U.S. Navy veteran and Connecticut resident Jeremy Zeedyk joined the National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC) Feb. 1 as the representative for the Northeast region. This is a new position put in place to promote certifications through an implementation advisory group, NEMIC Administrator David Bernett says. 
  
During his service in the U.S. Navy, Zeedyk qualified in submarine warfare, held numerous supervisory positions and security clearances and was awarded two Navy Achievement Medals for service in action during deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. 
  
After spending a little over four years on a submarine, one might think Zeedyk would have grown tired of being surrounded by metal. However, pursuing a sheet metal apprenticeship upon his honorable discharge in 2004 turned out to be a pretty natural fit. As a sonar technician trained in the science of how sound travels through water depending on pressure and temperature, it wasn’t difficult to translate that know-how into understanding how air and water move through pipes and ductwork. 
 
A certified welder, Zeedyk also is certified as a Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB) technician, fire and smoke damper technician, smoke control systems technician and fire and smoke damper supervisor. He also has held organizational roles at Sheet Metal Workers Local 40 including as an instructor, recording secretary, organizer, marketing representative and business representative. He's worked with a wide range of coalitions to pass legislation and advance interests important to the sheet metal industry. 
  
“Ultimately, the work that we do affects the people that we do the work for … the things that we accomplish are going to make living conditions better for workers and schoolchildren, give people more opportunities and improve energy efficiency,” he concludes. “That’s a motivating factor for sure.”  
  
The National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC) is a not-for-profit organization jointly funded by the International Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). NEMIC identifies opportunities, seeking to create or expand employment for SMART members and programs that assist SMACNA contractors. For more information on emerging market opportunities in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry, contact the National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC) at nemiconline.org or call 800-458-6525.