New York, NY — Nikola Susic, nicknamed “Niko” by his friends, is the son of Croatian immigrants. His father was a carpenter who did all the work around the house. “I was in awe of his skills,” said Susic, adding, “I’d always lend a hand.”
Besides being influenced by his dad’s profession, Susic says his love of building began early. As a kid, he’d build with Lego sets that he got on Christmas, and construct his own little forts in the backyard.
As a teenager, he attended the prestigious High School of Art and Design in Midtown Manhattan, a specialized school that is stringent in its requirements for acceptance. He followed his proclivities for building and majored in Architecture through the Career Technical Education (CTE) program. “I loved every minute of it,” he says. “I would always go above and beyond project requirements as I was really passionate about it.”
He continues, “If circumstances were any different I might have been an architect today, but I come from a modest background. My family couldn’t afford to send me to university, I had some complications applying for financial aid, and my GPA wasn’t high enough to qualify for any substantial scholarships.”
But Susic didn’t let any of that get him down. “So the day after I graduated high school I set out to look for a job where I could use what I had learned and that led me to the trades. After a few years I found myself working on an open shop project in the Bronx where there were union laborers and Electricians. One of the Laborers I had become friends with told me a bit about unions and that I should try and get into an apprenticeship, and that the Carpenters would soon be taking applications. So I camped out on line for the lottery at the district council, and after a few weeks I got a call to come in for orientation. I had a couple years experience under my belt and felt confident in my abilities, but really had no idea how many bad habits I had picked up along the way. I joined Carpenters Local 45 in 2018 when I began my apprenticeship with the NYCDCC. I really have to praise the wonderful instructors at our training center, who are all masters in their craft. They didn’t just teach me how to do the job but why it’s done a certain way- the right way.
As a member of this union my crafts range from building concrete forms, interior framing, drywall, installation of doors and windows, millwork, and interior trim.”
All of Susic’s early passion for building, his love of and training in architecture, as well as working alongside his carpenter father, and of course his training program, came and propelled him to the top. Susic shone at a competition called the Golden Hammer. He explains, “The apprenticeship is a 4-year program and at the end we have an open house/exhibition where the best apprentices face off in a competition where you use all the skills we’ve learned.” He won first place in the category of interior systems.
He’s worked on many projects, from luxury apartments, to office spaces, to schools, to hospitals, to LaGuardia Airport. “School projects have been my favorite,” he adds, “and I’ll be starting a new one in Queens next week.”
Not only does he stand out from his peers in his skill, but he has some important words to say about the culture of the trade and his union, and offers encouragement.
“I can tell you from my experiences with women in my crew (and I’ve worked with many) that I’ve always treated them with respect and as an equal. I’ve always taken the time to help and mentor my sisters on the job, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are very important goals in my union that we really strive for. To anyone looking to join the trade, especially if you have a passion for problem solving while working with your hands – Go for it! And don’t let anyone stop you. Aside from the great pay and benefits, it’s incredibly fulfilling and satisfying to see the product of a hard day’s labor and to know that you had a part in building this beautiful city we call home!”
