Author: IUEC Local 17 Website Administrator

Brothers and Sisters:

The Local 17 Golf Outing was held at Bunker Hill Golf Course on July 20.  There was a change in the guard as the Champion’s Jackets were won by the team lead by former Local 17 member and current Gable Elevator superintendent Scott Hicks.  Congratulations to Scott and his team.

The other big winner was Jacob Kemp, son of Brother Todd Kemp, who walked away with a three-day, two-night trip to Las Vegas sponsored by Laborers Local 310.  Kemp won the trip by first sinking a 20-foot putt to qualify and then, in a two way putt-off lagged his 50 footer closest to the hole.  For photos from the event, go to the Local 17 website, iueclocal17.org. 

As this reaches your mailbox, the 2024 Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Labor Day Softball Tournament will be in progress.  Under the coaching of the Kemp Brothers, Local 17 has advanced in each of its last two outings past the first round.  For the results of this year’s effort, go to the Local’s website.

The 2024-25 school year is in full swing with a compliment of 49 apprentices enrolled in the NEIEP program.  Brothers Tom Goggin, Don Knapik, Jean LaFontaine, Tim Narowitz and Jerry Reitz are teaching one class of RC 100 and two classes each of RC 200, 300 and 400 for a total of seven classes.  This is the Local’s largest apprentice class in many decades.

Brother Reitz is teaching the Mechanic Exam Review to the three test-eligible apprentices.  Good luck to them as they start this new phase of their career.

Brother Rick Myers has returned to Local 17 and is working full time for NEIEP as a Subject Matter Expert.

State Licensing is moving forward.  The nine-member Elevator Safety Review Board is taking shape and Local 17 Business Manager John Driscoll Jr is expected to be named to the Board by Governor Mike DeWine.  The Board is responsible for oversight of investigations of elevator mechanics and contractors and establishing and administering appropriate disciplinary actions.  

This is the final stretch of a multi-year effort to convince a once skeptical Ohio legislature of the value in licensing elevator constructors.  Special recognition is due to Gable Elevator who early on took a lead role in demonstrating the complexity of the work we do and the value of the education received through the NEIEP program.

For those apprentices advancing in the apprentice program, pay raises are effective beginning the first pay period after September 1.  If there is an issue with or questions regarding the timing or amount of the raise, contact John at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

Work in the area is strong with Schindler holding the biggest mod and construction market share.  As the Sherwin Williams job winds down in the first quarter of 2025, TKElevator is expected to begin the Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience Building project.  The job is 16 cars and 16 floors and TKElevator will also be doing a full mod at Rocket Mortgage Field House.  Otis is doing a lot of modernization work at the Cleveland Clinic and an upcoming job at the steel mill.  Kone currently has ten crews working mod and construction with Gable keeping three teams busy.

The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to the families of Honorary Retiree Howard Stephenson who passed away June 6 and Brother Dave Yasenchack whose father passed away July 8.

As of this writing there is one mechanic on the bench.

Until next month,

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

Don

DKnapik@windstream.net

The July swearing in was a family affair with multiple initiates having their fathers in attendance.  Pictured (center) is initiate Ricky Kemp being sworn in as part of the July 2024 class by his father Rich (at the microphone).

July 2024 initiates (left to right) Cody Demster, Marcus Luxemburg, Adam Fahrm, Sean Kelly, Paul Verga, Kyle Drnak, Jack Corrigan, Mike Gallagher, Nick Seaman and Ricky Kemp.

Brother Greg Seaman with his newly sworn in son Nick at the July 2024 meeting.

Brothers Don Knapik, Kevin Krupa, retiree Ron Wolff and guest Jason Zapisek take a minute for a photo at the 2024 IUEC Local 17 Golf Outing at Bunker Hill Golf Course.  For more photos from the event go to the Local’s website, iueclocal17.org.

Brothers and Sisters:

Fall semester begins the week of August 5 with a mandatory orientation for all apprentices.  This semester there will be 48 apprentices in the NEIEP program spread over one class of RC 100 and two classes each of RC 200, 300 and 400.  If you have not received your class assignments, contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

There were 175 applicants for the Local hire list with interviews completed the first week of June.  The members of the Local extend thanks to Brothers Tom Goggin, Bill Lynsky, Tim Narowitz and Jerry Reitz for conducting the interview portion of the slotting.

The IUEC Pension Department announced all six retirement benefit rates were increased by $3.  In addition, retirees also saw an increase in their monthly payout.  The weekly income rate for someone on temporary disability rose from $500 per week to $715 per week.

Where are they working?

