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Staff

John Burcaw Headshot

JOHN BURCAW

DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC EDUCATION
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

John is responsible for managing academic programs, recruitment, marketing, and promotion. He serves as the liaison between the board and government agencies, along with maintaining accreditation and licensing requirements, student records, and strategic partnerships. This includes all federal or state divisions of Apprenticeship, the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, and other agencies that oversee academic education.

John is an accomplished, results-oriented professional with wide-ranging skills and experiences, including the development and implementation of organizational programs and strategic initiatives. John also forms, grows, and maintains business partnerships for the benefit and advancement of the FTIUM, its members, affiliates, and stakeholders.

John has been a member of the IUPAT for 29 years and has over 18 years of union executive-level leadership experience.

Tom Aasheim Headshot

TOM AASHEIM

DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
ACCREDITATION LIAISON OFFICER

Tom started as a part-time instructor and has worked his way up to being the Director of Technical Education. As the Director of Technical Education, he is responsible for managing technical instructors and trade coordinators. This includes all course scheduling. He facilitates technical instructors and trade coordinators’ professional development and serves as our liaison with the FTI International and appropriate industry associations. Tom also manages continuing education for technical, health and safety courses, and finishing trades’ industry certifications.

Managing learning resources, technical infrastructure, and facilities (assets, IT, computers, modules, studios, and buildings) are also Tom’s responsibility.

Tom has over 20 years of experience in Commercial & Industrial Painting and is a well-respected industry-recognized instructor holding numerous industry certifications.

Brian Hagberg Headshot

BRIAN HAGBERG

COORDINATOR

Brian is a student advocate responsible for establishing curriculum, supervising craft instructors, and instructing both apprentice and continuing education courses. He is a journeyworker glazier who worked at Brin Northwestern Glass Company from October 1990 to August 2008. Brian completed his glazier apprenticeship during this time.

Brian started with FTIUM in August 2008 as the Glazier and Glassworker Coordinator and Instructor. Brian is certified in OSHA 500 (Construction), OSHA 501 (General Industry), Rigging & Signalling, Forklift/All-terrain Forklift, and Aerial Lifts. He is also an American Heart Association Instructor, Certified Welding Inspector Associate, a proctor for the NCCCO Signaling Practical Exam, and an AGMT Certified Technician.

Brian holds an Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Education and a proud member of Local 1324 with thirty-one years of service.

Demitri FTIUM Headshots Web

DEMETRI DEBE

GRANT ADMINISTRATOR

Demetri serves as grant writer, administrator, and researcher at FTIUM. He comes to FTIUM from the University of Minnesota where his background in history, teaching, writing, administration, and academic technology prepared him for this role. He has more than a decade of experience in grant writing and administration within the university and has acted as principal investigator (PI), co-PI, and investigator on several grants. Those experiences have led him to value his role in working collaboratively to build programs, courses, and events grounded in effective teaching and learning.

Amy Peterson Headshot

AMY PETERSON

INSTRUCTOR

Amy serves as the Drywall Finisher/Safety Instructor responsible for instructing the established curriculum lesson plans as needed for Career Readiness,  Apprenticeship, and Continuing Education assigned or scheduled by the Director of Technical Education. This includes the maintenance and organization of the instructional areas, equipment, and supplies at all facilities and training sites.

Amy started her drywall career with Minuti-Ogle and worked there for 13 years before becoming an instructor. She is proud to say that they are the only drywall company she worked for.

Amy is proud to serve on the “Sisters of DC82” committee, the FTI International Drywall committee responsible for updating our learning resources, and served on the LMCI – FIF Summit Workgroup Committee for Drywall. Before her drywall career, she worked at American Family Insurance in Human resources for ten years. She was a trainer for the insurance agents on a new billing system for five years.

Amy has worked for the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest for over 8 yrs.

