North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute

08/19/2026

The NCIFTI just added a Journey Worker upgrade course to our 2026 training opportunities! Come learn how to apply Scuffmaster metallic and pearl finishes. There are only 15 spots available, and the manufacturer is coming to help teach so this is not an opportunity you will want to miss. Register early to secure your spot. This class will take place at PDC 30 headquarters in Aurora on September 19th from 7am- 3:30pm.

08/03/2026

Last Friday, we honored the painters/decorators, industrial painters, drywall finishers, and glaziers who successfully completed the North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute apprenticeship program in the last 12 months. Congratulations to the entire 2025/2026 graduating class!
Award recipients:
Apprentice of the Year: Justin Schinke
Secretary-Treasurers Award: Michael McPhail
Norm Hankes Award: Ryan Smith
Perfect Attendance: Hunter Doherty, Andrew Larson, Justin Schinkel, Ryan Smith
and Jose Vega-Cendejas
Graduating Class: Jerome Bachota, Vicente Cortes-Sanchez, Jorge Cruz-Gutierrez, Hunter Doherty, Allyson Fenwick, Jeremy Garrett, Dustyn Gaston, Anthony Gray, Curtis Kellen, Andrew Larson, Osvaldo Lopez, Michael McPhail, Mazie Mawyer, Oscar Ramirez, Frank Reeger, Daniel Rizo, Justin Schinkel, Adrian Sellers, Jack Shirley, Ryan Smith, Jose Vega-Cendejas.
Congratulations graduates!

07/30/2026

Help us give a massive welcome to our newest class of apprentices!
We are thrilled to have a talented group of Drywall Finishers, Commercial Painters, Glaziers, and Industrial Painters joining our team. This year’s class brings a fantastic mix of fresh energy—with some folks launching their careers today, and others bringing advanced placement and valuable previous experience to the table.
We are proud to invest in the future of the trades. Join us in wishing our new apprentices the absolute best as they build their skills and careers with us!

07/17/2026

This week, Lusiano Rodriquez (LU 157) Christina Harms (LU 157) and Alex Barr (LU 607) successfully completed their OSHA 500 Train The Trainer course earning the authorization to teach OSHA classes for the NCIFTI. The culmination of their previous completions of Teaching Techniques for Adults level 1 & 2 along with completion of an OSHA 510 & 500. All three of them have achieved the level of Associate Instructor for the IUPAT and NCIFTI. Congratulations on your accomplishments and we look forward to them teaching more, making training opportunities more frequent and more accessible to all of PDC 30 members!

07/16/2026

Local 157 member, Christina Harms recently spoke on a podcast about her journey in the trades as part of the IL Apprentices Ambassador Cohort! Listen to the full podcast at: https://theapprenticeperspective.buzzsprout.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTF59JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJIaElxM2QzNGNxNHBDWVJ5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjqLHLkJ-Q-PDdWREWtoStBrg22ueb77OzK5JkbAGJhkxwOo-uMwmGNLK7Fd_aem_gEUeauPkpct4TX2j3T0R_Q

Christina Harms didn't take a straight path to an apprenticeship. In conversation with Steve LeFaver, Christina talks about her apprenticeship journey, overcoming the challenges of being a woman in the trades, and how apprenticeship has meant she is no longer just getting by but leading the way. Now streaming: https://tinyurl.com/tappod

| Mid-Illinois Companies, North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute

07/07/2026

Huge shoutout to FLEX Power Tools! They dropped off a generous donation of tools yesterday for our apprentices to use during training. We are incredibly grateful for their continued investment in the next generation of skilled trades. Please show your support for Flex Tools to thank them for backing our training program!
Thank you, FLEX Power Tools - North America, for your amazing partnership!

07/04/2026

06/22/2026

On Saturday, your NCIFTI team participated in the USA Barbeque competition and took home the win for Best Booth! Thanks for all the members and their families who came out to spend your Saturday with us!

06/15/2026

Congratulations to all 22 graduates and we can't wait to see where a career in the trades takes you! Thank you Hire360 Partners for your partnership throughout the past nine weeks!

06/08/2026