Meet the Community

From High School Graduate to Union Apprentice!

Maxwell Vittie, a first-year apprentice with Local 276, took his first steps into the union carpentry trade through the Carpenters 964 Pre-Apprenticeship Program. After graduating from high school, Maxwell was determined to pursue a hands-on career in a skilled trade.

Maxwell learned about the pre-apprenticeship program, which offered him the opportunity to gain the skills and experience he needed to advance into the apprenticeship. This six-week program didn’t just prepare him for the physical demands of the trade; it introduced him to the deeper values of brotherhood and camaraderie that define the union.

Reflecting on his journey, Maxwell believes the program was life-changing. “In the end, it didn’t just give me the experience I needed, it did so much more. It taught me about the Brotherhood, and I don’t think I could have learned more in only six weeks. I think six weeks was the perfect amount of time to teach the trade and the Brotherhood. This opportunity changed my life.”

Thanks to this experience, Maxwell is now well on his way to building a fulfilling career in carpentry – with zero college debt attached!