A group of 43 newly elected HFIAW Local Union leaders recently completed the weeklong New Officers
Training class at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights, Md.
The five-day event started on March 4 with a welcome introduction from Insulation Industry International Apprentice and Training Fund Administrator John L. Stahl. General President Terrence M. Larkin also spoke to the group and stressed the importance of taking the weeklong training to heart.
Additional International officers and staff were in attendance, including presentations from General Secretary-Treasurer Robert W. Reap, Jurisdictional Director William B. McGee, Middle Atlantic States Conference International Vice President Brian S. Cavey, Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust Executive Director Pete Ielmini, Insulation Industry International Apprentice, and Training Fund Assistant Administrator Sam Tafolla, Director of Canadian Affairs Adam Melnick, Membership Development Director Robert McGuckin and International Office Staff Sheila Sonon and Christina Bouchard.
GST Reap and IVP Cavey were also part of the training team for the week.
GST Reap reviewed the rules to follow for Local Union Elections, Offenses, Charges and Hearings. His sessions include a mock hearing to show the newly elected officials the processes they must follow. GST Reap also discussed the role and duties the Financial Secretary plays in Local Unions and at the International level.
IVP Cavey guided the group through the finer points of Robert's Rules of Order to ensure Local Union meetings ran smoothly and followed established protocols.
Thank you to the following elected officers who participated in the 2024 New Officers Training. We hope the training offered throughout the week is beneficial, enhances your leadership skills, and helps your Local Union grow and prosper. 
The 2024 New Officers Training class:
Local 1 St. Louis President Michael Farrell, Local 2 Pittsburgh President Jeffrey Johns, Local 1 Pittsburgh Business Agent John Stewart, Jr., Local 4 Buffalo Business Manager Jim Maltby, Local 5 Los Angeles Business Agent Alfonso Ruiz, Local 14 Philadelphia Business Agent Sean Bowman, Local 16 San Francisco President Joshua Pereira, Local 18 Indianapolis Business Agent Jeremy Peters, Local 19 Milwaukee President Jason Parnau, Local 19 Milwaukee Business Agent/Financial Secretary Kimm Hansen, Local 21 Dallas President Alfred McCrury, Local 23 Harrisburg President John Fritz, Local 25 Detroit Financial Secretary Joshua Claxton, Local 25 Detroit President/Organizer David Chudzinski, Jr., Local 27 Kansas City Business Manager Charles Martin, Local 32 Newark Agent Jeremiah Farmer, Local 34 Minneapolis Business Manager Albert Beyers, Local 34 Minneapolis President Dinon Alsides, Local 36 Portland Business Agent Rob Bates, Local 39 Omaha President Joseph Nussrallah, Local 39 Omaha Financial Secretary Nick Kurcz, Local 48 Atlanta Business Agent/Organizer Phillip Rainwater, Local 51 Louisville Business Manager, Brian Finegan, Local 53 New Orleans President Scott Epton, Local 62 Bremerton President Raymond Cabato, Local 64 Tulsa Business Manager Teresa Payne, Local 75 South Bend Financial Secretary Brian Clark, Local 75 South Bend President Michael Madlem, Local 84 Canton/Akron Business Manager Kevin Streby, Local 96 Savannah President William Campbell, Local 96 Business Manager Walter Butler, Local 114 Jackson Business Manager John Gray, Local 116 Halifax President Joseph Daniel Hashie and Local 133 Fargo President/Coordinator Clay Starck.
The FIAW thanks the following experts from outside our Union who came to educate our new Officers in their fields:
- North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Director of Field Services Kevin R. Adkisson, who provided a review of the General Presidents’ Project Maintenance Agreement (GPPMA) and the National
Construction Agreement (NCA). - HFIAW retained legal counsel from Sherman Dunn: attorneys Lucas Aubrey and Jon Newman, who presented on Duty of Fair Representation, Local Union Elections, Picketing, Handbilling, Fiduciary Duties and Converting CBAs from 8(F) – 9(A) Contracts.
- O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue Partner Mike Powers, who led a presentation on ERISA, Trust Funds, Fiduciary Duties and Defined Benefits, LMRDA/Fiduciary and Trust Responsibilities/Wage Deductions and Authorization.
- Novak Francella LLC retired partner, Matt Haley, reviewed financial audits and the necessary measures Local Unions must take.
- National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee Senior Director of Industrial Relations Daniel Hogan reviewed the NMA and the practice of working to meet the best trade conflicts as they arise.
- Helmets to Hardhats Executive Director Martin Helm spoke to the group about recruiting more servicemen and servicewomen to the Mechanical Insulator’s Union.
- Eberts & Harrison, Inc. President Christian Phillips also reviewed insurance needs with the new officers.
- Sara Park and Jerrod Borkey, Jr. from BMA Media Group spoke to the class about our union's current marketing initiatives, upcoming IIIATF videos and recruitment materials and their more than 12-year relationship with the HFIAW and numerous Local Unions.