Steven Winstead has joined the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) as a representative for the Western region. His first day was April 1, and he got right to work, helping connect members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers with NEMI in order to identify solutions and opportunities in the market.

Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Winstead entered the sheet metal industry a week after his high school graduation in 2008. He began his apprenticeship three years later at SMART Local 104’s Northern California Valley Sheet Metal Workers’ Training Center in Sacramento, California.

During the first two years of his apprenticeship, Winstead worked as a sheet metal apprentice with Brice Mechanical, then from 2013 to 2016 he was an automation/testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) technician at Intech Mechanical. At the start of 2017, Winstead started work at EMCOR Services Mesa Energy in Sacramento as a commissioning and automation specialist before moving into project management.

In this role, he was in charge of designing, programming and implementing advanced HVAC control strategies, as well as creating and conducting presentations and educational meetings for industry groups. He holds a number of industry certifications, including Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB) Technician and Mechanical Acceptance Testing Technician (MATT) II Title 24 as well as in Niagara N4, Niagara N4 Advance, Johnson Controls and Distech Controls.

About the National Energy Management Institute

NEMI is a not-for-profit organization jointly managed by SMART and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). NEMI works with public, private and government organizations as well as companies nationwide to make buildings safer and healthier while improving energy efficiency.

NEMI creates training and certification opportunities so consumers know these workers — who ensure fire life safety systems are inspected, verify the indoor air quality in schools and make sure the heating and air conditioning systems in office buildings are energy efficient — are at the top of their industry and experts in their field. NEMI works with state and federal officials as subject matter experts to make sure legislation, implementation and safety align.