Sheet Metal Institute

Behind every comfortable, efficient building is a team that made sure the systems were dialed in perfectly. That's the MacDonald-Miller TAB team!

And the team is hiring! Check out the job opening for a Test & Balance Foreman: https://bit.ly/4vi5jwf.

This is what the trades are all about.

The tools have changed. The technology has changed. But the pride of being able to point to a building and say, “I built that,” still hits the same.

Roger Hoover’s message is a strong one for students, apprentices, and anyone looking for a real career path: the skilled trades are still building futures.

Great work, Roger, and great spotlight by Talking SMART.

NEW TALKING SMART PODCAST: "I BUILT THAT! AND SO CAN YOU"

A lot has changed in the many decades since sheet metal workers first organized in 1888. Back then, tin knock­ers were known for their snips and hammers; today, technological advancements like AutoCAD and artificial intelligence have not just shaped the way we work, but the world in which we live.

However, one thing has stayed the same: the pride that comes with being a skilled tradesperson. Being able to drive past a building and say, “I built that.”

That precise feeling is what Local 24 (central Ohio) member Roger Hoover drew upon when he titled his 2026 book, I Built That! And So Can You. Now available for purchase via Braughler Books, the 128-page book was called a “must read for students” by the Urbana Daily Citizen.

In this episode, Roger speaks with Talking SMART about his career, some of his most memorable stories, what inspired him to write the book and more. Listen today: https://www.smart-union.org/i-built-that-and-so-can-you-a-conversation-with-local-24-member-roger-hoover/