My Journey: Chris Schneider, SMACNA Oregon & SW Washington

By Jessica Kirby

Chris Schneider, executive director of SMACNA Oregon & Southwestern Washington, was raised in Michigan. After high school, he attended and graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in English. Originally, he planned to make the world a better place by becoming a high school teacher. Ultimately, he decided to go to law school.

Growing up, Schneider’s grandmother was an inspirational figurehead in his life and the community. As a judge, her vocation helped guide the public and influenced Schneider’s decision to pursue a degree in law. He focused on labor law at Wayne State University.

“In metro Detroit, both newspapers had a labor reporter and contract negotiations were often front page news,” Schneider says. “I was just kind of absorbing labor relations without really knowing what it was.

“After graduation, I took a job working for the Teamsters union first in DC and then in Chicago, and I just knew I was in the right field,” he adds. “I made a transition to representing management in the steel manufacturing industry. This led to a natural transition into sheet metal.”

He moved to Portland, Oregon, where he led the labor relations program for PacifiCorp. Upon Jerry Henderson’s retirement in 2021, Schneider was hired as executive director at SMACNA Oregon & Southwestern Washington. His focus is on workforce development, promoting the benefits of joining SMACNA, and encouraging trade education.

“SMACNA membership provides a tremendous training advantage in recruiting employees into our industry,” he says. “Our training program is world-class and is absolutely free for those who become apprentices. This training opportunity is a clear path toward a career with significant earning potential on day one.”

SMACNA and its member companies are committed to recruiting the next-generation workforce, and they are particularly excited to continue career outreach to women, minorities, and people of color.

“Our sheet metal family is welcome to all,” Schneider says. “It’s exciting to think about the diversity of opportunities that it offers.”

He launched his career with SMACNA by working with the trusts to ensure the health and longevity of those programs and by working with his labor partners to resolve ongoing conflicts.

“I am committed to exploring and expanding how SMACNA can better represent our members,” he says. “Through collaboration and communication, difficulties can be resolved in a win-win outcome for all parties.”

Though his journey took an interesting trajectory from a career in law to a SMACNA executive director, Schneider never gave up his vision of working to make the world a better place. “My current role allows me to bring people together,” he says. “Sometimes it’s bringing contractors together to discuss the challenges in their business. Sometimes it’s working through an issue across the table.”

His advice to young people or anyone considering a career in sheet metal is to find a union signatory sheet metal contractor or a local SMART union hall and start asking questions and making friends.

“Whether you wish to work in the field or in an office, there are tremendous opportunities in this industry,” he says. “Sheet metal is a bit of a hidden trade compared to other trades but one where there are tons of opportunities.

“Our job is to shine a light on it.” ▪

Jessica Kirby is editor-publisher for Point One Media, a small but sturdy family-owned trade magazine creator representing some of North America’s best construction associations. She can usually be found among piles of paper in her home office or exploring British Columbia's incredible wilderness.