About Us
The LIUNA Chicagoland Laborers’ District Council Training & Apprentice Fund was established in the summer of 1986. The program was designed to provide something vital: training and education for Laborers working under the Chicagoland District Council collective bargaining agreement. While its primary goal has remained the same, it has matured into a program that not only warrants respect, but has fostered meaningful labor education. The staff is open to developing training courses to meet the specific needs of either the Contractor or Union membership. It is a place where people work together to learn and grow with the ever-evolving industry standards.
History and Milestones
2023 LIUNA CLTAF and LIUNA Training have designed and developed a Solar Farm Construction Training course for LIUNA members across the United States and Canada. This Solar Farm Training course incorporates both classroom and hands-on training. This 3-day course provides our members with experience related to commercial Solar Farm construction and Solar Panel installation.
The CLTAF adds 8 more Instructors to our training staff. Welcome Kyle Adams, Deisy Andrade, Joseph Battaglia, Joseph Findlay, Mike Gomez, Bill Kuna, Jeffrey Pomales, and Patrick Schippers to the CLTAF Team.
Congratulations to Jerry Bell and Anthony Leal for achieving their LIUNA Instructor Certification under ANSI 17024, and Director of Apprenticeship, John Retondo for achieving his LIUNA Certification under ANSI 17024 for Apprenticeship. John Retondo has achieved both certifications under ANSI as an Instructor and an Apprentice Coordinator.
2022 The LIUNA CLTAF adds six more LIUNA Certified Instructors under ANSI 17024. Congratulations to Nick Marino, Kody Molitor, Edwin Togba, and Lee Ziller on their accomplishment. Derek Roberts is promoted to Apprentice Coordinator. The LIUNA CLTAF achieves accreditation by the Council on Occupational Education (COE), September 17th, 2022. The award of accreditation status is based on an evaluation to demonstrate that the institution meets not only the standards of quality of the Commission, but also the needs of the students, the community, and employers.
2021 The CLTAF congratulates Keith Vitale/Executive Director, Marcus Roberts/Training Director, John Retondo/Director of Apprenticeship, Alfredo Ascencio/Senior Apprentice Coordinator/Quality Champion, and Thomas Kody Molitor/Apprentice Coordinator on their much-deserved promotions for their service and dedication to all LIUNA Members across the United States and Canada. The CLTAF would like to thank and congratulate Thomas Nordeen on his retirement, we are grateful for his service to the fund and wish him the best in all his future endeavors.
2020 The CLTAF continues to grow. In April 2020, the Carol Stream location purchased the neighboring property adding 1 acre to the existing 16 acres. The 8200 square foot building currently houses our Mason Tending Classes and Building Maintenance. We will also be adding additional parking spaces to accommodate our participants.
2019 The expansion project on our Chicago/Homer Facility is complete. With over 120,000 square feet, 20 classrooms, and 12 Training Bays, this makes the CLTAF the largest LIUNA Training Facility in North America. The Fund adds two more LIUNA Certified Instructors (James O’Brien and Derek Roberts) under ANSI 17024.
2018 Construction begins on our Chicago/Homer Facility. The CLTAF is expanding to meet the training needs of our members. The CLTAF will be adding 53,000 to the original 70,000 square feet. Making it the largest LIUNA Training Facility in North America.
2017 The Training Fund is honored to announce that is has achieved IAS AC371 Accreditation by the International Accreditation Service (IAS). The Training Fund adds two more LIUNA Certified Instructors (Frankie Smith and Jorge Espinoza) under ANSI 17024.
2016 Apprentice Coordinator Paul Hoetzer becomes one of the first coordinators in the country to achieve LIUNA Certification under ANSI 17024. Instructor Raphael Adlam also received his ANSI Certification.
2015 Keith Vitale is promoted to Training Director. Instructor Terry Wilson received his ANSI Certification. Carol Stream facility is upgraded and a standard curriculum is established.
2014 The Training Fund adds six more LIUNA Certified Instructors (Alfredo Ascencio, Donald Calhoun, Gregory Pattison, Rick Rasmussen, John Retondo and Marcus Roberts) under ANSI 17024.
2013 The Training Fund adds two more LIUNA Certified Instructors (David Jansa and Matthew Vilim) under ANSI 17024.
2012 Keith Vitale becomes one of the first instructors in the country to receive LIUNA Certification under ANSI 17024.
2009 The Chicago Training Facility is built to accommodate our Chicago and Cook County-based membership.
Chicago Facility
1996 On-site training is offered to signatory contractors to have their Union Laborers trained at the jobsite.
Carol Stream Training Facility
1990 The Carol Stream Training Facility is built to accommodate our growing membership with classroom instruction and enough acreage needed for hands-on activities.
1986 The Chicagoland Laborers’ District Council Training and Apprentice Fund is established.
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about our Infection Control
Risk Assessment (ICRA) course
when working in the healthcare
industry and occupied spaces