Local 96 apprentice Jesus Lopez-Meraz celebrates a national championship with Roofers International Secretary Treasurer Mitch Terhaar (L) and President Jim Hadel. (submitted photo)
Jesus Lopez-Meraz has set a high bar for himself over the next few years.
The first-year apprentice with Roofers Local 96 won the Phase 1 division championship at the National Roofing Apprenticeship Competition last month. But he’s already set his sights on competing in the competition’s next two phases.
“I want to make it three times like the first one – first place,” Lopez-Meraz said. “I’ve got kids, so I have to show a good example.”
Apprentices from across the U.S. traveled to Minnesota for the event, hosted by Local 96 at its training center in Ham Lake from May 13 to 15. They competed in three divisions, or “phases,” for first-year apprentices, second-year apprentices and third- and fourth-year apprentices.
The United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers launched the national competition last year. The international union’s three regions had long been organizing their own apprenticeship challenges, and the new event brings together their first-place winners in each phase.
Pictured are International Secretary-Treasurer Mitch Terhaar, Local 96 Apprenticeship Coordinator Andrew Richmond, Phase 3-4 runner-up Zachary Abfalter, Local 96 Business Manager Mark Conroy and International President Jim Hadel. (submitted photo)
Local 96, which represents workers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, advanced two apprentices to the national competition. Lopez-Meraz won Phase 1, and Zachary Abfalter was the runner-up in Phase 3-4.
Event organizers ran the apprentices through several rounds of evaluation. Written exams tested their knowledge of safety rules, math blueprint-reading and more. On the shop floor, judges watched as apprentices tackled industry-specific challenges designed to test their skills.
At one station, apprentices used blow torches to install a roofing product. At another, they used hand signals to guide a crane operator delivering materials to be installed. Other challenges tested their proficiency in below-ground waterproofing, tar roofing and shingle installation.
Andrew Richmond, Local 96’s apprenticeship coordinator, said the nationwide competition is especially challenging because building materials vary from region to region. Developers in Minnesota tend to install different roofing products than in, say, southern California.
But that doesn’t mean the competition is any less intense.
“It’s a big deal not only for the apprentices who compete, but also for the locals,” Richmond said. “It’s bragging rights to see who trains the best.”
The judges revealed their results at a banquet to close the event’s final day. Officers of the international union presented winners with trophies – and cash prizes, gift cards and new tool sets.
Lopez-Meraz said it felt “phenomenal” to hear his name called. Seeing two apprentices take home trophies from the competition, he added, is a credit to Local 96’s training program and its staff.
“They give us support when you have a question or need an answer, and they have a lot of patience to train each guy and answer each question,” Lopez-Meraz said. “Many of us are Latinos, so we are short on English, but they provide support to help figure out how to help you. I feel comfortable in the union.”
Richmond said Lopez-Meraz and Abfalter have bright futures ahead in the roofing industry. The Local 96 apprentice who placed second in the Phase 3-4 division last year landed an offer to become a foreman within days of the competition.
“This is opening doors for these young workers,” Richmond said. “It’s a great opportunity.”
– Michael Moore, UA editor
Union Advocate 