Congratulating Terry Nelson on His Retirement From Ftium
Floor Speech
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Ms. CRAIG. Mr Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Terry Nelson on his retirement as Co-Chair of the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM), following over four decades of leadership and advocacy in the labor industry.
After graduating from Minnesota's own Hennepin Vocational Technical Education Center, Nelson began his career with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) in 1982.
In 1992, Nelson began the first of numerous leadership roles, when he was elected as a trustee for the Minneapolis Painters Health and Welfare Fund and the Minneapolis Painters Pension Fund. He served in several roles within IUPAT including as President of Local Union 386 and Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for District Council 82. In this role, he helped the Council remain solvent during the Great Recession, led negotiations for stronger contracts and worked with a developer to create a software program to streamline the reporting process for prevailing wage concerns. He went on to continue serving his union as a Chairman of the General President's Advisory Committee and Special Assistant to the General President. Nelson also helped mobilize members to advocate for union priorities and has been a strong partner for my office in advocating for organized labor.
Since 2007, Terry has served as the co-chair of the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM), helping FTIUM gain accreditation in 2018. He has long advocated for expanding educational pathways for trade students and I had the pleasure of working with him on my bipartisan Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act.
Nelson leaves a tremendous legacy as a public servant--in fact, Governor Walz even declared August 11, 2025 ``Terry L Nelson Day'' in Minnesota. I am grateful for his leadership and dedication to ensuring workers receive the pay and benefits they deserve. It has been an honor working with Terry over the years and I look forward to a continued friendship with him.
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