[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The city that gave birth to the American labor movement provided a fitting backdrop for the
2025 Master Apprentice Competition (MAC) and the Joint Apprentice Training Committees\u00a0 (JATC) Conference.<\/p>\n
The competition and conference, held over a four-day period, honors and recognizes apprentices, strengthens camaraderie, showcases skill and demonstrates the power of training and learning.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s event held special significance as it not only marked the 20th anniversary of the MAC,
but had three female competitors, the highest number of female participants in the competition\u2019s 20-year history.<\/p>\n
Inside the competition hall where competitors worked on mock-ups, 19 banners hung proudly \u2014 each honoring a previous year of the competition and displaying names of each winners’ Conference and Local Union\u2014creating a powerful visual tribute to two decades of excellence and craftsmanship.<\/p>\n
Speakers at the Opening Ceremony emphasized the importance of supporting and training apprentices. They reminded apprentices how the roots of labor, planted through sweat and solidarity, now nourish them, setting the stage for the next generation of Insulators.<\/p>\n
While addressing the apprentices, Brian Cavey, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Mid-Atlantic States International Vice President, commended their
dedication and skill.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been tested in the classroom and on the jobsite,\u201d he said. \u201cNow you\u2019ve earned the chance to showcase your craft among the best of the best. No matter the outcome, you carry the pride of your local, your family and your mentors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the state\u2019s 43rd governor and a special guest at the Opening Ceremony, received a warm welcome before delivering remarks that underscored the importance of apprenticeship.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou represent the future of this vital industry, and I can tell it is in good hands,” he said. “You are part of a critical piece of our future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gov. Pritzker also reminded apprentices that, within a union, their craft not only sustains buildings but uplifts families.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t get anywhere in this country unless workers do well,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause in the birthplace of American labor, the future is built not just with hands, but with heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou [apprentices] represent the future of this vital industry, and I can tell that it is in good hands. You are part of a critical piece of our future,\u201d added Pritzker.<\/p>\n
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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”Z63_9339″ src=”https:\/\/insulatorsjatc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Z63_9339-scaled.jpg” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ alt=”IIIATF | 2025 Master Apprentice Competition | John Stahl”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Throughout the competition, it was evident that behind every apprentice stood families, journeymen and mentors whose dedication fueled the trade\u2019s future. The competition was as much of a test of skill as it was an opportunity to share knowledge, forge relationships and strengthen the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the union.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no machine, no shortcut, no app that can replace what we do with our hands, our heads, and our hearts,\u201d said Thomas McGrath, Insulators Local 17 Business Manager. \u201cLet\u2019s honor tradition, celebrate excellence and continue building a union that\u2019s not just strong, but unbreakable.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”DSC_0662″ src=”https:\/\/insulatorsjatc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DSC_0662-scaled.jpg” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ alt=”IIIATF | 2025 Master Apprentice Competition”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
After several days of competition, the MAC culminated in a formal evening of speeches and an
awards ceremony attended by family members and supporters.<\/p>\n
John Stahl, Insulation Industry International Apprenticeship Training Fund Administrator, captured the pride of the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo each and every one of you, the apprentices that are competing here, I can\u2019t tell you how proud I am,” he said. “You are the stars here. You are what makes us great. This event is about celebrating you\u00a0 \u2014 our apprentices \u2014 and the history you are now a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
To cap off the event, Alex Raglin of Local 1, St. Louis, Mo., was announced as the winner of the 2025 Master Apprentice Competition.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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The city that gave birth to the American labor movement provided a fitting backdrop for the2025 Master Apprentice Competition (MAC) and the Joint Apprentice Training Committees\u00a0 (JATC) Conference. The competition and conference, held over a four-day period, honors and recognizes apprentices, strengthens camaraderie, showcases skill and demonstrates the power of training and learning. This year\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n
The 2025 annual Master Apprenticeship Competition (MAC) brought together the top 10 apprentices from the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers to Chicago to vie for the Thomas A. Haun Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the friendly multiday competition concluded, Alex Raglin from Local 1 St. Louis, was crowned the 2025 MAC champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hosted by the Insulation Industry International Apprentice and Training Fund (IIIATF), this year\u2019s MAC showcased not only the skill and dedication of union apprentices but also the future of our industry \u2013 and based on the talent level, the future will be bright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H2: A landmark event in the heart of Chicago<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From July 15\u201318, the Hilton Chicago\u2019s grand ballrooms were transformed into a hub of craftsmanship and camaraderie, serving as the site of the MAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the premier event for showcasing the union\u2019s apprenticeship training, the MAC is held in conjunction with the IIIATF\u2019s Joint Apprentice Conference (JAC), the industry\u2019s premier conference for mechanical insulator training coordinators and instructors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The competition began with a written test challenging the apprentices\u2019 knowledge and expertise. After the test, the competitors got their first look at the competition mockup, along with some instructions from the proctors and a brief speech by IIIATF Administrator John Stahl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the course of the next several days, the competitors worked on their mockups as competition judges monitored their progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the competition is intense, the MAC is more than a contest; it is an opportunity for apprentices from the union\u2019s different conferences to learn from one another, build professional connections and take pride in the skills that set union Mechanical Insulators apart from the non-union sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H2: The competitors<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 10 apprentices who competed in the 2025 MAC were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H2: Celebrating the 2025 champion: Alex Raglin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Thursday night, in front of a large crowd for the gala dinner that concludes the week\u2019s events, the winner was announced and Raglin hoisted the Thomas A. Haun Cup into the air, kissing it just like a hockey player on the winning team kisses the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raglin became Local 1\u2019s first MAC champion and the fourth winner who represented the Midwest States Conference, joining past winners Jordan Haller (2024), Local 34 Minneapolis, Gus Rodriguez (2017), Local 27 Kansas City and Luke Plowman (2015), Local 34 Minneapolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His victory was the second straight for the Midwest States Conference, which has now claimed four titles in the past 11 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raglin\u2019s performance stood out for both technical precision and a deep understanding of the trade. His ability to apply industry best practices, coupled with his attention to safety and efficiency, earned him top marks from the judges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winning the MAC is a significant achievement, reflecting years of training, hard work and a commitment to the values of the Insulators Union. His victory is a proud moment for Local 1 and serves as an inspiration to apprentices across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H2: The Importance of apprenticeship and training<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The MAC highlights the critical role of apprenticeship programs in the mechanical insulation industry. Through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training, Insulators Union apprentices gain the skills needed to deliver quality work, improve building energy efficiency and maintain the highest safety standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Events such as the MAC help raise awareness of the mechanical insulation trade and demonstrate the career opportunities available through union membership. Each year, the MAC strengthens the bonds between Local union members and reinforces the union\u2019s reputation for excellence in mechanical insulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H2: Looking Forward to 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the 2025 MAC in the history books, apprentices throughout North America will soon begin to prepare for the 22nd<\/sup> Master Apprenticeship Competition, which will take place in Phoenix at the Hilton Phoenix at the Peake Hotel.<\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[357,111],"tags":[385,134,121,384,140,383,112,110],"class_list":["post-4766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iiiatf","category-master-apprentice-competition","tag-alex-raglin","tag-apprenticeship-and-training-fund","tag-iiiatf","tag-insulators-local-1","tag-john-stahl","tag-mac","tag-master-apprentice-competition","tag-registered-apprenticeship-programs"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n