Meet Our Staff
Our full-time staff has nearly 250 years of sheet metal experience and over 40 years of teaching experience. We come from different parts of the industry, offering diverse knowledge and experience in the sheet metal trade. The sheet metal industry needs highly skilled and motivated workers. Through courses offered at our training center, you will get the high quality education and training designed to give you a rewarding career.
Administrators
Rob Postma
Executive Administer of Training
rob@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Since 1990, Rob has been working with metal. From his high school machine shop and working as a machinist to brazing and TIG welding bicycle frames, Rob had a passion for fabricating metal. It wasn’t until Rob discovered sheet metal that knew he had found his career.
In 2002, Rob entered the sheet metal trade as a production helper. He worked for 13 years at Thompson Metal Fab, in Vancouver, Washington, where he eventually became a building trades journeyman. In 2015, Rob worked for Alliant Systems for 4 years as a foreman.
In April of 2019, Rob became an instructor at the Sheet Metal Institute. Nine months later, Rob became the SMI Executive Administer of Training.
Outside of work, Rob enjoys sailing, travel, and skiing.
Rob Postma
Executive Administrator of Training rob@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Connie DelRossi
Office Manager
connie@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Connie began working for the Sheet Metal Institute in September of 1997. She came to SMI with no prior knowledge of the sheet metal trade, apprenticeships or how the union operated. Throughout the years she has been with SMI, she has gained a broad knowledge of the apprenticeship program and sheet metal trade. She has tremendous respect for the industry and how dedicated the members are to mastering their craft. She takes great pride in playing a role assisting with the success of the members, helping to achieve their career goals. As the office manager, Connie wears many hats. She enjoys interacting with the variety of people who are an integral part of the industry including applicants, members, government entities, and contractors.
Connie has one son. She loves football and has been a diehard Raiders fan since 1984.
Connie DelRossi
Office Manager
connie@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Rachael Wright
Office Specialist
rachael@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Rachael has 15 years of experience in management and customer service, specializing in operational management, training, and development. She has been employed at the Sheet Metal Institute since 2019 and has previously worked for the Oregon Clinic and Tommy Hilfiger.
Throughout her career, Rachael has mentored numerous employees. One of the biggest challenges she encountered while mentoring young individuals was helping them determine their post-high school plans. However, after witnessing how a career in the trades positively transformed the lives of her friends, Rachael became determined to assist others in finding similar success. Discovering trade school programs as a pathway to achievement, Rachael found her “niche” when she started working at SMI. She thoroughly enjoys connecting with individuals, aiding in their skill development, and witnessing their growth and accomplishments throughout the apprenticeship program.
During her leisure time, Rachael enjoys spending time with her son, restoring her vintage home, and exploring the great outdoors.
Rachael Wright
Office Specialist
rachael@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Ben Wood
Training Coordinator
ben@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Ben has been in the sheet metal trade for 25 years with metal fabrication as his primary background. From ornate architectural features to automated machine guarding, Ben has designed and fabricated a wide variety of things.
Ben was in the apprenticeship program at the Sheet Metal Institute Local 16 from 1995-2000. He worked at Schmeer Sheet Metal during his apprenticeship. His sheet metal career began at Arctic Sheet Metal where he did shop work and high tech/ industrial HVAC. Ben has also worked for Streimer Sheet Metal at Intel and as a millwright for Georgia Pacific.
In 2017, Ben was hired on as an instructor at Sheet Metal Institute. In January 2022, he was promoted to Training Coordinator. In his new role, Ben wears many hats. His overall responsibility is to work with the staff to keep things running smoothly and provide the best apprenticeship education possible for the contractors and SMART Local 16. Ben works with the instructor’s updating curriculum. This includes incorporating new technologies into the training and managing the needs of the apprentices for certifications and upgraded classes. A big part of Ben’s job includes outreach. He represents SMI at career fairs and trade awareness events throughout the region. As an on-staff Certified Welding Instructor, Ben manages the welding department to maintain SMI’s accredited testing facilities.
Outside of work, Ben’s interests include the ministry and volunteering for non-profit work, hiking, kayaking/paddleboarding, and running with the family dog, Juneau.
Ben Wood
Training Coordinator
ben@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Instructors
Todd Stevens
Full-Time Instructor
todd@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Todd spent two years at Washington State University as a music major. He moved to Portland in 1985 to play music locally. He learned the JATC was accepting applications. He joined the sheet metal trade in 1995 and started his apprenticeship.
