Bob Susee
KENT, WA (HQ)
Bob Susee
KENT, WA (HQ)
Bob Susee is proud to be serving as our Executive Director. He was been in the trade for 40+ years and says the best thing about his position is helping build careers and improving lives. His advice to apprentices is to have a “can do” attitude in the apprenticeship training program and on the job, be the first to start work and the last to roll up; characteristics that will ensure you stay employed. He wants apprentices to know that he started as an apprentice in 1976 and that the knowledge the Carpenters Training Program and employers provided him helped him become a foreman as soon as he graduated. His main goal is that all apprentices and journeymen receive excellent training, both in the classroom and on the job. Outside of work, Bob enjoys fishing and wilderness camping.
Abraham Chavez
KENNEWICK, WA
Abraham Chavez
KENNEWICK, WA
Abe Chavez is a General Carpenter with an abundance of experience in carpenter education. He has been in the trade since 1998 and has been a member of the United Brother of Carpenters for 18 years. As a union carpenter, Abe has been able to exceed his personal goal of taking care of his family and is proud of building structures he has helped build that will be long standing after he is gone. The biggest piece of advice he has for apprentices is to take care of yourself and those who care for you. “It is going to take a whole lot of willpower for you to get up and going some days, but don’t ever give up as this career is a life changing opportunity than you can possibly imagine.”
Al Titus
RENTON, WA
Al Titus
RENTON, WA
Al Titus is a carpentry instructor who has been in the trade for 40 years. He is proud of being able to show what he has built to his grandchildren. Some of his proudest accomplishments is helping build the Helix Pedestrian Bridge in Seattle, two 26 story towers in Bellevue and the S Curve Steps at 523 Broadway in Seattle. He enjoys sharing his experiences to help apprentices expand on their abilities. His advice for apprentices is to work hard, study often and enjoy the people you work with.
Brandon Bell
MOUNT VERNON, WA
Brandon Bell
MOUNT VERNON, WA
Brandon Bell is a Scaffold Erector instructor. He has been in the trade for 16 years and specializes in Scaffold Erecting/Dismantling, layout and estimating. Best things about being a carpenter for him are: working with people who have the same common goals, heights and working in a team to accomplish tasks. His proudest accomplishment is working his way up to a general superintendent and then passing down his knowledge to others. Outside of teaching, he is a professional dad and snowboarder.
Calvin Swan
RENTON, WA
Calvin Swan
RENTON, WA
Calvin Swan a Carpenter instructor who likes to think outside the box and use his creativity to produce quality work. He joined the ranks of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in 1980 and has been in the trade since 1976. After developing an “eye for detail,” he found he excelled in Finishing and specializes in it. Carpentry has allowed him to use his mind, hands, back and the rest of his body to support his family. Often, he helps out with friends and extended family with carpentry related tasks and feels blessed to help others in times of need with his skills. Charity and religion are a big part of his life.
Chris Buselmeier
RENTON, WA
Chris Buselmeier
RENTON, WA
Chris Buselmeier is a Carpenter instructor who specializes in Wood Framing. He has been in the trade for 25 years and loves using his skills to do fun stuff and help people out. Some advice he offers apprentices is to work smart, safe and care for your body. When making a mistake, fix it, learn from it and move on. Don’t let it ruin your day. Chris’ proudest accomplishments include building Panel Yard at Holly Park, Slavic Church in Tacoma and becoming an instructor. In addition to helping apprentices succeed, he likes to play tennis, ride dirt bikes and hike.
Cindy Gaudio
RENTON, WA
Cindy Gaudio
RENTON, WA
Cindy Gaudio has been in the carpentry trade for 35 years. She specializes in bridges and led an all-female crew, as a foreman to build the Sound Transit Stations between Lander & Royal Brougham in Seattle. Leading this project was one of her proudest accomplishments in her career. As a training coordinator, she wants apprentices to know she is here to help them succeed if they are willing to do the same for themselves. As an instructor, she feels good about knowing that those she teaches respect her and the work she has done. Advice she shares with her apprentices is QTIP-Quit Taking It Personally; go to work with a good attitude and don’t let that negative person get to you and spend at least half an hour a day doing something for you. Outside of coordinating the Renton Training Center, she enjoys the outdoors and hikes, bikes, rock climbs with her friends and family.