Jim Thompson and Eric Johnson at Cleveland Clinic M doing a mod for Otis,

Shane Huff and Mark Thomason at Cleveland Clinic F doing a mod for Otis,

Craig Nolty and Mike Janson at Woodhill installing two cars for Otis,

Jerry Szmerekovsky and Pat McHugh at Hathaway Brown installing two cars for Otis,

DJ Spring and Mike Hassel at Margaret Wagner doing a two-car mod for Otis,

Ric Supinski, Dave Adrian, Joel Reyes, Joe Simcic, Lee Barkschat, Nacho Badillo, Del Gay, Juan Rodriguez, Jeremy Sesma, Nick Bowen, Cory Oldham, Paul Verga, Cody Dempster, Marcus Luxenburg, Kyle Drnak, Adam, Farhm and Josh Larson at Sherwin Williams for Schindler,

Lucas Janke and Andrea Rodriguez running cars at Sherwin Williams for Schindler,

Brian Bond and Mike Gallagher at Fidelity doing a mod for Schindler,

Joe Sumph and Tito Mike doing a three-car mod at Public Utilities for Schindler,

Shawn Yatsko and Tom Holian at Kirby Manor doing a mod for Schindler,

Brian Seither and Sean Kelly doing a mod at Envoy Condos for Schindler,

Don Yoho and Sean Canning at Driftwood Apartments installing a car for Schindler,

Jason Barnett and Adam Klein at Ganley Village installing a car for Schindler,

Dave Gnagy and Jay Carlson doing a two-car mod at Lake Erie College for Schindler,

Rob Timko and Matt Carlson at Painesville Hospital doing a mod for Schindler,

Jack Finucan and Brandon LaFontaine doing a jack at Glenbeigh for Schindler,

Mike Hogan and Aaron Sipos at HK Stubs in Akron cabling for Schindler,

Bernie Sickle and Nick Seaman at the Airport installing pump units for Schindler,

Russell Barrows, Ellaina Harris, Pat Kelly and John Smith at Case SRV installing cars for Kone,

James Hirz, Mike Miller Jr, Ernie Rodriguez and Justten Kavedzic at Van Aken District 2 installing cars for Kone,

Brendan Hyland and Bob Savnik at Post Office Plaza doing a two-car mod for Kone,

Todd Ross and Eric Schaffran doing a mod at Bulkley for Kone,

Drew Williams and Jake Driscoll at Oberlin Manor doing a two-car mod for Kone,

Ken Bowles and Sasha Vujkovic at RTA Headquarters doing door operators for Kone,

Tim Narowitz and Vince Smrdel doing a mod at Southwest Hospital for TKElevator,

Dave Ford and Matt Ramser at Chagrin Plaza doing a mod for TKElevator,

Jason Frederick and Brad Skotko doing a mod at Judson Manor for TKElevator,

Chris Sipos and Jon Ranney at Crestview doing a four-car mod for TKElevator,

Anthony Metcalf and Christian Thompson at Avon High School doing a mod for TKElevator,

Jim Ehrbar and Dan Quigley at Chardon Opera House doing a mod for 3Phase,

Marc Carollo and Brian Owens at Tudor Manor doing a mod for 3Phase and 

John Evanco and Jack Corrigan doing a two-car mod at Bellaire Gardens B for 3Phase.

As of this writing there is one mechanic on the bench.

Until next month…

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

Don

DKnapik@windstream.net

Brothers and Sisters:

The 2024 Local 17 Retiree’s Dinner was held May 17 at Harry’s Steak House in Independence.  The night was filled with fathers, sons, brothers and cousins.  There were life long friends and those who just met that night.  We honored out veterans and our fallen.  Mostly, we were there to honor those on whose shoulders we stand in order to see a little farther and with a clarity otherwise impossible.  

There was beer, food, and stories; lots and lots of stories.  Years ago a now retired mechanic told me “kid, there’s three parts to this:  first you listen to the stories, then you tell the stories and finally the stories get told about you.”  There were a lot of stories told that night just as there were in the past and there will be in the future. 

This is who we are, this is what we do.  This is Local 17.

Photos from the event can be seen on the Local 17 website, iueclocal17.org.

The Local 17 Golf Outing will be held at Bunker Hill Golf Course, 3060 Pearl Road, Medina on July 20.  The cost is $150 per golfer for 18 holes of golf, dinner, carts and prizes.  Registration is at 1 pm with a 2 pm shotgun start.  If you are interested in only dinner, the cost is $40 if paid before July 13 and $45 after.  There is a link on the Local 17 website, iueclocal17.org as well as a QR code which takes the person to the registration site.  For more information contact Business Manager John Driscoll Jr at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

Congratulations to all of the Local 17 apprentices on passing their semester exams and good luck to those preparing for the mechanics exam.  This is the only only unbiased evaluation of your knowledge as an elevator constructor you will ever have.  

The Fall 2024 semester apprentice classes will be sent in the next couple of weeks.  Watch your mailbox for your class and night assignment.

A reminder that it is the policy of Local 17 and the IUEC that hoistway doors are not to be blocked open and left for other trades to do work without an IUEC member present.  If your superintendent intimates otherwise, contact John at the hall.

