Building a Local Mentoring Program: Nurturing Talent and Strengthening Our Industry

Mentoring has the power to transform lives, careers, and our industry. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact in your local area, starting a mentoring program can be a rewarding endeavor. This education session will guide you through the process of creating a local mentoring program that nurtures talent, fosters personal and professional growth, and strengthens the bonds within our industry.

Key Highlights:

Understanding the Impact of Mentoring: Begin by exploring the profound impact mentoring can have on individuals and the community as a whole. Discover the benefits of mentorship in terms of personal development, career advancement, and community building.

Defining Your Program’s Mission and Goals: Learn how to establish a clear mission and goals for your mentoring program. We’ll discuss the importance of aligning your program’s purpose with the specific needs and aspirations of your local area.

Recruiting and Matching Mentors and Mentees: Explore effective strategies for recruiting mentors and mentees. Learn about the mentor-mentee matching process and how to pair individuals based on their goals, interests, and needs.

Structuring the Program: Determine the program’s format, duration, and frequency of meetings. Discuss the various mentoring models, including one-on-one, group mentoring, or a combination of both, and choose what best fits your area’s needs.

Mentor Training and Support: Understand the importance of mentor training and ongoing support. We’ll explore the skills and knowledge mentors need to be effective and how you can provide resources and guidance for their success.

Evaluation and Improvement: Learn how to measure the program’s impact and success. We’ll cover assessment tools, feedback mechanisms, and methods for continuous improvement.

Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity: Discuss strategies for ensuring your mentoring program is inclusive and embraces diversity, providing opportunities for all community members to participate.

By the end of this education session, you’ll be well-prepared to launch and run a local area mentoring program that not only benefits individuals but also contributes to the growth and cohesion of the industry. Whether you’re a JATC coordinator, union official or contractor, this session will provide you with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful difference. Join us and embark on the journey of building a local area mentoring program that transforms lives and enriches the industry.

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Speakers:

 

Lisa Davis
National Energy Management Institute (NEMI)

Lisa Davis graduated from the University of California, Davis, in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, as a first step toward becoming a surgeon. She moved to Oregon to attend Oregon Health and Science University, but decided a life in medicine was not for her. Her resume soon included jobs ranging from working on a Hawaiian farm to the operating room, but it was working as a mechanic in a bowling alley that made her realize working with her hands was her path to a satisfying career.

She found Oregon Tradeswomen and completed the organization’s training before she was accepted into the apprenticeship at Sheet Metal Workers Local 16 in Portland, Oregon, where she completed a building trades apprenticeship and service program. Davis worked her way up to become Local 16’s first female instructor, while also helping form a diversity committee and serving on the ground floor of the local’s mentoring program.

In 2019, she joined the International Training Institute (ITI), the education arm of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers, as a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) service and testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) specialist. In January 2023, she became the ITI’s director of recruitment and retention, working to expand mentoring programs for apprentices and cultivate relationships between local training centers and apprenticeship readiness programs or pre-apprenticeships.

In March 2023, Davis was named administrator for the National Energy Management Institute, or NEMI. In this role, she helps expand legislation efforts, manages SMART industry certifications through the International Certification Board (ICB) and partners with contractors and members to make buildings healthier while increasing energy efficiency.

Davis also serves on SMART’s International Women’s Committee, where she has helped craft resolutions and amendments to the union’s constitution. She is currently working on mentoring resources and parental support connections for members.

 

Tammy Meyen
International Training Institute (iTi)

Tammy Meyen began her sheet metal career in 1999, one year after her high school graduation. Guided by her father, a union roofer, she realized she had found her calling and never looked back.

The majority of her career was spent in an HVAC fabrication shop, where she worked at the input station coordinating with detailers and field personnel. Tammy served as the shop foreperson for a decade before joining the International Training Institute (iTi) as their Recruitment and Retention Specialist. Part of her role includes co-teaching the Bias and Belonging class to JATC instructors nationwide.

Outside of work, Tammy is a wife to a Union Organizer and a dedicated mother of two young girls. Their days are filled with school sports, after-school clubs, and country music concerts. She’s a passionate traveler, and her family enjoys a rural life on six acres in Snohomish, Washington, where they embrace a bit of farming. Tammy’s culinary skills bring joy and comfort to her home.