Apprentice of the Month - Jonathan Stark

Working as an apprentice can be a tumultuous undertaking. You must admit you don’t know this trade, understand you will have to ask rudimentary questions of people far more skilled than you, and do it all while being as productive as humanly possible to meet sometimes-insane deadlines. February’s apprentice of the month, Jonathan Stark, is everything we want to see in an apprentice as he fully engenders all these traits and also rises above them to excel.

“When I think about this apprenticeship, the first word that comes to mind is ‘opportunity’,” says Jonathan, a fourth year. “It’s an opportunity for me to create a career for not just myself but for my family. This is something I can be proud of. I love being able to essentially work and build something with my hands and look back at what I did.”

Jonathan has been a consistent bright spot in his time as an apprentice, making an impact on many of the people with whom he has worked and many who have had the privilege of teaching him.

“Jon has been an awesome addition to class,” says Brendan Nelson, Jonathan’s fourth year instructor. “He is always quick with good questions and cares about what he’s doing. He’s going to make an awesome journeyman for our Union.”

One of the things anyone who has worked with Jonathan will tell you is he a humble man. When asked what kind of advice he would have for lower year apprentices, he made it clear that confidence is key, but to always remain teachable.

“Don’t stress so much. You know more than you think you do,” says Jonathan. “You might think, ‘Do I belong here?’ and the answer is ‘Yes, you are good enough.’ You will always have people around you who will want to help you succeed so don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

For his hard work, Jonathan will receive a PACKOUT bag and hand tools from Milwaukee Tools and congratulations from the JATC and its staff.