SMART 18
SMART Local 18 is a Wisconsin-based labor union chartered under SMART International, representing sheet metal workers across nine regional areas. It provides collective bargaining, a five-year paid apprenticeship pipeline through JATCs, multi-employer pension and health benefits, and ICB-certified Fire Life Safety inspection services reserved to its members under Wisconsin building code.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersWaukesha, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SMART 18 does
SMART Local 18 (Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local No. 18) is a Wisconsin-based labor union chartered on October 1, 1982, through the unification of nine predecessor Wisconsin locals with roots dating to 1896. Operating as a 501(c)(5) nonprofit membership organization within SMART International (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers), the local represents sheet metal workers across nine Wisconsin regional areas — Milwaukee, Madison, Fox Valley, Racine/Kenosha/Walworth, Sheboygan/Fond du Lac/Manitowoc, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Wausau, and Janesville — and serves both individual skilled-trade members (fabricators, installers, welders, HVAC technicians, TAB specialists, and CAD detailers) and signatory contractors including J.F. Ahern, Tweet-Garot Mechanical, IKM Building Solutions, J.M. Brennan, and Butters-Fetting. Headquarters are located at 2201 Springdale Rd, Waukesha, WI, with five Wisconsin JATC training centers in Kenosha, Neenah, Waukesha, Sun Prairie, and Eau Claire.
The union's core offerings include collective bargaining representation, a five-year paid apprenticeship program, multi-employer pension and benefit fund administration, job placement through the SMART International Job Bank, and Fire Life Safety inspection services performed by ICB/TABB-certified members — a credential uniquely required under Wisconsin's building code. Member economics are structured around an apprentice starting wage of approximately $40,000 with progressive increases to journeyworker status at $100,000+ plus employer-paid health, dental, vision, pension, and 401(k). Training infrastructure links Local 18 to a network of 148 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees across the U.S. and Canada, supported by ITI, NEMI, and SMOHIT, with member services also routed through Benesys, Milliman, SASMI, and the Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund (Green Zone certified as of January 1, 2022).
Revenue is generated primarily through recurring member dues and collective bargaining services, with services distributed via a hiring hall dispatch system, the union member portal at smw18.unionfusion.net, area offices, and digital channels including social media, a bi-monthly newsletter, and the Talking SMART podcast. The organization is led by President/Business Manager Scott Knocke, Financial Secretary/Treasurer Brad Kalcic, Vice President Brian Neumaier, and General Counsel/Director of Organizing Patrick Ryan, supported by area business representatives, three Statewide Organizers, an Executive Board, and Trustees. Corporate parent is SMART International; recent structural moves include the 2014 charter of Oshkosh Local 202, the 2015 charter of Appleton Local 403, and ongoing consolidation of Wisconsin sheet metal labor under Local 18.
SMART 18 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SMART 18
- Legal name
- SMART Local Union No. 18
- Website
- https://smwlu18.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- SMART Local 18 is a Wisconsin-based labor union chartered under SMART International, representing sheet metal workers across nine regional areas. It provides collective bargaining, a five-year paid apprenticeship pipeline through JATCs, multi-employer pension and health benefits, and ICB-certified Fire Life Safety inspection services reserved to its members under Wisconsin building code.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SMART 18 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Labor Union Services
- NAICS
- Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Taft-Hartley / Union Multiemployer Group Health Plans (FSAIAFAG), Occupational Health & Safety (EHS) Programs & Training (OSHA-style) (EDAEAKAI), Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)
Keywords
Where SMART 18 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waukesha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
SMART 18 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Union Membership Dues: Union members pay dues for representation, collective bargaining, benefits negotiation, training support, and access to union services including job placement, apprenticeship programs, and member discounts.
- Collective Bargaining Agreements: Negotiates wages, benefits, working hours and workplace standards with signatory employers. CBAs create structure for hiring, job performance and safety protocols.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Apprentice: Earn while you learn with progressive wage increases |
| Subscription | Annual | Journeyworker: Full compensation package with top pay and benefits |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
SMART 18 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SMART Local 18 is a Wisconsin-based labor union representing sheet metal, air, rail, and transportation workers. The union provides collective bargaining representation, negotiated wages and benefits, five-year paid apprenticeship programs through Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs), job placement through a hiring hall, and member benefits including health insurance, pension, 401(k), and discounts. Members also receive specialized services such as ICB-certified Fire Life Safety inspections under Wisconsin building codes, training through the International Training Institute, and supplemental programs including scholarships, a Women's Committee, SMART Army community outreach, and a Retirees' Club.
