7. Associations Thrive - Anton Ruesing, Executive Director of FTI, on Bringing Contractors and Training Directors Together

11/17/22 • 28 min

How do you find meaning and camaraderie in your work? Associations Thrive host Joanna Pineda interviews Anton Ruesing, Director of the Finishing Trades Institute (FTI). Anton introduces FTI, and shares how a dead car battery led him back to the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). He also shares what FTI and the IUPAT are doing to attract apprentices, make training better, and foster good relations in the industry. Anton discusses:

The yearly Finishing Industries Forum, which brings contractors and Training Directors together
Helping Hand, a program of the IUPAT for members who are suffering from substance abuse or at risk for suicide
The Big Build at the National Building Museum
Rollers, spray rigs, and Virtual Reality training

References:

Finishing Trades Institute
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
IUPAT’s Helping Hand program
The Big Build at the National Building Museum

The yearly Finishing Industries Forum, which brings contractors and Training Directors together
Helping Hand, a program of the IUPAT for members who are suffering from substance abuse or at risk for suicide
The Big Build at the National Building Museum
Rollers, spray rigs, and Virtual Reality training

References:

Finishing Trades Institute
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
IUPAT’s Helping Hand program
The Big Build at the National Building Museum

Previous Episode

6. Associations Thrive - Todd Stafford, Executive Director of ETA, on the Value of Apprenticeships Today

The skilled labor shortage is large and growing. Yet, the building trades offer some of the most fulfilling and rewarding careers available, with stats to prove it! The trades even offer earn-while-you-learn apprenticeships to teach the trade to those who are interested. How are the trades working to recruit talent and fill the gap?

Associations Thrive host Joanna Pineda interviews Todd Stafford, Executive Director of the Electrical Training ALLIANCE. Todd introduces the ALLIANCE, shares his journey to becoming Executive Director, and then shares what the ALLIANCE and their 280+ training centers are doing to attract and retain apprentices!

Todd discusses:

How their training centers are reaching out to more diverse, nontraditional candidates.
A Department of Labor grant that the ALLIANCE used to fund nontraditional expenses, like clothing, tools, childcare, health insurance.
How the ALLIANCE has updated its curriculum for today’s students.
Why apprenticeships are still so relevant today.

References:

Next Episode

8. Associations Thrive - Alan DeYoung, Executive Director of WEMSA, on Creating a Nationally-Accredited Training Program

Did you know that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are mostly volunteer and considered non-essential services and entities in the majority of the United States? 🤯 Even in the 12 states where they ARE deemed essential, they’re not necessarily funded.

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Alan DeYoung, Executive Director & CEO of the Wisconsin EMS Association. Alan introduces WEMSA, shares his journey to becoming Executive Director, and then shares what WEMSA has been doing to diversify revenue and better support their members, who are mostly volunteers!

Alan discusses:

Who the Wisconsin EMS Association serves and the innovative ways WEMSA is adding value for their members.
What EMS provides as a public safety entity, and how fragmented the industry is.
WEMSA’s campaign to meet with members and potential members face-to-face, and provide as many free supplies and resources as possible.
How WEMSA’s outside-of-the-box thinking has allowed them to diversify revenue streams to enable them to keep member dues low and provide more resources to their members and community at large.
Why WEMSA decided to become the only nationally-accredited state-based training center.
What YOU can do to support EMS in your community.

References: