Carrie Main, DC 17
Carrie is a second-generation painter who cannot remember a time when painting was not a part of her life. She began painting in 2009 under her father’s mentorship. When he suddenly passed away at the age of 60, Carrie found herself at a pivotal moment and decided to pursue a career in residential interior decorating.
While studying color theory, spatial awareness, and LEED design at the University of Alberta, she discovered a passion for transforming spaces and helping clients create homes they truly loved. However, life had other plans. Customers kept reaching out to ask if she would continue her father’s footsteps and carry on the family trade. From that calling, Embellished Painting Inc. was born.
What began as a one-woman operation quickly grew into a crew of six women. Mentoring women entering the trades and helping guide them through the industry, particularly in residential repaints, became one of Carrie’s greatest passions. As opportunities expanded, the commercial sector came calling, and her focus shifted to projects with both large and small commercial companies across Alberta.
In 2020, Carrie made the difficult decision to close her business. An opportunity to become an apprenticeship instructor opened in 2022 and it seemed like a natural next step.
Carrie is especially passionate about building strong relationships with both pre-apprentice and apprentice students. She believes mentorship, encouragement, and creating a sense of belonging are just as important as teaching technical skills. Her goal is to help students build confidence not only in their trade abilities, but also in themselves and their future within the industry.
She is also proud to be involved with the Building Trades women’s committee, supporting and advocating for women in skilled trades while helping create stronger pathways and opportunities for future generations entering the industry.
Having watched her father dedicate nearly 40 years to the trade without the security of a pension or retirement stability, Carrie has developed a deep appreciation for the opportunities the union provides. The benefits, pension, solidarity, and long-term support available through the union have reinforced the importance of building a sustainable future within the skilled trades. It is a perspective she now shares openly with her students, encouraging them to see the trades not simply as a job, but as a lifelong career capable of providing stability, purpose, and opportunity.
Daniel Valdivia, DC 30: North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute (NCIFTI)
Daniel Valdivia serves as the Industrial Painting Instructor for the North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute (NCIFTI), the accredited training provider for Painters District Council 30. His career in the finishing trades began in 2000, and he contributed 15 years of field leadership as a supervisor before transitioning to professional instruction in 2015.
Beyond his instructional duties at NCIFTI, Daniel holds significant leadership roles within the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). He is a member of the IUPAT Environmental Safety and Health Committee and the Central Region Industrial Committee, where he helps shape industry-wide safety and operational standards. Additionally, he serves on the District Council 53 Tank Committee, where he is currently responsible for authoring specialized training curriculum for tank projects.
Mr. Valdivia’s technical expertise is supported by a comprehensive suite of credentials, including his status as an AMPP Senior Certified Coatings Inspector, a CCI Level 1 Concrete Coatings Inspector, and a CAS Level 2 Coating Applicator Specialist. As an Authorized OSHA Outreach Instructor, he also provides critical OSHA 10 and 30 safety certifications. Through his field experience, committee leadership, and technical mastery, Daniel ensures that DC 30 members are trained to the highest professional and safety standards in the finishing trades.
Adolf Duarte, Northern California DC 16: Journeymen Training Trust Fund Las Vegas
Adolf Duarte is an iFTI faculty member and board member of the Health and Safety Committee, representing District Council 16 Southern Nevada, Local 159. As a child, he always knew he wanted to pursue a career in the trades, following in the footsteps of his family as a third-generation Union tradesman.
Adolf’s journey began with hands-on experience, spending summers assisting his father and uncles on projects involving concrete sewer lines, blasting, and coating. This early exposure in the trades was complemented by his time in automotive shop classes where he worked on complete vehicle rebuilds. After shop classes, he spent time painting cars which sparked his love for the craft and led him to join the union.
Fifteen years into his career, Adolf attended an OSHA 500 class at Marshall University, which ignited his lifelong passion for workplace safety. It forced him to reflect on his earlier career – working without proper PPE (fall protection or respiratory gear) – with the harsh reality that many members were suffering from health issues far beyond accidents. This realization drove him to set a career-defining goal: to transform the safety culture of the industry and protect the well-being of our Union siblings.