Dan Johnson
KENT, WA (HQ)
Dan Johnson
KENT, WA (HQ)
Dan Johnson is the coordinator for the Kent location. He is a Lathing, Acoustic and Drywall Systems instructor and has been in the trade for 37 years. Mentoring individuals from apprentices to journeyman to foreman is a proud accomplishment for him. He instills in apprentices to work hard and when in doubt, work hard. One of this thing he enjoys doing the most is vacationing in Hawaii.
Dave Halstead
KENNEWICK, WA
Dave Halstead
KENNEWICK, WA
Dave Halstead is a Millwright instructor who has been in the trade for 40 years. Optics is his specialty. He enjoys instructing carpenters on how to operate optical instruments in layout within their trade. He feels strongly about teaching because he believes in keeping the union trades strong and helping others provide a good living for their families. Hobbies include working in his shop and going camping.
Dave Leon
KENT, WA (HQ)
Dave Leon
KENT, WA (HQ)
Instructor: Dave Leon
Summary:
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.
Experience:
- 35 year UBC carpenter
- 4 years on the job trainer
- 4 years project supervisor
- 5 years foreman
- 4 years interior systems instructor
Education:
- Disaster Site Worker Train the Trainer Course #5600
- Millwright 16 Hour Safety
- OSHA 502 Construction
- Smart Mark
- Armstrong Suspended Drywall Grid Ceilings and Soffit Certified Installer Train the Trainer
- ATD Training Certificate
- Scaffold Qualification Train the Trainer Refresher
- Certified Building Envelope Technician (CBET)
- Bloodborne Pathogens- Emergency Care and Safety Institute
- ICRA: Best Practices in Health Care-Construction
- Workforce Education 105- Integrated Curriculum Implementation
- Aerial Lift Operator Qualification Train the Trainer
- AED- Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI)
- CPR- Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI)
- Local Union 440-L Apprenticeship Program Santa Ana, CA 1983-1986
- El Camino Community College 1980-1982 Torrance, CA
- Hawthorne High School, Hawthorne, CA
Dave Milton
KENNEWICK, WA
Dave Milton
KENNEWICK, WA
Dave Milton is proud to be in one of the oldest trades in the world. He has been a Carpenter for 15 years and is excited to see what more he will accomplish in his career. In his advice for apprentices, he states, “Hang on, it’s one hell of a ride! Remember, your possibilities are endless in this brotherhood.” He started working for NWCI as an instructor and is now a coordinator. The reason he became an instructor was to payback all of the help he has received to get to where he is today, a Union Carpenter. Dave enjoys Steelhead fishing, ATV riding and spending quality time with his family and friends.
David Sanchez
KENT, WA (HQ)
David Sanchez
KENT, WA (HQ)
Instructor Dave Sanchez
Summary:
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. For the last 11 years of his UBC career, he has served as an interior systems instructor for Northwest Carpenters Institute of Washington and has taken over 750 hours of training. In addition to his many contributions in the field and our training centers, Dave has dedicated countless hours to his local as a 10 year regional council delegate and Local 41 trustee.
Experience:
- 31 year carpenter, (22 years UBC carpenter)
- 2 years foreman
- 11 years as interior systems instructor
- 10 years regional council delegate
- Local 41 trustee
Education:
- ICRA: Construction Trades Best Practice Awareness Training Train the Trainer
- ICRA: Best Practice In Health-Care Construction Train the Trainer Refresher
- Scaffold Qualification Train the Trainer Refresher
- Scaffold User Qualification
- Certified Building Envelope Technician (CBET)
- Interior Systems Layout Train the Trainer
- OSHA 500 Construction
- Math for the Trades Train the Trainer
- Hazard Communication and Chemical Safety Train the Trainer
- WFED 105- Integrated Curriculum Implementation
- Scaffold Qualification Train the Trainer Refresher
- GED-Tribe of All Nations
Eric Torset
MOUNT VERNON, WA
Eric Torset
MOUNT VERNON, WA
Eric Torset specializes in Concrete Forms, Systems, Tilt Up and Wood and Metal Framing. In the 20+ years he has been a General Carpenter, he has really enjoyed the brotherhood and the lifelong friendships he has encountered as a result of being in it. He considers the brotherhood his 2nd family and will continue to work hard for his brothers and sisters as he does for his own family. His participation in building some awesome builds is something he is very proud of. One of the buildings he helped construct is the currently medical office his wife works in. Just like he takes pride in his work, he recommends apprentices take pride in their work and remember ATTITUDE is everything. Remaining positive will make you more employable. Eric loves sharing his interests in hiking, snowboarding and Steel-head fishing with his sons.
Garret Judd
KENNEWICK, WA
Garret Judd
KENNEWICK, WA
For the past 12 years, Garret has been a Millwright. His specialty as an instructor is Welding and Machining. The best things about being a Carpenter for him is the opportunity to meet new people and always being on learning mode. Becoming a Journeyman Millwright, one of his proudest accomplishments, has opened so many doors for him in the trade. Garrett uses the words of Mike Rowe to provide some words of wisdom for apprentices. ” Some jobs pay better, some jobs smell better and some jobs have no business being treated like careers. But work is never the enemy, regardless of the wage. Because somewhere between the job and the paycheck, there’s still a thing called opportunity, and that’s what people need to pursue.” Garrett enjoys hunting, fishing and metal art.
Greg VanderWerff
MOUNT VERNON, WA
Greg VanderWerff
MOUNT VERNON, WA
Being asked to share his knowledge with apprentices is one of Greg VanderWerff’s greatest accomplishments. He has been a Carpenter for 34 years and specializes in Finish Carpentry. As a Carpenter, he feels proud in showing people what he has been able to accomplish. He also takes pride in being part of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and advises apprentices to be proud as well. Outside of being an instructor, Greg and his family like to head to the mountains to ride their horses.
Greg Brady
MOUNT VERNON, WA
Greg Brady
MOUNT VERNON, WA
The best thing about being a Carpentry for Greg is working with people. His specialties are Carpentry and Scaffolding. Currently he serves a Coordinator at the North Puget Sound Carpenter Training Center and has been in the trade for 19 years. In addition to going through two apprenticeships (Carpentry and Scaffolding), Greg has several accomplishments throughout his career such as being a subject matter specialist for the Scaffold curriculum book at the Carpenters International Training Center (CITC) in Las Vegas, NV., and becoming a coordinator in the same training center he went through as an apprentice.
John Roberts
KENNEWICK, WA; SPOKANE, WA
John Roberts
KENNEWICK, WA; SPOKANE, WA
John Roberts, advises apprentices, “Success is not a spectator sport. Success is a full contact sport. To win, you must participate.” John is currently a Training Coordinator at the Columbia Basin Carpenters Training Center in Kennewick, WA. He has been in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters for 39 years out of Local 59 in Spokane and a UBC Construction Trades instructor for 16 years. He feels best thing about being a Carpenter is knowing you are part of a brotherhood that is based on family values. He is proud to have put his three kids through college on his union wages.
Justin McClendon
KENNEWICK, WA; KENT, WA (HQ)
Justin McClendon
KENNEWICK, WA; KENT, WA (HQ)
Justin McClendon is the Training Coordinator for the Kennewick Training Center. Prior to, he was a Millwright instructor and has been in the trade for 26 years. He specializes in Rigging, Welding and Alignment. As a Millwright, he enjoys getting to do something new or challenging. He is proud to make a difference in an organization that has provided such wonderful prospects for him and believes the apprenticeship is a golden opportunity and can be very rewarding if you have the right attitude.
Marc Bozarth
KENT, WA (HQ)
Marc Bozarth
KENT, WA (HQ)
Marc Bozarth is a Millwright Welding instructor. He has been a Millwright over 20 years and in his specialty, Welding, for 45 years. His proudest accomplishment is returning to college at 57 years old and getting a degree in Welding Technologies. He advises apprentices to stay focused, work hard and always try to improve.
