New FTI Management Trustee Appointed
At the direction of the FCA Board of Directors, FCA International has appointed Chris Sauer of T.J. Wies Contracting, Inc. as a Management Trustee of the International Finishing Trades Institute (iFTI), effective March 1, 2026. FTI Co-Chair Peter Cafiero, Island Painting, Inc., brought the nomination to the FCA Board of Directors where he was approved for appointment. This appointment complies with the iFTI Trust Agreement, which grants FCA the authority to select and remove Contributing Employer Trustees. FCA is confident Mr. Sauer will make valuable contributions to iFTI in his new role.

Mr. Sauer is a recognized leader involved both locally and nationally in industry affairs and meets the iFTI requirement of being an officer or employee of a signatory employer. His expertise will contribute significantly to iFTI’s vision and commitment to excellence. Mr. Sauer is the successor trustee following the resignation of trustee Jeff Dreisewerd who served with distinction on the board since 2018.

FCA Board Chairman Penny McDonald, Tri-State Painting Co., Inc., iFTI Co-Chair Peter Cafiero, the FCA Board of Directors and the entire FCA community would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Jeff for his dedicated service to the FTI Board of Trustees and thank Chris for his willingness to serve and give back to the signatory finishing industry.

About iFTI
The iFTI is the education department for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and FCA International. iFTI’s core purpose is to develop and expand a qualified and competitive workforce for the finishing trades industries and oversee the apprenticeship training program where those who wish to enter our trades learn their craft. The FTI not only provides the necessary skills to do the job right the first time but also provides the training to do it safely.