One of Adolf’s primary goals was to establish a respirator program, ensuring that our union
members receive annual respirators, along with medical evaluations. This program is still in operation today, averaging 200 to 1,500 respirators distributed each year, and has been
extended to all trades.
Adolf serves as a Master OSHA instructor across three Occupational Training Institutes
(ATOs), which include being an OSHA 510 and 500 instructor for Nevada OSHA/CSHOs,
citation officers, and federal officers. Aside from those OSHA classes, his teaching covers fall
protection, scaffolding, confined spaces, and instrument monitoring for atmospheric hazards.
Adolf’s commitment to safety transcends language barriers having participated in the first CPWR Spanish OSHA 500 course in Chicago. He has since contributed translations for CPWR/Smart MART’s national magazine, Simple Solutions and ANSI from English to Spanish. Furthermore, he has been elected as
chapter president for three terms at the American Society of Safety Engineers, now known as the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP).
Adolf’s impact is perhaps most evident in the field; OSHA citation officers and inspectors frequently remark during their inspections, ‘I know these workers are well-trained—they’re one of Adolf’s union members.’ Adolf always encourages his students to prioritize safety, often repeating this line: “If it’s not paper, it’s vapor”. It’s a reference well-understood by those who have attended his classes—a simple but life-saving lesson.
Adolf attributes his success to co-instructors and bosses, who have supported him throughout his journey. Learn more about Adolf’s journey here: Adolf Duarte’s Instructor Profile.
Angel Galloza, DC 11 (Finishing Trades Institute of Southern New England)
I never imagined myself as an instructor when I began my glazing apprenticeship in 2006 and spent nearly two decades honing my skills in the trade. In 2013, I became a part-time instructor and quickly realized my passion for teaching. Over the next 12 years, I balanced field work as a General Foreman and served as President of Glaziers Local 1274, all while continuing to grow as an educator. This path led me to the role of Glazing Coordinator, eventually expanding my teaching responsibilities to include welding and Health and Safety training.
My passion for teaching led me to pursue advanced training through the iFTI, earn my Associate Instructor completion, and eventually the Master Instructor Program in 2023. Completing my capstone project—developing a Door Hardware Technician curriculum—addressed a critical industry need and was adopted internationally as part of the union’s official training program. That experience showed me how meaningful change can come from dedication and collaboration.
The opportunities that followed inspired me to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance at Columbia Southern University. Thanks to union sponsorship, I’ve embraced every learning experience with determination and gratitude. No matter how demanding the schedule seemed, I always focused on the end goal.
Watching our programs grow and seeing future tradespeople build their skills reaffirms that we’re moving in the right direction. I’m committed to strengthening our industry by enhancing the apprenticeship programs that develop tomorrow’s leaders. By updating standards and streamlining recruitment and enrollment, we can create lasting improvements that benefit every member. I want fellow instructors to know that their dedication matters—and that their commitment can elevate both their careers and our union to new heights.
My goal is to leave our programs stronger than I found them and to help build the next generation of leaders in our trades. I hope the Master Instructor Program journey inspires others to pursue their own growth and to keep pushing our industry and our union forward—for many generations to come.
Mike Moreschi, DC 35 (Finishing Trades Institute of New England)
Before becoming the first full-time Health and Safety director at the Finishing Trades Institute of New England, Mike Moreschi had over 32 years of field experience as a Drywall Finisher.
From 2013 to 2023, Mike completed every Health and Safety course offered by the International Finishing Trades Institute (iFTI), laying a strong foundation to ensure the success of the new department he was building to protect workers and support their well-being.
In 2019, Mike participated in the iFTI Capstone Pilot Program and earned Master Instructor status. He also achieved the distinction of OSHA Master Instructor, giving him the ability to prepare others to deliver OSHA 10- and 30-hour courses—expanding safety knowledge across the industry.
Today, Mike continues teaching at the Hanover campus, where he shares his expertise with the next generation of safety trainers across District Councils in the United States. His dedication ensures that safety remains not just a priority, but a core value at the heart of our work.
Learn more about Mike’s journey here: Mike Moreschi Instructor Profile