Michael Jones
KENT, WA (HQ)
Michael Jones
KENT, WA (HQ)
Instructor Biography: Mike Jones
Summary:
Mike Jones has been a carpenter for 35 years. a full-time instructor for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) since 2007. When Mike started his career as a taper, he saw the opportunities available to UBC members and joined in 1996. Since then, he has used his wide variety of experiences to excel in the industry. As an apprentice, he worked for US Drywall and then spent the majority of his field experience working for Firstline and Western Partitions on large projects like the Tacoma Art Museum, Seattle Downtown Library and the Microsoft Center in Quincy. In 2007 he became a full-time instructor for the Northwest Carpenter Institute and has trained thousands of apprentices throughout their 160 hours of Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) and hundreds of journeymen in certification and continuing education courses as well as develop the taping curriculum for the taping program.
Experience:
- 35 year carpenter (28 years UBC carpenter)
- 3 years as a foreman
- 11 years as an interior systems instructor
- 4 years in Army Special Forces
Education:
- Disaster Site Worker Train the Trainer
- Millwright 16 Hour Safety
- OSHA 502 Construction
- Smart Mark
- Interior Systems Layout Train the Trainer
- Math for the Trades Train the Trainer
- Hazard Communication and Chemical Safety Train the Trainer
- ICRA: Construction Best Practices Awareness Train the Trainer
- ICRA: Construction Best Practices Awareness Train the Trainer Refresher
- WFED 105- Integrated Curriculum Implementation
- Scaffold Qualification Train the Trainer
- Scaffold User Qualification
- Construction Fall Protection Train the Trainer
- Commercial Steel Framing Train the Trainer
- Powered Industrial Truck Operator Train the Trainer
- Aerial Lift Operator Qualification Train the Trainer
- Soffit Framing Train the Trainer
- Completion of UBC Apprenticeship Program
Robert Howard
KENT, WA (HQ)
Robert Howard
KENT, WA (HQ)
“Good work ethnic and a positive attitude will get you a long way,” says Robert Howard, Pile Driver instructor. He wants his apprentices to know he was once an apprentice too. Now 24 years in the trade, he specializes in Marine Construction. As a Pile Driver, he loves working in different locations and meeting new people.
Roger Silva
RENTON, WA
Roger Silva
RENTON, WA
Roger Silva specializes in Construction Management, Concrete, Timber/Wood Structures and Bridge Structures. He has gathered a lot of knowledge in his 45 years as a Carpenter/ Welder and is very passionate about construction. He believes in doing it right the first time with consideration to safety, quality and production. He is proud of his entire career and his 43 plus union affiliated years in construction. Having skills and expertise to create structures from the ground up are some of his favorite things about being a Carpenter. He has been able to do these by abiding by the same advice he gives apprentices. Set long and short term achievable goals, then set new ones. Strive to be better at your craft and learn from others. Roger is also a subject matter expert in developing the Concrete textbooks for the Carpenters International Training Center (CITC), in Las Vegas, NV. Aside from enjoying riding his Harley, Roger competes in powerlifting and was one of the first to be inducted into the Washington State Powerlifting Hall of Fame.
Steve Anderson
KENT, WA (HQ)
Steve Anderson
KENT, WA (HQ)
Steve Anderson is a Carpentry instructor and a member of Carpenters Local 30. He started his career in construction in 1983 and joined the UBC as an apprentice carpenter in 1985. He has worked primarily in the commercial construction industry as a carpenter, welder, business owner, superintendent, and project manager. In addition, he has taught post-secondary courses in construction technology and business management. His favorite thing about the carpentry trade is the wide range of opportunities. He likes collaborating with others to overcome challenges that arise on construction projects and is proud of the work he’s done with dedicated Brothers and Sisters. Steve advises apprentices that construction is dangerous and the job will get tough when they least expect it, but completing the apprenticeship provides a great deal of personal satisfaction and valuable life skills, in addition to the highly qualified craftsman status of journeyman carpenter.
