Sheet Metal Shop Foreman
For more than 42 years, Bill Triplett has worked in the sheet metal field beginning with his first job in August of 1973, and one month later, becoming an apprentice through the Associated Builders and Contractors apprenticeship program. Triplett became a shop foreman in 1982 and has worked at M. Nelson Barnes & Sons, Inc., based in Cockeysville, Maryland, for the last 17 years.
Why did you get into the trade?
When I was a kid I always liked helping my father and grandfather with home improvements and building things. My grandfather was a retired plumber but he had worked as a sheet metal worker during the Great Depression. When I turned 18, I knew I wanted to work in a trade and an opportunity presented itself to work with sheet metal. The sheet metal trade was a good fit for me because I liked geometry and trigonometry in high school.
What do you like most about your job?
There are always new challenges and new problems to solve and I like to solve problems. I enjoy training new employees. Team building and bringing everyone together to accomplish goals is personally rewarding. I also like to watch the young people grow in the trade and accomplish their goals.