Team IMTEF

Learn more: www.imtef.org

The International Masonry Training and Education Foundation provides training, certifications, and continuing education programs to members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.

09/22/2026

As a student in IMTEF's Instructor Certification Program (ICP), Edwin Silva-Martinez is learning how to be the best teacher he can be. And that means understanding that everyone learns differently.

"Some learners learn visually, some learners learn best with a book in their hands, and some learn by doing," said Martinez, a member of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers/ADC of NJ Locals 4 & 5.

Martinez is in his second year with ICP, a 5-year professional development pathway that transforms BAC craftworkers into certified instructors. Year 2 focuses on instructional design, with students learning how to develop lessons, teach shop math effectively, and communicate clearly in the classroom.

ICP students will be at the International Training Center over the next few weeks, with a graduation ceremony for year 5 students planned for next month.

09/21/2026

Football season is in full swing, and the Buffalo Bills and their fans have a brand new stadium that BAC members helped to build!

"It's kind of a bucket list thing for me to work on a professional stadium of any kind," said Josh Burns, a 25-year member of BAC Local 3 Iowa.

The scope of the project also meant ample work opportunities for apprentices, many of whom worked on the job for over a year.

The apprentices on this project have gotten to "experience every aspect of the trade," said Drew Christensen, a BAC member of 15 years and foreman for Thomas Johnson Inc.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day to all of our skilled BAC craftworkers and signatory contractors! We're grateful for the hard work you put in every day to build a better North America.

08/31/2026

Jeffrey Owen, bricklayer with BAC Local 3 NY, obtained ABAA's Air Barrier Certification at the International Training Center in 2024. The class teaches BAC craftworkers how to install air barrier systems that keep buildings energy efficient.

Owen said the training helped him and his team as they worked on the air barriers of a building for Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School

"Obtaining this certification has made me more adaptable and versatile in the eyes of any contractor," he said.

08/26/2026

If you've always dreamed of starting your own company or recently took the leap, our Aspiring Contractor Program gives you the tools to succeed as a union contractor. Throughout this 5-day virtual course, you'll gain real-world business knowledge from experienced business owners, industry professionals, and experts with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and the International Masonry Institute.

Kacey Brett Mertz, third-generation bricklayer with BAC Local 3 CA, said the class gave her a good pathway forward as she prepared to take over her father's business.

“It gave us a lot of tools, and a lot of contacts and connections, like who can help us through things if we need help," she said.

Sign up to join our next cohort of aspiring contractors this fall: https://hubs.la/Q04qT85c0

08/24/2026

Co-developed by the International Masonry Institute and the International Concrete Repair Institute - (ICRI), our Concrete Repair Certificate Program teaches the theory, materials, methods, quality controls, and best practices that define effective concrete repair work.

“I wanted to get the certification so I can know why we’re doing the work we’re doing. Sometimes you might have an issue, and no one will know why. I want to go back and explain to the crew the proper procedure and why we’re doing it that way," said Gunnar Demarest, PCC specialist with BAC 2 NY/VT.

08/12/2026

Students from the Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center in Charleston, W.V. got a glimpse of what it’s like to work as a BAC apprentice when they visited the International Training Center earlier this month.
The International Masonry Institute's Job Corps program is a free education and training program that helps young people earn a high school diploma or GED, and learn the skills needed to begin their masonry career. After a student completes the program, they can become apprentices with a local BAC union.
Jonas Elmore, the program’s national director, talked to the students about what they could expect out of an apprenticeship and gave them a tour of the training center.
You can learn more about Job Corps here: https://hubs.la/Q04sg2_v0

$Our refractory training, led by instructors with years of experience building and repairing furnaces, kilns, mills, plan...$

08/10/2026

Our refractory training, led by instructors with years of experience building and repairing furnaces, kilns, mills, plants, refineries, and factories, gives BAC members the hands-on experience they need to succeed in a high-heat, high-stakes environment.

“You can Google, but when someone is hands on and shows you how to do it, and why you are doing it that way, that’s when you learn," said Dexter Dubose, bricklayer with BAC Local 8 SE.

08/06/2026

BAC's bi-annual Women's Leadership Conference gives members the chance to earn IMTEF’s Supervisor Certification to prepare them for future leadership opportunities in the trowel trades.

It's also an opportunity for BAC sisters to enjoy camaraderie, guidance, and support, said Tyese Levon of BAC Local 3 Massachusetts/Maine/New Hampshire/Rhode Island.

“Having people in your corner who have your back can be a gamechanger as a woman in the trades, so this mentorship and support is important," Levon said.

We look forward to the next conference!

https://hubs.la/Q04qWKLG0

08/05/2026

IMI’s Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate Program gives BAC members the skills they need to restore buildings that have stood for generations, such as the 19th century-built St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette, Michigan.

That's why Bill Klein, of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union, Local 2 of Michigan, enrolled in the class last winter, his first class at the International Training Center. He wanted to expand his skill set as he works on the cathedral's ongoing restoration.

“I started out as a production mason, where you’re always doing some sort of restoration. But there’s still a lot to learn, especially with a lot of the new products. I like the idea of saving history. Not a lot of people do it," he said.

Address

17101 Science Drive
Bowie, MD
20715

Website

https://imtef.org/

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