Roger Skaer
KENNEWICK, WA
Roger Skaer
KENNEWICK, WA
Outside of being an instructor, Roger Skaer spends a lot of time kayaking, fishing, and going to the coast. He has been a carpenter for 25 years and specializes in concrete form, scaffolding, interior and exterior finish and teambuilding. The best things he likes about being a carpenter is being a member of a brotherhood and the pride of being involved in construction projects that will stand for many decades to come. In addition, he enjoys the lifestyle and healthcare benefits it provides for his family. He wants apprentices to know the apprenticeship is a great opportunity. You will learn not only carpentry skills, but you will also learn leadership and teambuilding skills that will help you survive, and THRIVE, in this industry. He’d also like his apprentices to know he joined the program as a 1st period apprentice even though he had 15 years of previous experience. It was the best move he ever made.
Nate Diller
KENT, WA (HQ)
Nate Diller
KENT, WA (HQ)
Instructor Nathan Diller
Summary:
Nathan has worked in the carpentry industry for over 20 years with experience in both wood and metal stud framing, interior finish carpentry and exterior siding/ waterproof barriers. Safety is a top priority for him leading him to strive to improve the safety record and image of every organization he represents. The majority of his career has been spent in the acoustical ceiling trade where he has done projects for many world class corporations in the Puget Sound Region; including Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon and feature ceiling in area malls and hotels. He has three years’ experience as a foreman where he used Bluebeam and Revit to build and oversee crews of carpenters from many backgrounds, ethnicities and skill levels on as many as nine different projects at the same time. He also has experience as a CAD operator designing cabinets and custom staircases that were fed to a CNC Router for automated fabrication. In his free time, he is a helicopter pilot instructor and studies fundamentals of instruction.
Experience:
- 23 year carpenter (19 years UBC carpenter)
- 3 years as a foreman
- 2 years interior systems instructor
Education:
- Acoustical Ceilings Train the Trainer
- Armstrong Suspended Drywall Grid Ceiling and Soffit Certified Installer Train the Trainer
- Certified Building Envelope Technician
- Workforce Education 105- Penn State 2017
- Workforce Education 106- Pen State 2017
- CFII Rotorcraft Flight Instructor 2014
- 2 years Engineering Physics- Northwest Nazarene University 2000
Eric Isaacson
KENT, WA (HQ)
Eric Isaacson
KENT, WA (HQ)
Instructor Eric Isaacson
Summary:
Eric has worked in the tradeshow industry for 32 years for several companies in the Seattle area and has held leadership positions in the industry for the majority of his career, including being co-owner of Triumph Expo and Events. As owner, he was the company’s operations manager in its infancy and used his leadership skills to build the company’s strong foundation. In addition to leading his own company, Eric was as a general foreman for GES, Freeman, Rowan and TCS. In 1994 he became a part-time instructor for the Northwest Carpenters Institute and served in that role until 2006. In 2016 he returned to NWCI as a full-time instructor, achieving one of his life-long dreams of returning to the classroom to pass his knowledge on to future generations.
Experience:
- 40 year plus carpenter (26 years UBC carpenter)
- 32 years tradeshow carpenter
- 18 years general foreman
- 8 years residential carpenter
Education:
- Computer- Excel 2016 Part 1
- Computer- iPad Basics
- Workforce Education 105- Integrated Curriculum Implementation
- Scaffold Qualification Train the Trainer
- Trade Show Rigging Qualification Train the Trainer
- Training Foundations
- Disaster Site Worker Train the Trainer Course #5600
- Millwright 16 Hour Safety
- OSHA 500 Construction
- Construction Fall Protection Train the Trainer
- Power Industrial Operator Train the Trainer
- Aerial Lift Operator Qualification Train the Trainer
- Tradeshow Rigging Qualification Train the Trainer
- Tradeshow Installation & Dismantling Train the Trainer
- 3.5 years at Washington State University, Zoology Major
Jesus Romero
RENTON, WA
Jesus Romero
RENTON, WA
Jesus Romero has been a Carpenter for 25 years and an instructor since November 2007. Becoming an instructor has been one of his proudest accomplishments. He specializes in General Carpentry and enjoys the opportunity to work outdoors doing what he has always wanted to do- Carpentry- while earning a living that allows him and his family to live a comfortable lifestyle. Some advice he gives his apprentices is; knowledge is power, keep your mind open to learning new skills and technologies and model leadership on the jobsite. Doing so will help you continue to move forward and make you an asset to any employer. He loves instructing apprentices in all the areas of carpentry and is proud to see how so many have graduated from the Renton Training Center. His hobbies include remodeling houses, hunting and riding his motorcycle.
