Milwaukee Tools Apprentice of The Month and Tim Lyons Award Winner - Cody Balzan

Each year, Local 340’s fifth year apprentices make their way to performance test to prove their mettle in an all-day evaluation of what they’ve learned in their time with the program. The day consists of six grueling tests that cover conduit bending, motor control circuitry, series/parallel concepts, switch wiring, blueprint reading, and a written exam. The tests, held on December 10 last year, are usually punctuated by shot nerves, anxiety, and test-taking apprehension. However, the student that scores best through the gauntlet proves themselves worthy of the Tim Lyon award and of being Apprentice of the Month.

This year’s winner was Cody Balzan, a fifth year who has worked for Collins Electric for a year and a half. While some were touched by nerves, Cody brought poise and ability to the event to prove himself more than up to the challenge.

“Honestly I just applied what I’ve learned for five years in the class and five years in the field,” says Cody about the performance tests. “I went in with confidence, calm and collected. I took my time and I felt really good while I was taking the tests.”

“He’s a great apprentice,” says Daniel de Puglia, Cody’s foreman and a 13-year Collins hand. “We’ve worked some crazy hours and Cody is always available, always willing to do the most challenging tasks. He listens to what’s being taught, and he applies it well. It honestly doesn’t surprise me he did so well, he’s pretty sharp. We have a lot of banter, a lot of jokes on the jobsite. But all jokes aside, he’s a high performer.”

Of the 45 apprentices that took their performance tests, Cody rose above and will also be invited to participate at Western States Electrical Contest to represent LU 340.

“He did a fantastic job, absolutely knocked it out of the park,” says Jacob Smith, fifth year instructor. “Cody came prepared and proved he was up to all of our best trials. I’m proud of how he did, and I know he will be an excellent journeyman.” 

“Apply yourself; your work ethic in and out of the classroom is a reflection of yourself,” says Cody when asked if he has advice for other apprentices. “Treat your apprenticeship like your job depends on it because, ultimately, it does.”

For his hard work, Cody will receive a PACKOUT bag and hand tool from Milwaukee Tools, recognition at graduation in May, and congratulations from all the staff at the Sacramento JATC.