John L. Stahl, III, the current Administrator of the Insulation Industry International Apprenticeship and Training Fund (IIIATF), was the proud recipient of the prestigious 2024 W. F. Pablo Bleiker Award. 

As IIIATF Administrator, Stahl is directly involved with the annual award, so steps were taken to surprise him, including making him believe someone else was this year’s winner. His wife, Joan, was flown in as part of the surprise, making the event even more special.

The award ceremony took place during the Master Apprentice Competition (MAC) dinner dance in Orlando, Fla. 

“I am deeply honored and grateful to receive the Pablo Award,” Stahl said after realizing he was this year’s winner. “This recognition is not just mine but belongs to everyone who has supported and guided me throughout my career.”

The annual tradition of honoring an individual who demonstrates dedication and commitment to the mechanical insulation industry and the training program was awarded to Bleiker in 2002 and named after him shortly thereafter. 

Commonly known as “The Pablo,” the trophy is engraved with one of his frequent quotes, “Order is the way to success; nothing is given to us; success demands work, perseverance and honesty.” 

Stahl’s career as a union insulator began when he joined Local 14 Philadelphia in 1994. He successfully completed his apprenticeship in 1998 and was ready to take on new challenges as a journeyman pipe coverer.

In the early 2000s, Local 14 Business Manager Martin Campbell approached Stahl about becoming an instructor. During his time as an instructor, he developed his teaching skills and acquired essential certifications, including OSHA safety, first aid master instructor and asbestos instruction certifications for Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. 

Stahl completed the Trainer Enhancement program in 2008, which put him at the forefront of industry teaching standards. 

In 2006, he was appointed the Local 14 Training Coordinator. In this role, he played a pivotal part in transforming the way Local 14 approached apprenticeship training. This included the arduous process of obtaining U.S. Department of Education accreditation for the Local 14 JATC, a significant milestone that underscored the quality and effectiveness of the training program.

Throughout his time as Training Coordinator, six Local 14 apprentices represented Local 14 at the Master Apprentice Competition, reflective of Stahl’s focus on ensuring Local 14 continued to produce highly skilled and competent Mechanics.

On Jan. 1, 2020, Stahl took over as IIIATF Administrator, replacing longtime Administrator Thomas A. Haun. Since taking over, he has worked to modernize and standardize the union’s training curriculum. He has also secured several grants benefiting the JATC programs across the union.

From his early days as an instructor to his current role as a leader in apprenticeship training, Stahl has demonstrated a passion for the trade and a drive to uplift and educate the next generation of union insulators.

The IIIATF and the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (IAHFIAW) congratulate Stahl for his many years of dedicated service and commitment to our apprenticeship program.