Tony Osborn Headshot

TONY OSBORN

INSTRUCTOR

Tony Osborn is a glazing instructor with 35 years of experience in the glazing industry. He holds many certifications through glazing and glass organizations, the IUPAT, and an Associate degree through Mountwest Community & Technical College. His recent accomplishments include becoming an AGMT certified glazing technician and completion of the IUPAT Changing the Culture of Construction course. Tony is committed to sharing his knowledge and skills with the next generation of industry professionals.

Davitt Dougherty Headshot

DAVITT DOUGHERTY

INSTRUCTOR

Davitt Dougherty is a Commercial Painter Decorator instructor at FTIUM. He entered the painting trade in St. Paul directly out of high school. After joining the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades in 1995, he learned additional skills in the painting trade including wallcovering installation, drywall finishing, and industrial painting. In 2017, Davitt became an instructor with FTIUM and completed his Certificate of Technical Studies, Associate Instructor Program, and Associate of Applied Science degree between 2018 and 2019. In addition, Davitt holds certifications in OSHA 500, fall protection, infection control risk assessments, and 1st Aid and CPR. Davitt is proud to be an active member of Local Union 386 and currently is the president of his local union and a delegate to District Council 82.

Mark Duttenhefner Headshot

MARK DUTTENHEFNER

INSTRUCTOR

Mark Duttenhefner is an Industrial Painter and alumni of the FTIUM . He spent his career in the field specializing in abrasive blasting and application of coatings at numerous coal-fired power plants, refineries, water treatment facilities, mines, tank farms, and pipelines. Mark later went on to become a certified coatings inspector. He joined the FTIUM staff in 2019.

Phil O'Neill Headshot

PHIL O’NEILL

INSTRUCTOR

Phil has worked in many trades in his life and is currently serving as an Instructor for FTIUM. After owning a landscape construction company for 28 years, Phil went back to college to pursue his desire to give back to the community and become a special education teacher.

He now has multiple degrees, and has been teaching high school for 5 years. He has created innovative learning strategies and curriculum that specializes in the trades and hands-on learning projects.

Phil specializes in working with youth who have been marginalized socially and academically and builds strong positive relationships with his students that last beyond the time spent together in the classroom.

FTIUM Grecia Palomar Headshot

GRECIA PALOMAR

INSTRUCTOR

Grecia serves as the Drywall Finisher/Safety Instructor responsible for instructing the established curriculum lesson plans as needed for Apprenticeship and Continuing Education assigned or scheduled by the Director of Technical Education. This includes the maintenance and organization of the instructional areas, equipment, and supplies at all facilities and training sites.

Prior to beginning her career in the trades, Grecia worked as an interpreter and as a preschool co-teacher for a few years. She began her drywall career with Reshetar Systems, where she worked for 7 years before becoming an instructor. 

Currently, Grecia is proud to serve as a member of the “Sisters of DC 82” committee and the IUPAT Latino Committee, and is Financial Secretary for Local 386.

FTIUM Keith Bailey Headshot

KEITH BAILEY 

INSTRUCTOR

Keith Bailey is a wallcovering and finishing trades instructor who joined Local 386 in 2005. He began his apprenticeship and worked under Decorator Services for 4 years before joining the military. 

Keith returned from deployment and rejoined the union in 2014 to continue his career path in the industry, and began his current position at FTIUM in 2022. Keith’s goal is to pass on his 17 years of skills and experience to the younger generation.

Jorden Bresmeth Headshot

JORDAN BREMSETH

RECRUITER

Jordan is the recruiter for the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM). He visits high schools, trade shows, job fairs, and all organized events promoting the FTIUM, and recruits for all academic programs such as worker readiness, apprenticeships, and continuing education classes.

Jordan’s primary focus is to bring the new generation of FTIUM students to the school. He works closely with instructors and business partners to actively grow and evolve the FTIUM membership.

