The TERO Guy at 2025 Rocky Mountain TERO Conference Las Vegas, Nevada

Reflections on a great TERO conference put on by the Rocky Mountain Region

To help get an understanding of where we are, it was important to look back. One of the founders of TERO back in 1977, John Navarro gave a great speech about the history of TERO and how far it has come in the nearly 50 years since it was founded. That set the tone for an informative day regarding collaboration opportunities with the trades on pre-apprenticeship trainings.

I knew I would learn some things at the conference, but I was surprised by a new epiphany on a simple basic rule in TERO: Educate from within. Some TERO Offices are a department of one and wear all the hats. Instead of one person carrying a heavy load alone (which is mostly unavoidable with smaller tribes/budgets), directors can collaborate with other department heads and decision makers so they are fluent in the basics of TERO law. TERO department counterparts can work together to support compliance rather than be at odds with each other.

Sometimes the best solutions are hiding in plain sight.