On a brisk April morning in Howell, Michigan, more than five decades of progress gleamed beneath the sun. Past and present converged as Operating Engineers 324 celebrated the grand opening of a massive addition to the Sam T. Hart Construction Career Center: a $24 million indoor training arena, over 90,000 square feet of infrastructure excellence designed to carry the union’s legacy of skill and self-reliance into the next generation.
Approved in 2022 and financed by Independence Bank, the self-funded arena marks a monumental commitment to OE324’s greatest asset: its members. But this investment didn’t wait until ribbon-cutting day to begin making an impact. This past winter, the facility was already in use, hosting critical classes that would otherwise be hampered by Michigan’s harsh weather. Since then, the arena has become a hub of activity, hosting several major events and welcoming thousands of guests.
From a Single Trailer to a World-Class Campus
OE324 began training apprentices in 1969 in a single trailer on undeveloped Howell acreage. At the time, a dedicated construction career center was an ambitious vision. Over the next 56 years, that vision became reality. The center grew—first in scope, then in reputation—into a 560-acre, year-round training complex serving more than 15,000 heavy equipment operators, stationary engineers, and technicians across Michigan.
Under the leadership of former Business Manager Sam T. Hart, the Center’s first permanent building opened in 1998. Subsequent expansions followed, including the introduction of the “Raising Gang” structure erection training with the Ironworkers in 2001 and a major classroom addition in 2020, bringing the instructional footprint to nearly 13,000 square feet.
For years, the site has offered real-world situational training in hoisting, pipeline and road construction, mining, crane operation, welding, drone piloting, GPS navigation, and CDL training, among many other skills. Apprentices and journeymen log thousands of hours on industry-leading equipment and state-of-the-art simulators.
Additionally, the union has opened training sites in the Upper Peninsula (Gladstone), West Michigan (Grand Rapids) in the last eight years, and has grown the Stationary Engineer Career Center in Detroit.
The new arena is now the crown jewel of the entire OE324 training system.
“This arena is a true investment in our future,” said Heath Salisbury, OE324 Training Director. “A space where Operating Engineers will develop the skills necessary to build and maintain the infrastructure that supports Michigan and beyond. Our members made this possible, and their commitment to excellence is what sets us apart.”
Salisbury added, “This facility positions us not just for today’s needs, but for tomorrow’s. It gives us the tools, space, and technology to evolve with the industry and lead the way far into the future.”
Meeting Demand, Weathering the Seasons
The arena was built to address two persistent challenges: unpredictable weather and growing enrollment. Michigan’s winters often make it impossible to practice vital skills such as asphalt paving, concrete work, and hydro-excavation outdoors. The arena now makes year-round instruction in those areas—and others like GPS navigation and concrete pumping—possible, regardless of the season.
“Michigan winters are tough. We train in the real world, and in the real world, weather matters,” said Kevin Tremain, OE324 Civil Apprentice Coordinator. “This new facility lets us train uninterrupted—when it matters most.”
The main arena spans 200 by 300 feet with an 80-foot ceiling. It has a soil floor, allowing for an outdoor experience like excavation indoors. It is heated, ventilated, and outfitted with automated CO₂ detectors for safety. Adjacent to it, a new 80-by-300-foot technician shop includes a 10-ton lift, a two-ton overhead crane, as well as classroom space, locker rooms, and a wash bay.
“Over the past few years, we’ve added new dozers, excavators, GPS-guided systems, crawler cranes, a new tower crane—you name it,” Salisbury said. “Our technicians must know how to operate and maintain this equipment. Now they can train in a space built for the very best.”
Tim Villarreal, OE324 Technician Apprentice Coordinator, emphasized the importance of the new facility for technician training: “Having a large, state-of-the-art facility allows us to teach diagnosis and repair the way it should be taught—hands-on, in real conditions, with the space to break down and rebuild real machines. This raises the skill level of every technician who comes through our program.”
