The web-based Megaproject Resource Center compiles vital resources for International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation Workers (SMART) members and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) contractors. The site offers a one-stop shop for technical education, advanced training in TAB, commissioning, and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), and up-to-date certification pathways — developed in partnership with the International Training Institute (ITI).

Mobilizing a Certified Workforce

“We’re seeing a massive ramp-up in the size and complexity of projects, and the workforce needs are just exploding,” said Craig Reehten, Administrator at NEMI. “For megaprojects like the Blue Oval plant, NEMI forecasted with Local SMART Leadership and contractor Systematic Testing & Balancing LLC that the workforce needed to perform TAB on 800 plus pieces of equipment and 35,000 air devices in the main building alone. That meant identifying needs, working with locals, and either augmenting training or developing new programs from scratch.”

NEMI’s new resource center is designed to help contractors and unions forecast project labor needs, coordinate worker certification, and connect with training programs — often in partnership with ITI and the International Certification Board (ICB).

“If a project requires a specific certification, like a TAB technician, we can identify nearby labs, get people certified, and even hold exams on site if necessary,” Reehten said.

The center’s resources aren’t just about filling jobs — they’re about elevating standards and helping contractors stand out. Eli Howard III, executive director of technical services and research at SMACNA, emphasized the competitive advantage: “The NEMI Technician, Supervisor, and Contractor Certification programs bring value to SMACNA members. They can help contractors differentiate themselves from competitors when owners, developers, and general contractors are evaluating project awards.”

Responding to Regional Shortages

One standout initiative is the new TAB lab in Atlanta — the first facility of its kind south of the Mason-Dixon line — which directly addresses a critical shortage of certified TAB technicians in the Southeast. Notably, Reehten played a key role in developing the Atlanta TAB lab in his previous position at ITI, along with SMART leadership, Micheal Harris and Darrell Garrison at ITI.

 “The NEMI team, in collaboration with the ITI, is piloting an intensive program with 40 participants from Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama,” Reehten said. “It’s a fast-track program with five weeks of online coursework followed by a week-long bootcamp and certification exams. The goal is to get qualified technicians into the field quickly.”

NEMI encourages sheet metal shops to “grow their own” — bringing in apprentices and providing concentrated, hands-on training to build the next generation of skilled professionals.

“The reality is, contractors always want that ‘truck-ready’ technician — someone experienced who can hit the ground running. But with so many veterans nearing retirement and so few already trained, there just aren’t enough of those people out there,” Reehten said, noting that’s “why we’re working to help shops bring in green individuals, get them concentrated training through their JATC, or ITI with NEMI’s support, and then teach them the contractors’ own standard operating procedures.”

Reehten believes this approach — pairing local recruitment with robust, accelerated training — can help ensure the industry’s most critical specialties are ready for the next generation of megaprojects.

“The best way to build a reliable pipeline of TAB technicians is to invest in new talent and train them from the ground up,” he concluded.