When Ivan Herrada joined the Heat and Frost Insulators Local 19 as an apprentice at age 21, he continued pursuing his passions for photography, digital marketing, and activating spaces for special events on the side. Years later, his predecessor retired, and Herrada was ready to bring his experiences and ideas to the table as an Organizer. Local 19 has reaped the benefits of Herrada’s innovation, with a growing presence on TikTok and recognition at international competitions.
Last year, insulator Aleana Tucholka represented Local 19 at the International Master Apprentice Competition in Texas. Her presence at the competition, along with Organizer Ivan Herrada and Business Manager Brett Large’s outspoken support of her impressive performance has allowed Local 19 to target the female demographic even more successfully while recruiting.
Herrada mentioned one particular insight into how the trade can become more female-friendly, “One thing I learned from our members was that our safety harnesses aren’t unisex. So that’s a safety hazard right there [for women].” Input like this is impactful, providing the first steps toward a safer and more inclusive environment. Herrada added, “We’re able to create a better plan for the future generation of women in the building trades. Hopefully, we can create a visual where all people can see themselves represented in officer positions.”
When searching for the next generation of insulators, Herrada looks for goal-setters with a good attitude and team spirit. “We are looking for people who are going to teach the next generation, who are motivated, self-motivated,” he shared, adding that it doesn’t take a history of working with your hands to get involved in the trades. “I came from an office setting before working in the trades. But I was hungry. So, I developed the skills necessary for me to sustain the lifestyle I wanted.”
One clever way that Herrada has celebrated recruits is a “Senior Signing Day,” modeled after the event honoring students who are signed to D1 athletic teams. “We make it all about the student so they can enjoy this moment with their family, and so their family can realize all the support behind this career,” he said.
The feel-good attitude fostered in Local 19 encourages the apprentices to feel pride in their work. As a result, they are seeing an uptick in confidence, and more apprentices than ever are interested in competing at the Master Apprentice Competition. Leadership responded by creating a local competition, which they highlighted on TikTok. “We had a lot of traffic for those [videos], and it was just awesome seeing all of the positive comments,” said Herrada, “We obviously shared those with the apprentices, and they thought it was kind of weird because they never expected that kind of appreciation for being an insulator.”
These competitions are just one way that the apprenticeship is gaining recognition, allowing for a broader appreciation for the work experience built into the trades. “You normally think of valedictorians touring colleges, and now you see them touring building trade union training centers,” Herrada shared proudly, “And that’s because of the work we’re doing. Now, we’re showing them options, and I think they’re smart enough to realize that you get a four-year apprenticeship, and you can become a superintendent, estimator, or shop owner. You come with the four years of experience you see on job postings.”
The pride Herrada feels in his work is infectious, and it is easy to tell why. When asked about the rewarding nature of the job, he spoke about sharing his work with his family. “When I drive downtown Milwaukee, I’m always pointing it out. Whether I’m with my nieces or with my wife, I’m like, ‘I built that’ or ‘I worked on that project.’ I’m a big Milwaukee guy, so it’s cool that I impacted the skyline in my city, and I can say I changed the skyline. There’s a lot of pride in the projects we work on. You’ll be in spaces where no one else will ever be!”
Heat and Frost Insulators Local 19 is located in Pewaukee, WI, serving Milwaukee and the surrounding area. More information on their local and the process of becoming an insulator can be found on their website. Learn more about Vogelzang Law’s union support.
Photos Courtesy of Heat & Frost Insulators Local 19
