunch, virtual welding, and some metal bending. The participants had a great time – and we can’t wait for Day 2 tomorrow!
HMSE-KC is a collaborative effort between MCAKC, SMACNA-KC, and our labor partners – SMART Local 2, Pipefitters Local Union 533, and Plumber’s Local #8 Training Center#8 Training Center#8 Training Center#8 Training Center#8 Training Center#8.
Heavy Metal Summer Experience has some very generous national partners that are helping provide students with safety gear, boots, and t-shirts. We’re also grateful for our local partners – Milwaukee Tool, DEWALT, Ferguson Enterprises, MKS Pipe & Valve, & Lockton
#HMSE#SummerCamp#MCAKC#mcaisgreat#smacna#local8#local533#SMARTLocal2
Day 2 of Heavy Metal Summer Experience – Kansas City is in the books! Today was chock-full of hands-on activities for our 31 participants.
Starting at Plumber’s Local #8 Training Center, participants got to snap cast iron pipe, braze and solder copper pipe, and thread steel pipe to make a shelf. We love seeing the experienced and retired Local 8 members so enthusiastic about sharing their trade with the youngsters.
After lunch, the group moved over to Pipefitters Local Union 533 Training Center. Participants learned how to use a chain fall to rig, hoist, and move items on the construction job site. They moved over to the shop to apply some math skills in creating 2′ tall x 1′ wide letters. At the end of the session, they spelled out “HEAVY METAL”.
Tomorrow, we conclude our Heavy Metal Summer Experience with a job site tour, experiencing some other trades at the Builders Association Training Center, and graduation.
#PipefittersLocal533 #PlumbersLocal8 #mcakc#mcaisgreat #hmse
It’s a wrap!
Yesterday, we concluded our Heavy Metal Summer Experience – in Kansas City. Students got to tour a job site courtesy of our friends Turner Construction Company and then spent some time learning from Local 518 regarding drywall finishing, glass cutting, and cement masonry. We finally concluded with our graduation ceremony – featuring Melt Box Ice Cream and cookies. Did we mention that we gave out a bunch of Milwaukee Tool and DEWALT tools, as well? No better way to get these kids started than a bag full of tools!
Each one of our locals selected a student to win a special prize based on their involvement and participation at that location. Congrats to Eli Allen who won SMART Local 2’s award; Lexus Steele, who was the “Top Dog” with Plumber’s Local #8 Training Center; and Carter Portell, who won over the judges at Pipefitters Local Union 533.
This Kansas City event was a collaboration between Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City and SMACNA-KC alongside our trade partners SMART Local 2, Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 8, Pipefitters Local Union 533. We are grateful to our local sponsors MKS Pipe & Valve, Ferguson Enterprises, Lockton, Milwaukee Tool, and Builders Training Center. Special thanks to three volunteers who spent the entire 3 days with our group – Michelle Beck, P.E., Mindy Rocha, & Tina Beech.
Thanks to the Heavy Metal Summer Experience team for their support – including Angie Simon, who joined our graduation. And, the national sponsors who helped make cool things possible – like work boots for our students and bags of tools. Milwaukee ToolDEWALTSMACNAProcore TechnologiesMestek MachineryTraneRed Wing Shoe Co.Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA)National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)Trimble Inc.
Let’s do it again next year!

Thank you to those who attended our
Royals Event at the Blue Moon Taproom 2023!






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