Local 17 currently has 195 active members and 17 probationaries on the books.  There are 15 transients currently working in the Local.  This makes a total of 212 members and 227 with out of town workers.

Work is still active in the area.  TKElevator has the 15-story Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience Building coming up with 16 elevators.  Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse went out for modernization bid for its 10 elevators and four escalators and Schindler is making progress on the Sherwin-Williams Headquarters on Public Square.  Kone is also busy with a number of ongoing  construction and mod jobs.

As of this writing there are two mechanics on the bench.

The Brothers and Sisters of Local 17 send their condolences to the family of Brother John Driscoll Jr on the passing of his mother-in-law.

Until next month,

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

Don

DKnapik@windstream.net

Being presented his 45 year pin, Bob Kobasic is the longest serving, card holding superintendent in Local 17.  He is flanked by Local 17 President John Patton (left) and Business Manager John Driscoll Jr (right).

Accepting the IUEC Gold Card on behalf of Brother Tim Sinclair are Brothers Todd (middle left) and Rich Kemp (middle right).  Local 17 President John Patton is to their left and Business Manager John Driscoll Jr to the right.

Brother John Logue accepts his Gold Card from Local 17 President John Patton (left) and Business Manager John Driscoll Jr (right).

Congratulations to retired Brother Gary Thompson who was the winner of the Local 17 retiree watch raffle.  Local 17 President John Patton is to the left and Business Manager John Driscoll Jr to the right.

Brothers and Sisters:

There’s a lot going on so lets get to it…

IUEC General President Frank Christensen named Local 17 Business Manager John Driscoll Jr to the position of International Vice-President.  Driscoll had previously served the International as a Trustee and stepped down from that position to take the new VP role.  As a vice-president he will be part of the International’s General Executive Board and will remain as the Local’s Business Manager. 

The 2024 Local 17 Golf Outing will be Saturday, July 20 at Bunker Hill Golf Course, 3060 Pearl Road, Medina, OH.  Registration and lunch are at 1 PM with a shotgun start at 2 PM.  A steak dinner and awards are scheduled for 7 PM.  The cost is $150 per golfer.  If you wish to attend only the dinner the cost is $40 if paid by July 13 and $45 after July 13.  To sign up, look for a link in the announcement on the Local website, iueclocal17.org, contact John at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.

The Local 17 Retiree’s Dinner was held Friday, May 17, 2024 at Harry’s Steak House in Independence. The event featured awards for the newly minted Gold Card retirees as well as milestone service pins for several of those present.  For photos of the event go to the Local 17 website, iueclocal17.org.

According to NEIEP Area Coordinator Jordan Miller, Local 17 filled the 350 available slots for its apprentice list in 24 hours from opening up the opportunity.  Aptitude testing took place the week of May 13 and interviews are tentatively scheduled for the first week in June.  Good luck to those looking to join the best trade in the trades.

NEIEP has delivered new touch screen monitors as well as tables and chairs to the school.  If you have a group such as a church, school, or other organization that can use our old seating, contact John at the hall.

Finals for our apprentice classes were held the week of May 20.  Congratulations to all those moving on to the next semester as well as those looking to prepare for the Mechanics Exam.  

One of the first jobs any probationary apprentice is given is to keep their job clean.  This is not only important for the safety of those working around your area, it reflects on the quality of the job you turnover to the customer. The impression left by hand prints on doors or oily foot prints on floors lasts long after the job is done.  Take the time to clean up your job as you go or before you leave to make a good impression on those that follow.

We do don’t block open doors and leave them blocked for other trades without being present during the work.  Your local office can schedule any work necessary to be preformed during regular or off hours to accommodate another trade and have someone standby while that work is being preformed.  This is mechanics work.  If there are any questions or concerns about this policy, contact John at the hall.

The Schindler Cube monitoring units are installed by a team but can be commissioned by a single mechanic as long as there is no factor of safety involved.

On the afternoon of Thursday, April 11, the GFCI feeding the sump pumps at the school tripped and the basement flooded with about an inch of water.  There were two classes scheduled for that night and the students of both worked for almost two hours to move materials off the floor and clean up the mess.  After the weekend, the basement dried up and the pumps were running as normal.

As of this writing there is one probationary apprentice on the bench.

Until next month…

Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.

Don

DKnapik@windstream.net

Retiree Buzz Gibbons (left) and his son Tim (right) linger just a little bit longer after helping decorate the Local 17 truck for the 2024 Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

International General President Frank Christensen (left) swears in Local 17 Business Manager John Driscoll Jr as an International Vice President at the IUEC headquarters in Columbia, Md April 24, 2024.

Regina and Don Knapik, Mike and Kathleen Hogan and Cheryl and John Goggin share drinks and laughs at Carney’s after the 2024 St. Malachi’s Run Walk.

April 8 was a big day in Cleveland as the Great 2024 Eclipse gave all of us lucky enough to be in its path three and a half minutes of totality.  It was an equally big day for this young lady as she lost her first tooth.