His past employers include Markman, PMC, Alliant, Temp Control, and Apollo where he worked HVAC and industrial mostly in the shop.
Todd started teaching at the Sheet Metal Institute in August 2015. He enjoys working with sheet metal because he believes with the skills you learn, you can build anything.
Certifications: CWI Weld Supervisor; Fire Life Safety, First Aid and TABB
Todd enjoys golf, motorcycles, skimboarding, and snowboarding.
Todd Stevens
Full-Time Instructor
todd@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Brandon York
Full-Time Instructor
brandon@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Brandon has been in the field of sheet metal for 13 years. He started his career working non-union in the field working in architectural sheet metal. Several years into his career, he discovered the union and decided to join. Instead of just buying his card, he joined the apprenticeship program so he could learn all the other aspects of the sheet metal industry. He worked for General Sheet metal in their shop running equipment, doing layout, fabrication, welding and fabricating ACM panels. Brandon eventually moved into the office to do CAD work and CNC programming. Brandon took a strong interest in teaching sheet metal when he competed and won first place during a regional apprenticeship competition hosted by the Sheet Metal Institute. He has been an instructor at SMI since 2019.
Certification/Education: Computer Networking Degree; OSHA 30; Fire Life Safety Level 1 Technician; AWS D9.1 303-9G/G; First Aid / CPR
Outside of work, Brandon enjoys overlanding, hiking, riding motorcycles and quads with his wife and two sons.
Brandon York
Full-Time Instructor
brandon@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Paul Culp
Full-Time Instructor
paul@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Paul has 34 years of experience in metal fabrication, 25 years as a union journeyman.
He worked for his father as a race car fabricator and was influenced by his father to enter the sheet metal trade.
Paul has been an instructor at the Sheet Metal Institute since January 2020. He has specialized in specialty metal fabrication including custom stainless steel, copper, and brass. Paul considers architectural metal as a close second. Paul is proud of the jobs he has been involved with throughout the Eugene/Springfield, Oregon areas. He has spent time during his career doing all sizes of HVAC work, industrial work, tool hookup/process pipe welding.
Paul’s previous employers include General Sheet Metal, FM Sheet Metal, Valley Stainless, Harvey & Price, and McKinstry. He has had numerous welding certifications throughout his career. From 2015-2017 he attended manufacturing technologies and business programs at Lane Community College in Eugene.
Paul is married and has five children. In his spare time, he enjoys dirt track racing.
Paul Culp
Full-Time Instructor
paul@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Will Thompson
Full-Time Instructor
will@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Rick Doty, Jr.
Full-Time Instructor
richardd@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Rick has been in the sheet metal trade for 26 years, joining the Local Union 16 apprenticeship program in August 1994. Rick started in the trade because he wasn’t sure if he wanted to spend the time and money necessary to attend college. Family friends, who owned a union sheet metal shop, introduced him to the career possibilities in sheet metal. The company was willing to train him as an apprentice.
Throughout his career, Rick has worked for several Local 16 shops including Empire Sheet Metal, General Sheet Metal, Vancouver Roofing and Sheet Metal, McKinstry and Artic Sheet. Over the years, Rick dreamed of teaching at the Sheet Metal Institute. In December of 2019, his dream came true.
Outside of work, Rick likes to fish, hunt and travel with his wife.
Rick Doty, Jr.
Full-Time Instructor
richardd@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Eric Clayton
Full-time Instructor
eric@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Eric grew up in Southwest Washington. After high school he began a career in commercial real estate. He left real estate in 2009 looking for a more stable career. After a short time working as a youth director, in 2011 Eric decided to join SMART Local 16. While working on his building trades apprenticeship, he began taking service classes at night. He completed his building trades apprenticeship in 2017 and completed his service apprenticeship in 2020.
Eric worked in the field for 11 years in architectural sheet metal and HVAC. He then moved into service work. His previous employers include Bob Carlson Roofing and Sheet Metal, Robert Lloyd Sheet Metal, and Streimer Sheet Metal Works, Inc. He was in the role of Lead Service Technician when he left to join the Sheet Metal Institute as Service Instructor in 2022. Eric is passionate about being an instructor because he believes education improves people’s lives.
Outside of work Eric enjoys travelling, camping, hiking, coaching his children’s sports teams, and playing music.
Eric Clayton
Full-Time Instructor
eric@sheetmetalinstitute.org
Bob Schaefer
Part-Time Instructor
bob@sheetmetalinstitute.org