Built by Members, for Members
Constructed in partnership with Roncelli, Inc., the arena was not only built for the membership—it was built by them.
“We’re proud to have partnered with OE324 on this exceptional project,” said Anthony DeMarco, Vice President of Operations at Roncelli. “It demonstrates what’s possible when industry and skilled labor collaborate—and it leaves a legacy that will benefit generations of workers to come.”
Apprentices, instructors, and journeymen participated in the project’s execution, turning the build itself into a hands-on learning experience.
“This isn’t just another building—it’s a statement,” said OE324 President Ken Dombrow. “We built this ourselves. We didn’t wait for others to invest in us. We did what Operating Engineers have always done: we got to work and made it happen.”
A Training Model for the Country
The expanded campus now includes 19 high-tech classrooms, a five-story tower crane, simulators, and a full fleet of cranes, dozers, loaders, graders, pavers, excavators, and more. The curriculum includes hoisting and portable certifications, civil equipment operation, OSHA and HAZMAT compliance, road and bridge construction, welding, CDL prep, drone piloting, and a rapidly growing technician program that incorporates diagnostic, hydraulic, and electrical systems.
For contractors and employer partners, the arena means greater reliability and workforce readiness.
“When we say our operators and techs are the best trained in the country, this arena is the proof,” said Brian Hoffman, President of Hoffman Bros., Inc. and OE324 JATF Trustee. “It’s what makes both OE324 and its contractors special. This is an awesome accomplishment—not just for the union, but for the entire construction industry in Michigan.”
M.E. “Woody” Woodbeck, Chairman of OCC Systems and OE324 JATF Trustee, echoed the sentiment: “Employers know that when they hire an OE324 operator or technician, they’re getting the best-trained, most safety-conscious worker available. Training is at the center of that, and so when we, as trustees, had the opportunity to grow the program and its abilities with this facility, it made perfect sense – fiscally and responsibly.”
Lee Graham, OE324 Labor-Management Executive Director, former Training Director, and 30-year member and graduate of the apprenticeship program, called the arena’s opening “a deeply personal milestone.”
“I’ve watched this site, these programs, and our membership grow,” Graham said. “Standing inside this arena, I see not just a building, but decades of commitment. This is pride you can feel in your chest.”
A Space Already in Motion
Even before its official grand opening, the arena had become a central part of OE324’s community and industry outreach. In November 2024, it hosted the National Apprenticeship Week Building Trades Open House, where educators saw firsthand the training environment available to students entering the skilled trades.
In spring 2025, the arena welcomed the Michigan Tradeswomen Summit and the annual Michigan Construction Career Days—an event that drew more than 3,000 students from across the state. There, students operated cranes, dozers, and other heavy machinery under instructor supervision, introducing them to careers in construction and equipment operation. Hands-on stations, simulators, and live demonstrations brought the industry to life for a new generation.
And at the 2025 Operating Engineers 324 Family Day and Retiree Picnic, more than 1,100 members and families gathered to enjoy bounce houses and giant sandcastles inside the arena. A union-wide luncheon was hosted in the technician shop, bringing together members of every generation for a day of fun, connection, and celebration.
Investing in the Union, Investing in Michigan
As demand for infrastructure and energy projects has only continued to accelerate, OE324’s training center continues to lead. The indoor arena strengthens the union’s role as not only leaders in Michigan but nationwide.
“We’re not just training for jobs, we’re training for careers that support families, communities, and industries,” said Douglas W. Stockwell, Business Manager of Operating Engineers 324. “We’re building for the future and we’re doing it ourselves.”
With over 500 active apprentices, record numbers of hours logged annually, and now one of the most advanced indoor training facilities in the country, OE324 continues to set the bar for what union-led, self-sustaining self-investment in training can achieve.
As apprentices and journeymen hone their skills inside the arena—laying asphalt, operating GPS-equipped dozers, and lifting steel with precision—they are not merely training. They are carrying forward a tradition that began in a trailer in 1969: the tradition of building something greater, together.