BAC Craftworkers & Instructors Upskill at the International Training Center This Winter

The first few months of 2026 were a busy time at the John J. Flynn BAC/IMI International Training Center, with a wide selection of continuing education and train-the-trainer courses for BAC members.

History Masonry Preservation Certificate Program

Craftworkers attended specialty trainings to hone their skills, including the Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate Program (HMPC), the Concrete Repair Certification Program, OSHA 510, Welding, Refractory/MSHA, Procore, and JAHN/Conproco/Edison/Lithomex.   

Bill Klein of Local 2 Michigan enrolled in HMPC to expand his skill set as he works on the ongoing restoration of the 19th-century-built St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette, Michigan. “I like the idea of saving history,” he said as he carved a piece of terra cotta, noting that masonry restoration is a specialized skill. 

Advanced OSHA Training

BAC members participated in OSHA 510 training in February, where they took a deep dive into OSHA policies, procedures, and standards. The class is a prerequisite to the OSHA 500 Trainer Course and covers topics including fall prevention, scaffolding and welding safety, and more. 

Mike Hyatt, a Field Representative with the Wisconsin District Council and instructor at his local training center, said the fall prevention standards were especially helpful for him. As a tile setter by trade, it’s not often he finds himself atop scaffolding. But as an instructor, he teaches bricklayers who do. “The more knowledge you have, the better you can pass it on,” he said.   

This winter’s train-the-trainer courses for instructors included OSHA 500 and 502, JAHN, and Procore. Cameron Orvin, bricklayer and Apprenticeship Coordinator for Local 1 Oregon/Washington/Idaho/Montana, attended the JAHN Train-the-Trainer session in February. “What haven’t I learned?” he remarked. “Every instructor here is a good representation of how we should teach.” 

Concrete Repair Certificate Program

The Concrete Repair Certificate Program was developed in partnership with the International Concrete Repair Institute to provide BAC craftworkers with the knowledge and skills required to repair concrete and integrate those repairs into the surrounding concrete. “We learned a lot of the technicalities behind why we do what we do,” said Anthony Cunningham, a first-year apprentice with Local 1 Pennsylvania/Delaware. “I knew how to do certain things, I just didn’t know why.”

Pre-Job

New and hopeful apprentices also spent eight weeks at the training center in the pre-job program for brick, block, and PCC training. Many of the apprentices studied masonry in vocational-technical programs at their local high schools, where they first gained interest and learned the basics of the craft.  

For apprentice Jeremi Morales Ramos, the pre-job training helped him hone his trowel skills, which he didn’t focus on as much in high school. “I’ve wanted to build things since I was little. This just felt right,” he shared. 

As she practiced pointing, PCC apprentice Mya Bell said that the pre-job class is teaching her patience as she builds the early part of her career. “I knew I wanted to continue my path in masonry, and the union was the best way to do that,” she said.