Jordan’s career in the trades began right after high school. He worked in residential construction for 4 years before eventually finding the glazing world, and later started at a non-union shop in his hometown of Willmar, Minnesota. He began his apprenticeship at Heartland Glass, and now Jordan understands the union difference first-hand.

Jordan is an FTIUM apprenticeship graduate and holds certifications in welding, scissor lift, signaling and rigging training, OSHA-30, aerial lift, lead safety, and first aid, CPR, and AED.

He has been a proud member of District Council 82 Local 1324 for 5 years of service and is excited to see what he can do for the FTIUM’s students and DC 82 members.

Liz Fall Headshot

LIZ FALL

EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

Liz Fall is the Educational Administrator at FTIUM. With a computerized accounting and customer service background, she is responsible for bookkeeping, student enrollment, student records, appropriate student inquiries, requests for information, and recordkeeping. Liz joined the FTIUM staff in 2019.

Dana Raabe Headshot

DANA RAABE

EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

Dana Raabe is the Educational Administrator at FTIUM. She works primarily with grant administration, academic accreditation, and distance learning. She comes to FTIUM with a Master’s Degree in Education and over 10 years in the education field.

FTIUM Tami Moe Headshot

TAMI MOE

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Tami Moe is the Office Administrator at FTIUM. She has 25 years of experience in small business management and office administration. Since joining the FTIUM team in 2022, her responsibilities have included student inquiries, student record keeping, and office administration with a focus on positive experiences and strengthening relationships.

FTIUM Care Team

Care Coordinator Dalilih Ortiz-Rivera

DALILIH ORTIZ-RIVERA

CARE COORDINATOR
Habla Español

Dalilih is a Care Coordinator providing services in our Edina and FTIUM Care Team Office. Dalilih has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix, and certifications in Foundation of Mental Health Coaching, Mental Health Coaching Skills, and Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders from Light University.

Dalilih is inspired by empowering people to identify their inner strengths and seek the resources to improve their lives. She believes that in life, you have two choices: stay where you are and keep struggling, or choose to work on yourself and move forward. Hearing the clients express their gratitude, and how they utilize the resources is the fuel that fills Dalilih’s heart.

Courtney Pierre

COURTNEY PIERRE 

COUNSELOR

Courtney received her Bachelor of Science degree in Alcohol & Drug Studies in 2015 from Minnesota State University, Mankato and has over seven years of experience working in substance use treatment programs as a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LADC). Courtney received her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2021 from Adler Graduate School and is currently in the process of working towards LPCC licensure.  

Courtney takes a collaborative yet personalized approach when working with clients which may include incorporating the following therapeutic techniques: CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, and solution-focused therapy. Courtney is committed to providing services that are evidence-based and trauma-informed to ensure that clients receive the services and support that they deserve.

Alicia Lindley

ALICIA LINDLEY 

COUNSELOR

Alicia received her master’s in counseling in 2015. She has supported children all the way up to seniors who come from different racial, economic, and religious backgrounds. She utilizes a variety of different techniques, including solution focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.   

Alicia aims to create a safe environment where participants can share their concerns and identify not only goals but steps towards reaching them. She believes that change and healing are truly possible and desires to provide everyone with skills they can utilize to overcome their current circumstances.  

Stefani Erickson

STEFANI ERICKSON

NURSE CASE MANAGER

Stefani is a Registered nurse with over 15 years experience throughout multiple specialties in Medicine.

Stefani values a healthcare model that establishes a partnership among practitioners, patients, and their families to ensure that decisions respect patients’ wants, needs, and preferences and that patients have the education and support they need to make decisions and participate in their own care.

Board of Trustees

Management

Martha Henrickson
(Secretary)

MDPA

James Bringle
Empirehouse Inc.

Joel Swanson 
Swanson & Youngdale

Labor

Jeff Stark
(Chairman)

District Council 82

Jordan Fry
District Council 82, Local 61

Craig Peck
District Council 82, Local 386

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