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FTI Successfully Forged Ahead in 2012The Finishing Trades Institute (FTI) Co-Chairs KenRigmaiden and Terry Webb want to thank all of ouraffiliates for their support, commitment and participationin the training programs developed and delivered by theFTI at the International Training Center (ITC) in 2012. Thecommitment our affiliates have made to making training andbuilding trainer capacity a precedent at the local level is trulyremarkable.During these tough economic times, it has been the FTIBoard of Trustees’ decision to increase the training and servicesthat our affiliates need and our contractors deserve. With thisin mind, the Board’s goal is to make certain the best trainingprograms are in place, standardized and that our localfacilities have the best trainers to deliver the FTI curriculum inour multi-craft training centers throughout North America. TheFTI board committed $2.3 million to the coating applicationspecialist (CAS) initiative to ensure that our training facilitieshave the equipment needed to properly train and preparethe membership for the required certification exams. Thisincreased budget is also dedicated to offset the costs forproctor, auditor and certification exams. Proctors and auditorsensure that all the requirements of the CAS certification aremet during the exams and are crucial to qualifying the IUPATworkforce to do this work.This past year, the FTI unveiled its web-based LearningManagement System (LMS). The LMS offers readily accessible,craft-specific instructional and reference materials to IUPATdistrict councils, including revised and new curricula for thepaint, glass, floor, drywall and hydroblaster trades. Followingthe format of the FTI Programs of Study, the LMS providesaccess to the course lessons and assessments used to evaluateapprentices on their knowledge, skills and abilities in boththe core and craft-specific curricula. The LMS stores studentaccount information and provides real-time tracking andreporting of student progress and participation in the courses.The LMS also allows for timely uploading of other resources,including new product information, updates to course lessonmaterials and breaking news and information.Newly developed and available in the LMS are twoonline courses: IUPAT History and Orientation, and CoatingApplication Specialist (CAS) Test Preparation. The IUPATHistory and Orientation course includes three interactivelessons that provide the user with detailed information on thehistory of the IUPAT and its place in the labor movement, aswell as an overview of the structure of the IUPAT affiliatedfunds, departments and staff.The CAS certification has received the most attention thispast year as the industry ramps up for the upcoming blastingand application season. These CAS demands have beendictated by industry regulations through SSPC and must be metby our signatory industrial painting contractors in order to beeligible on QP-1 required jobs. In an attempt to better prepareparticipants for the certification exam, the FTI has developed ahighly interactive CAS test preparation course that includes fivelearning activities, an overview of the CAS exam, test-takingstrategies for the written and hands-on portions of the exam,panoramic technology with embedded text, graphics, videoand a sample online CAS exam.Other FTI projects currently in development includeSynthetic Turf Applications, Unitized Curtainwall Systems,Mathematics for the Construction Trades and Rigging for theTradeshow Industry. If you are an instructor and would like toreceive access to the LMS, please contact your district counciltraining director.On behalf of the entire FTI Board of Trustees and the staff atthe FTI, we wish all of our affiliates and signatory contractors asafe and happy holiday season, and we are looking forwardto another productive training season in 2013.October-December 2012 • J ournal 23