National and Local Apprenticeship panel: CTE as a Pipeline to Apprenticeship

Tuesday, February 17 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

National political and legislative leaders will share the latest developments at the federal level on apprenticeship programs and how local partnerships can be leveraged to strengthen state apprenticeship standards. A local union and contractor partnership will focus on how they have successfully overcome barriers to using a preapprentice or local career and technical education (CTE) program as a pipeline into apprenticeship.    

Tiffany Finck Haynes
SMART

Tiffany Finck-Haynes is a Government Relations Representative at the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) where she advocates at the federal level on behalf of SMART members. Prior to joining SMART, she led legislative and political work for American Federation of Teachers in Virginia where she helped reverse Virginia’s ban on collective bargaining rights for public employees. Prior to that role, she led federal and state legislative campaigns to improve industrial agriculture and organized campaigns with nail salon workers and day laborers for better working conditions in Washington, DC. She holds a master’s in labor and global workers’ rights from Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University.

Denise Murphy-McGraw
SMACNA

Denise Murphy McGraw, CAE, is a nationally recognized advocacy, association management, electoral and issue campaign professional, and governance leader with more than three decades of experience advancing effective public policy and sustainable growth strategies. Throughout her career, Denise has helped employers, trade associations, nonprofits, and communities achieve measurable success through strategic advocacy and strong organizational leadership.

Denise is a partner in the New York–based public affairs firm Hill, Gosdeck & McGraw and serves as Special Assistant for Government and Political Affairs for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). In this capacity, she advises SMACNA on state and local government affairs and has played a key role in strengthening the association’s political engagement, helping grow their political action committee, SMACPAC, by nearly 50 percent.

Her professional background includes senior leadership positions in state government, trade associations, and large employers. As Executive Director of the Chamber Alliance of New York, Denise led the development and execution of a strategic plan that transformed the organization into one of the largest state-level trade associations representing chambers of commerce in the country. Earlier, as Legislative Director for then–New York State Assemblymember Joseph D. Morelle, now a Member of Congress representing New York’s 25th District, she guided legislative advocacy efforts that resulted in one of the most significant business stimulus packages in state history.

Denise has been instrumental in shaping significant public policy initiatives across health care, labor, housing, and the arts, including landmark efforts to support small businesses, modernize workers’ compensation, and strengthen mental health and maternal health services. Throughout her career, she has helped secure more than $1 billion in funding to support economic development and community-based initiatives.

Denise serves as National Co-Chair of Catholics Vote Common Good and is a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. She also serves in a leadership role with the national organization Women in Government Relations. In 2025, the National Institute of Lobbying & Ethics recognized her as one of the country’s 100 Top Lobbyists for her impact on public affairs.

Matthew Smith
Smith Heating–Air, Inc.

Matthew W. Smith is the President of Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., a closely held family corporation that has celebrated more than 50 years serving our local communities. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. is a full service HVAC and Sheet Metal contractor in both commercial and residential applications. The company also has a service division that provides maintenance, repairs, and replacements of HVAC and refrigeration systems.

Matthew has been actively involved with SMACNA and the Local Union for many years. He has served at the local, state, and national level for the following:

  • President of the Northern San Joaquin Valley Chapter of SMACNA
  • President and Board of Directors for the state association – Cal SMACNA
  • Management trustee of the Northern California Sheet Metal Training Center
  • Management trustee of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 Benefit Funds including Pension and Health Care
  • Management trustee for the SMACNA/SMART Local 104 Labor – Management
  • Committee and Fund

Matthew has also served on the National SMACNA Board of Directors and numerous committees in support of our industry. This includes the Best Practices / Market Expansion Task Force that plans and organizes the Partners in Progress programs and conference.

Alex Tiechner
Local 104 Northern California Training Center

Alex B. Tiechner has worked in the sheet metal industry since 2002 when he attended Universal Technical Institute earning an associate of Occupational Studies Degree. From 2003 to 2007, Alex was employed as a commercial Service Technician at a Rocklin, CA based HVAC company. In 2007, Alex joined the Sheet Metal Workers’ Apprenticeship program and has worked in several aspects of our trade. He worked his way up from a sheet metal apprentice running materials to a sheet metal foreperson responsible for a crew. He continued his education with Journeyperson upgrade courses in TAB and eventually became the TABB supervisor and System Operation general foreperson for ACCO Engineered Systems.

In early 2022 Alex found a new path when he answered the call for an Administrator position at the Northern California Valley Sheet Metal Apprenticeship and Training Center. His vision is to make it the most professional and comprehensive Sheet Metal training facility in Northern California. He has rallied his staff and students around this goal in the true spirit of the training center’s motto “together we do it better”.

Michael Mark
SMART Local Union 104

Michael Mark currently serves as the Planning and Development Director for Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 104, which covers the 49 northern counties of California. Previously, Michael served as a business representative covering the San Joaquin County jurisdiction for Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 104 and was first elected as a union officer in 2012.

Michael started his career as a union sheet metal worker in 2002, beginning with Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 162, which merged into Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 104 in 2012. In 2003, Michael started his apprenticeship at Champion Industrial Contractors and worked for various sheet metal contractors representing multiple facets of the sheet metal industry from 2002 to 2015. He is the former Board Chair and current Enforcement Committee Chair of the CA Contractors State License Board, FS/T of San Joaquin Building Trades, CA State Building Trades Board Member, former Board Member and current Finance Member of United Cerebral Palsy of San Joaquin, Harvard Trustee Leadership Class of 2023, No. CA. Valley Sheet Metal JATC Board Member from 2018 to 2023, and Leadership Stockton Class of 2014.