North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute

10/15/2026

Last weekend, the NCIFTI attended the annual Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in Houston, Texas. This year we were able to take four DC 30 apprentices, Dusti Faichney (157), Nicole Faichney (157), Brandi Johnson (157), and Liz Looper (607). TWBN 2026 was a successful weekend of learning and forming relationships with women and allies in the trades!

10/07/2026

We love investing in the next generation!We are currently teaming up with the talented construction students at Huntley High School to inspire them to become our future professional painters.
Right now, I am teaching them how to paint ticket booths and two outdoor classrooms for the construction class. These students have been so excited to work on these projects, and we are having an absolute blast getting the job done together! The future of the trades is looking incredibly bright. ✨

09/21/2026

Shoutout to everyone who spent their Saturday with us for our first-ever Scuffmaster training!

Attendees got hands-on experience spraying high-demand metallic paint, adding a highly sought-after skill to their toolkits.
We had a great time turning a full day of learning into a fun day out at the NCIFTI training center.

Big thanks to everyone who came out to make the day a huge success! 🙌👉 Keep an eye on our page so you don't miss the next exciting training event at NCIFTI!

09/16/2026

We’re always striving to raise the bar at our training facility!

Last week, Pittsburgh Paint Co. came out to introduce their new water-based intumescent fire protection coating and host a hands-on training session for our members. Their team brought a full crew to answer every question, along with an expert applicator to guide the hands-on demonstration.

It was a massive success, and we learned a ton! In fact, we’re already discussing future training events for when new, innovative products hit the market.

Thank you to everyone who made it out—keep an eye out for our next training event and come join the fun! 🚀🔥

09/08/2026

09/07/2026

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!