Product overview
SMART Local 18 is a labor union providing a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services for sheet metal workers across Wisconsin. The core offering is union membership, supported by a five-year paid apprenticeship program through Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs), the International Training Institute (ITI), and partner technical colleges. Members receive access to job placement through the Sheet Metal Job Bank, Fire Life Safety inspection services with ICB certifications, and contractual benefits including health insurance, pension plans, and 401(k) through benefit fund administrators. The union also offers supplemental programs including the SMART 18 Scholarship Program for member families, Women's Committee for tradeswomen support, SMART Army community outreach, and Retirees' Club for retired members. These services are delivered through nine regional areas across Wisconsin with a member portal for accessing collective bargaining agreements and benefit management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Union Membership
- Paid Apprenticeship Program
- Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs)
- Member Benefits and Discounts Program
- Fire Life Safety Inspections
- Sheet Metal Job Bank
- Contractual Benefits Management
- Collective Bargaining Agreements
- SMART 18 Scholarship Program
- Women's Committee
- SMART Army
- Retirees' Club
Companies that use SMART 18
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SMART 18 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature2 records
SMART 18 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SMART International UnioncoreInternational Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers. SMART Local 18 is a chartered local of the international union representing 200,000+ members across the U.S. and Canada. The international provides constitution, governance, training standards, and support for local unions.
- Sheet Metal Workers National Pension FundcoreMulti-employer pension plan providing retirement benefits for sheet metal workers. Certified in the Green Zone as of January 1, 2022, indicating financial stability. The fund was established by the International and SMACNA.
- ITI International Training InstitutecoreProvides lifelong sheet metal career training through affiliated training centers. Through the institute, SMART and management partners collaborate to ensure members are prepared for jobs of the future.
- NEMI National Energy Management InstitutecoreNEMI partners with various entities nationwide to enhance safety in schools, hospitals, and commercial buildings. Provides training and certifications for energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
- SMOHIT (Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust)minorWellness and safety resources for union sheet metal workers. Established by the International and SMACNA in 1986.
- SASMI (Stabilization Agreement of the Sheet Metal Industry Trust Fund)minorIncome support during periods of reduced work. Established by the International and SMACNA in 1973.
- Benefit Plan Administration of Wisconsin, Inc. (Benesys)coreProvides administration and consultation services to health, pension, 401(k), vacation, and training funds for Wisconsin sheet metal workers.
- MillimancoreProvides secure login for Wisconsin Sheet Metal Workers 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, Local Pension, and Fox Valley Annuity. Plan established by Local 18 and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association of Milwaukee in June 1999.
- National Coalition of Labor (NCL)minor501(c)(5) non-profit created to help unions pool cooperatively to purchase top-tier benefits for members at lowest cost. Secures high-quality benefits for SMART18 members at lower cost.
- Union Plus BenefitsminorSMART members are automatically eligible for Union Plus benefits and discounts including health savings accounts, competitive loans, mortgage services, auto insurance, legal services, and entertainment discounts.
- Scholarship AmericaminorLargest national designer and manager of scholarships and educational support programs. Oversees the SMART18 Scholarship Program for spouses and children of union members ($4,000-$6,000 awards).
- TootrisminorExclusive child care benefits for SMART members provided through partnership with Tootris.
- CarharttminorWorkwear retailer for tradespeople. Mayfair Collection location offers Union Members 15% off regular in-store items and 10% off the Fire Resistant Line.
- Red Wing ShoesminorWork boot and safety footwear retailer. Local 18 Members receive a 10% discount at Delafield, WI location.
- The Union Boot ProminorWork boots and safety footwear for union workers. Offers rewards to trade union members in recognition of support for American Made products.
- Wisconsin VisionminorIndependently owned optical company in Wisconsin offering vision care discounts for SMART members.
