Nathan Cooper has joined the Iowa Chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association as education director and government affairs liaison. He will administer safety trainings, continuing education classes, statewide licensing and will monitor legislation affecting the sheet metal construction industry.

The association is a trade association of union contractors who specialize in sheet metal, heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

The Iowa Chapter is based in West Des Moines, Iowa. With 27 statewide member construction companies, the Iowa state chapter maintains local chapters in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Waterloo and Fort Dodge.

Cooper graduated in May from the University of Iowa in journalism and American studies and a minor in political science. He began working at the Northwood Anchor and Albert Lea Tribune in 2004 and went on to report for the Daily Iowan, the Iowa City Press-Citizen in 2005 and the Beijing Olympic News Service in 2008. He was then hired by Iowa State Sen. Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids) to work as a legislative clerk for the 2009 legislative session at the Iowa Capitol.

His parents are Phil and Nancy Cooper of Glenville.