Lisa Marx
KENT, WA (HQ)
Lisa Marx
KENT, WA (HQ)
Lisa Marx is our Outreach Specialist. She has been in the trade for 6 years and obtained her journey level status in the Scaffold Erector Apprenticeship Program. The best part about her position is she gets to empower current and future members to succeed while connecting members with mentorship and resources to break down barriers that may be blocking their path to success. Her proudest accomplishment is serving as an Outreach and Retention Specialist because she gets to see those she has helped succeed help others. She advises apprentices to have a positive attitude! She enjoys doing things that involve being outdoors and loves motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidsons.
Scott Moorman
KENT, WA (HQ)
Scott Moorman
KENT, WA (HQ)
Instructor Scott Moorman
Summary:
Scott has worked in the construction industry for 29 years as an exterior/ interior systems carpenter spending most of his career working Pacific Construction Sytems, Western Partitions and D.L. Hendrickson. He became a part-time instructor for Northwest Carpenters Institute 11 years ago and served for 5 years. During that time, he taught journeymen upgrade classes covering everything from basic framing to print reading and layout. Similar to Scott’s versatility in the classroom, in the field, he covered all aspects of the metal stud framing industry, including but not limited to, layout, light gauge interior framing, heavy gauge and structural framing and fire rated wall ceiling systems. He returned to NWCI in 2017 full-time and continues to excel as an instructor.
Experience:
- 29 year carpenter
- 15 years as a layout man
- 8 years as a lead man
- 5 years as an interior systems instructor part-time
- 1 year as an interior systems instructor
Education:
- Powered Industrial Truck Operator Train the Trainer
- Aerial Lift Operator Qualification Train the Trainer
- Workforce Education 105- Integrated Curriculum Implementation
- OSHA 10
- OSHA 30
- CPR/ First Aid Certified
- PATMI Certified Hilti and Ramset
- Aerial Lift Certified
- Construction Fall Protection
- 3 year union apprenticeship
- High School Diploma
Bernardo Diaz
KENT, WA (HQ)
Bernardo Diaz
KENT, WA (HQ)
Instructor: Bernardo Diaz
Summary:
Bernardo has over 26 years of combined experience as a union construction tradesman, business development manager, sales and coaching professional and post-secondary vocational instructor. He is a licensed real estate broker in Arizona and Washington, which he uses for his own personal endeavors during his spare time. He has worked for companies and organizations like Pacific Construction Systems, Western partitions, Windermere, RE/Max, and discovered a talent for serving others to assist them with personal and professional growth.
Experience:
- 12 year UBC carpenter
- 2 years as a superintendent
- 4 years as a foreman
- 1 year as an interior systems instructor
- 15 years as a business and leadership developer
Education:
- Disaster Site Worker Train the Trainer Course #5600
- Millwright 16 Hour Safety
- OSHA 500
- Smart Mark
- OSHA 510
- Aerial Lift Operator Qualification Train the Trainer
- WFED 105- Integrated Curriculum Implementation
- Foreman- Leadership Training
- Foreman- Leadership Training
- PATMI- Hilti & Ramset
- LADS Apprenticeship at RTC 1996
- CITF Las Vegas WFED 105 Integrated Curriculum Implementation 2018
- CITF Las Vegas Aerial Lift Operator Qualification 2018
- Gig Harbor High School 1985