Joe Potesta

Shortly after graduating high school Joe Potesta began his career in the sheet metal industry in 1994, starting as a first-year apprentice with Local 20 in Gary, Indiana, and later transferring to Local 20 in Indianapolis during his apprenticeship. He turned out in 1999 and worked as a foreman, contributing to major projects including the Indianapolis Colts’ RCA Dome. In 2006, he returned to Local 20 as a JATC instructor and eventually becoming the Director of Training, where he spent 16 years training and mentoring apprentices before joining the International Training Institute. As of October 2025, Joe serves as the ITI Program Administrator, a role he continues to hold today. In addition to his work in the trade, he has served as a head soccer coach at one of the largest high schools in Indiana, and he is proud to be married for 30 years with two children.

At Local 20 in Indiana, I taught for 16 years in all areas of our trade such Architectural, Industrial, Service, TAB, Detailing/Auto-Cad and CORE Sheet Metal. I am a Certified Welding Inspector and sit on a few American Welding Society Committees. Today at the International Training Institute (ITI) I am the Program Administrator and a small part of my role is to help guide all of our staff and their duties as instructors for our Train the Trainer Classes as well as assign them to assist all Union Sheet Metal JATCs across the country. In addition, myself and our team help keep the ITI curriculum up to date and relevant.