Paula Resa is the Executive Director for NWCI Training Centers in western Washington State. She has been a union carpenter for over 38 years working on a variety of job sites doing everything from concrete formwork to interior finish. Paula worked hard through her apprenticeship became a journey woman, teacher, signatory contractor, apprenticeship coordinator and training director.Read More
Dave Sanchez has been an interior systems carpenter 31 years. During his extensive career, he has been successful in the field as a journeymen and foreman for companies like PCS, PSI, Anning-Johnson and Gordon Brown specializing in exterior and interior framing. In the Northwest, his project highlights include Century Link, Convention Center, Fort Lewis and Boeing. Read More
With over 20 + years Bookkeeping and Accounting experience, spanning a variety of industries, Donna joined NWCI in 2015 as a full charge bookkeeper, where she has been able to apply her experience in all fields of work. Working at the Apprenticeship has by far become Donna’s most favorite experience of all.
Marianna has been with NWCI for 12 years, starting at the front desk and working her way up through the ranks, finally becoming the Outreach coordinator in 2020. Her department establishes and maintains working relationships with industry partners, including contractors, state and local governmental agencies, labor organizations, schools, and non-profit organizations, to provide access opportunities to underserved and underrepresented populations in Washington. Her work includes writing and securing grant funding for Pre-Apprenticeship programs that prepare individuals interested in the carpentry trade by providing three weeks of basic skills training prior to entering the carpenters apprenticeship program.
Rocio started with NWCI in March 2022 as the receptionist and Program Specialist for the Pile Driver apprenticeship. She enjoys working at the Kent Training Center because she's able to use her skills and knowledge as well as pushing herself in areas where she wants to improve. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors hiking, camping, kayaking, and fishing with her familia and amigos.
Like many other carpenters, Robert began his construction career while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. He served in the Combat Engineer group for eight years before transitioning to a UBC carpenter, putting in 25 years in the Exterior-Interior Systems (EIS) specialty doing steel stud, drywall, and acoustical ceilings. Robert has extensive experience in shop fabrication and field installation of exterior metal cladding panels, especially Swiss Pearl composite panels. His experience also includes a three-year run (2006-2009) with the Southwest Carpenters Training Fund as an O.J.T. field instructor. Read More
Joseph Crump Instructs carpenter and scaffold classes at the Burlington Training center. Joe entered the carpenters’ apprenticeship in 1998, after four years working non-union, and received two journeyman certificates, one in carpentry, and one in scaffolding. His training includes instructor courses at the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) International Training Center, where the UBC partners with Penn State University to ensure instructors receive training in methods of education and current industry practices and standards. Read More
Eric Torset has worked as a Carpenter for 28 years. He began in 1990 working in residential /commercial concrete doing flatwork and formwork rising to a foreman position in 3 years. After 5 years he then transitioned into residential /custom framing and excelled with his passion as a builder for 10 years. Working 15 years of non-union work, Eric moved into a journeyman position with the Carpenters union working for a local company building tilt-ups and formwork expanding into steel erections and siding/roofing. Read More
Dave Leon has been an interior systems carpenter for 35 years. He started his career as an apprentice and journeymen in the Southwest Region in 1983. From 1991-2006 Dave served as a journeyman, leadman, foreman and project supervisor in the Pacific Northwest for WPI, Western Partitions, GL Systems, Ledon Drywall and Firstline Systems INC. He returned to the Southwest in 2006 and became a lead On-the-Job Trainer for the Southwest Carpenters Training and Apprenticeship Program. In 2010 he returned to the greater Seattle area as a leader in the industry and began working as an instructor for the Northwest Carpenters Institute in 2014.
Chris has worked for over 20 years in the carpentry industry. Starting in high school over Summer break building houses for Buselmeier Construction out of Tacoma, WA. He started the Carpenters Apprenticeship in 1992 with the majority of his career working on commercial buildings such as school projects, fire stations, churches, library’s and commercial office buildings throughout Pierce, King, and Kitsap counties.
Abe Chavez recently relocated from Kennewick, Washington to join the DuPont training center team, continuing his role as a general carpentry and rigging instructor. Abe also provides instruction for many of the skills-upgrade courses available at NWCI.
Travis joined the DuPont team as a general carpentry instructor in 2021. Prior to working at NWCI, he was a general foreman for Kiewit on heavy highway construction projects, working his way up through the ranks.
David is a welding Instructor with over thirty years of experience, wo started welding in 1991 after graduating from the welding program at Lake Washington Technical College in 1993. He spent 15 years in Fab shops building everything from aerial ladder fire trucks to debris screens, conveyor belts, and grain towers, culminating in high end motors homes. In 2006 he went into welding sales and ended up traveling the country as a manufacturer’s representative doing welding and cutting demos and training at customer sites. David also worked outside sales for a major welding equipment supplier, and in 2016, looking to broaden his horizon, he joined the UBC under local 41 Interior Systems as an apprentice.