Staff

Tom Aasheim serves as the Coordinator and Instructor for the Commercial  & Industrial Painting and Drywall Finishing.  He moved to his full-time postion in 2011 after teaching as a part-time instructor for 2 years. Tom has over 20 years experience in Commerical & Industrail Painting.  He also has numerous certifications and is the instructor for RRP and Lead Worker training.  He is currently working on additional SSPC certifications. Email:  taasheim@fti-um.og

Brian Hagberg is a Journey Worker Glazier for 20 years at Brin Northwestern Glass.  Brian stated with FTI-UM in September 2008 as the Glazing and Glassworking Coordinator/Instructor.  Brian is OSHA 500 and American Red Cross Instructor certified.  He is currently working on his American Welding Society Certification. E-mail: bhagberg@fti-um.org

Jerry Meissner is the Sign Display & Convention Worker Coordinator.  Jerry is also Senior Environmental Graphic Designer & Signmaker for the University of Minnesota.  He has been involved the the sign industry since 1987. Email:  gmeissner@fti-um.org

Kerry Gallagher serves FTI-UM as the Painting Instructor since 2005.  Instructor certifications that Kerry currently holds includes:  American Red Cross, OSHA 500, CPWR Confined Space, OSHA Scaffold Competent Person, and OSHA Disaster Site.  Kerry worked as a Journey Worker Painter for 11 years at Sunrise Painting & Wallcovering and 14 years with Swanson & Youngdale. To stay current with practices in the trade, Kerry continues to work for Swanson & Youngdale during the summer months.  E-mail: kgallagher@fti-um.org

Jim Lenton is the FTI-UM Drywall Finishing Instructor.  He started with MFT in 2008 and has been a Journey Worker for Olympic Wall Systems since 1979. Email: jlenton@fti-um.org

Jill Polander works as the Office Manager of FTI-UM and she has been in this position since 2001. Prior to that, Jill worked at the Metro Area Sheet Metal Workers JATC for 18 months, and at Seven Corners Printing for a decade. E-mail: jpolander@fti-um.org

Part-Time Instructors

Fredy Castellanos
Rick Dahlstrom
Mike Bennett

Finishing Trades Institute ~ Upper Midwest Board of Trustees

Management Labor
Robert Swanson
Swanson & Youngdale
Terry Nelson
District Council 82
Tom Stadler
Minneapolis Glass Company
Craig Olson
District Council 82, Local 106
Joe Johnson
Prestige Drywall
Mark Christianson
District Council 82, Local 386
Kelli Peifer
Sunrise Painting & Wallcovering
Jim Hodenfield
District Council 82, Local 681
William John
Interclad
Richard Johnston
District Council 82, Local 1324
John Nesse
Management Guidance Inc.
Don Mullin
District Council 82, Local 880
Rick Palmateer
Universal Signs, Inc.