Nearly Five Decades Strong: Dennis Moran Reflectson a Lifetime in the Trades

In a world of instant gratification, fewer people are staying with their employer for longer than a handful of years. But Dennis Moran, soon-to-be-retired Director of Training at Local 265, is incredibly proud of his union career spanning nearly five decades. On March 20, he’ll retire with 47 years under his (tool) belt. 

Moran’s journey began when he was a freshman in high school, picking up odd jobs for a non-union neighbor and gaining early field experience. After about four years, he landed a job with C&D Heating and Cooling, who sponsored him to get into the apprenticeship program.

“At the time, I was jack of all, master of nothing,” Moran said. “And I wanted to be a master of the sheet metal trade.”

The rest, as they say, is history. From May 1986 to March 1996, Moran served as shop foreman at C&D. He was fortunate to have learned residential, commercial, industrial and architectural there, crediting the company with helping set the foundation to become more well-rounded in the trade. In 1996, he successfully applied to be a Local 265 instructor, teaching “pretty much everything,” but finding his niche in shop. 

In March 2009, Moran and his team earned TABB certification from the International Training Institute (iTi), validating the quality of the JATC’s training and confirming the program met national standards. This achievement ranks among his proudest accomplishments, followed by the JATC earning Platinum-level accreditation by the iTi in 2022. 

“That’s how we show our program is top-notch,” Moran said. “Our end product is the best union sheet metal worker we can possibly give our contractors. That’s what makes us stronger and better than non-union.”

In 2012, Moran became the JATC’s Director of Training — a role he’ll pass on to Joe Carone this spring.

“He’s going to do a phenomenal job and has been my right-hand man for the last 10 years,” Moran said. “I always say, surround yourself with the best. He’s going to take it further than I ever have.”

In his retirement, Moran looks forward to relaxing, traveling and spending time with his five grandkids. We wish him the best of luck in his next chapter!