- ICB (International Certification Board) / TABBcoreCertifying body for HVAC Fire and Smoke Damper (FSD) Technicians, Supervisors, and Contractors, as well as Smoke Control Systems (SCS) professionals. SMART18 members are the only ones certified under Wisconsin building code to conduct fire life safety inspections.
- SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association)coreIndustry association partnered with SMART to establish training funds, pension funds, and industry standards. Co-founded Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund, National Training Fund (ITI), NEMI, SMOHIT, and SASMI.
- 148 Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATCs)coreTraining committees combining hands-on on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Established across U.S. and Canada to prepare sheet metal workers for careers in the industry.
- Habitat for HumanityminorNon-profit housing organization. SMART Army volunteers participate in building homes, raising over $10,000 for the organization. SMART member Kevin Turner worked with Habitat for Humanity for over six years.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SMART 18 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Techs (UA): UA represents plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC service technicians with an apprenticeship and collective bargaining model that mirrors SMART's. Directly comparable in Wisconsin's mechanical construction labor market, often co-deployed on the same job sites as sheet metal workers.
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC): UBC represents carpenters and related trades through collective bargaining and apprenticeship programs, with active Wisconsin locals. Directly comparable as a building trades union with overlapping contractor base and worksites.
- Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA): LiUNA represents construction laborers and related workers through similar apprenticeship, dispatch, and CBA structures. Directly comparable building trades peer operating in Wisconsin construction markets.
- International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators: The Insulators represent mechanical insulation workers with overlapping scope on HVAC and industrial projects alongside sheet metal workers. Directly comparable as a specialty building trades union with similar apprenticeship and certification infrastructure.
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW): IBEW is one of the largest building trades unions in North America, representing electrical workers through similar collective bargaining, apprenticeship, and JATC structures. Directly comparable as a fellow AFL-CIO building trades local with parallel apprenticeship, benefits, and organizing models.
- International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC): BAC represents masonry, tile, and restoration craftworkers with the same union apprenticeship, dispatch, and collective bargaining framework as SMART Local 18. Directly comparable as a building trades local serving Wisconsin commercial construction.
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT): IUPAT represents painters, drywall finishers, glaziers, and tradesworkers with similar collective bargaining and apprenticeship models. Directly comparable building trades peer sharing Wisconsin commercial construction worksites.
- International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE): IUOE represents heavy equipment operators and stationary engineers through apprenticeship and collective bargaining structures parallel to SMART's. Directly comparable building trades peer with similar Wisconsin-area locals.
Others
- SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association): SMACNA is the management-side counterpart organization that partners with SMART to co-found pension funds, training institutes, and industry standards. Not a direct competitor but the key counterparty on the employer side of SMART Local 18's CBAs.
Regional players
- Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: The Wisconsin state labor federation coordinates affiliated union locals including SMART Local 18 on state legislative and political matters. Comparable as the umbrella organization providing labor advocacy services across the same Wisconsin geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SMART 18 social profiles
Digital presenceSMART 18 compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
SMART 18 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SMART 18 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
SMART 18 subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
SMART 18 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SMART 18 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SMART 18
What does SMART 18 do?
SMART Local 18 is a Wisconsin-based labor union representing sheet metal, air, rail, and transportation workers. The union provides collective bargaining representation, negotiated wages and benefits, five-year paid apprenticeship programs through Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs), job placement through a hiring hall, and member benefits including health insurance, pension, 401(k), and discounts. Members also receive specialized services such as ICB-certified Fire Life Safety inspections under Wisconsin building codes, training through the International Training Institute, and supplemental programs including scholarships, a Women's Committee, SMART Army community outreach, and a Retirees' Club.
Is SMART 18 a public or private company?
SMART 18 is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SMART 18 founded?
SMART 18 was founded in 1982. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is SMART 18 based?
SMART 18 is headquartered in Waukesha, United States, in the North America region.
How does SMART 18 make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Union Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are collective Bargaining Agreements.
Who are SMART 18's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Techs (UA), United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association) is listed as an others. Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is listed as a regional player.
Does SMART 18 have an API?
No public API is recorded for SMART 18.
What industry is SMART 18 in?
SMART 18's product category is Labor Union Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKANAF, Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction), with a secondary code of FSAIAFAG, Taft-Hartley / Union Multiemployer Group Health Plans. Its NAICS code is 611513 and its SIC code is 8600.