Finishing Trades Institute of Southern New England Inc.

Who is winning this truck this year?!

As a reminder our annual STAR banquet is September 12 🎉

We can't wait to see you there and spend the day on the beach with our siblings ❤️

Nobody tells you there’s a third option.

You can take on debt for a degree. You can take a job with no future. Or you can learn a skilled trade, earn while you train, walk away with zero debt, and own something no one can take from you.

That third option is us.

We’re the Finishing Trades Institute of Southern New England. The training school for the glaziers, painters, and drywall finishers of IUPAT District Council 11 across Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Eight apprenticeship programs. Real certifications. Instructors who’ve actually done the work. And safety training that never stops because the most important thing we teach is how to get home to your family every night.

Swipe through to see what a career in the trades really looks like. 👉

Thinking about it for yourself, or know someone who should be? Follow along, or drop us a comment, this is where it starts.

EarnWhileYouLearn

Our last OSHA 10 until October is this weekend and we still have spots available!

A valid OSHA 10 is required on every job site. In CT, cards expire every 5 years, so check yours now and register if you are expired.

https://calendly.com/ftisne/connecticut-osha10?back=1

After 21 years as our Director of Training, Mike Komaromi has retired. 💙

Before he left, we sat down with him for a conversation about his journey and it's one worth hearing in his own words.

It starts with a summer job on storm windows at 15 years old. It runs through 24 years, 7 months, and 13 days in the field as a glazier with local 1274. And it was shaped at his family's kitchen table, where his father, a Teamster and union steward, spent Sunday afternoons showing him what it means to stand up for working people.

Mike would never tell you about everything he built at FTISNE: the facilities, the programs, the hundreds of apprentices trained to work safely and go home to their families. But he'll gladly tell you why he did it because someone once gave him an opportunity, and he spent his career paying it forward.

Please help us in thanking him and congratulating him on this well deserved retirement!

🎥 Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/3tSq3hX0R-k?si=wg_8w2BO0axi-e6T

📖 Read our full tribute to Mike: www.iupatdc11.com/ourwork/dotkomaromiretires

Mike Komaromi: In His Own Words | 21 Years as Director of Training After 21 years as Director of Training for the Finishing Trades Ins...

Every year there are close to 400 fatal falls in the construction industry

AND in 2022 there were 44,000 non-fatal falls in construction according to the CPWR

There are still spots available for this Saturday's ACE Fall Protection 💥

We put this training on so YOU are not one of these numbers.

We cannot stress enough the importance of knowing how to protect yourself against falls. Please come and get educated on the proper way to protect you and your crew 💪

Register here: https://calendly.com/ftisne/rhode-island-fall-protection

June Training Schedule 🔥

Register through the link in our bio or at calendly.com/ftisne

Invitations have been sent! 📧

For those eligible, check your email and your physical mail for an invitation to this years 20th annual STAR!

September 12th will be the day you walk away with incredible prizes, connect with your fellow brothers and sisters, and maybe even win this years brand new vehicle! 🔥

A huge moment for our industry and an even bigger one for our team. 🎬

Last week, we had the honor of hosting the International Finishing Trades Institute (iFTI) and Kelly Press as they came in to film the brand-new Door Hardware Technician Course — a curriculum that will soon launch across the U.S. and Canada through the iFTI learning management system.

Even more special? The course was built from the master capstone of our very own Glazing Coordinator, Angel Galloza. Angel identified a critical skills gap in our industry and turned it into a national training program that will shape glaziers for years to come!

We were also lucky to host some members from the IUPAT Glazing Committee, with members flying in from across the U.S. and Canada to share their expertise, give feedback, and put their own skills to the test during the hands-on shop portion.

A special shoutout to Armando Vega, who represented us on camera during the hands-on demonstrations (phew, that was hard work being filmed AND working on door hardware!)

Two days. One incredibly technical, detailed, and challenging course. And a whole lot of pride for what our team is contributing to the trade. 🛠️