Call us at: 1-866-707-1PTM or email us to schedule a consultation.
Call us at: 1-866-707-1PTM or email us to schedule a consultation.
866-707-1786 (1PTM) x701
Dr. Nancy Gentile was born and raised in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She has worked in higher education administration since 1974 with New York University, Syracuse University, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, Catholic University, American Association of Medical Colleges, and the National Labor College.
In 1976, Dr. Gentile worked to have 6 credits recognized for apprenticeship programs by the New York Higher Education Commission. This began a life-long quest to get apprenticeship programs recognized by the higher education community.
In 1992, when she joined the George Meany Center for Labor Studies, she led the accreditation effort and was successful in getting six labor education bachelor degrees fully accredited. In 2003, she was offered a position at the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades to begin accreditation efforts for their apprenticeship programs. Later she focused on one particular program, the Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region (FTI-MAR), in Philadelphia, PA. In 2008, she helped them become the first building trades registered apprenticeship program to become accredited. She then continued to work with the FTI MAR, helping them secure a $5.6 million grant which resulted in nearly 800 apprentice and journeyperson students earn their associates’ degrees. In 2015, Dr. Gentile retired from the IUPAT and continued her work as a consultant.
From 2015-16, Dr. Gentile headed up the task force that built the Accreditation Standards for Registered Apprenticeship programs. These standards have been approved by the Commission of the Council of Occupational Education (COE) and were approved by the full membership on November 5, 2016. These standards now have the full approval of the US Department of Education. The standards crosswalk the apprenticeship standards with COE standards to make for an easier transition for apprenticeship programs to become accredited. The work she began 40 years earlier had finally come to fruition.
Currently, she serves as a partner in the PTM Consulting Group. In the past two years, she has successfully led seven construction apprenticeship schools to full accreditation as two-year colleges. She currently has an additional five schools that she is supporting in this process. She also assisted the several International Training Funds through the accreditation process. In 2016, Dr. Gentile was successful in helping the FTI MAR gain permission to confer their own associate degrees; another first. Dr. Gentile earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Maryland, College Park, her Master’s Degree at New York University, and her doctorate at Argosy University. She currently resides in Delaware.
866-707-1786 (1PTM) x702
Jim Gentile was born and raised in the Washington, DC. Metropolitan area. He received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Georgetown University, and then went to Catholic University and obtained his Law Degree (J.D – Juris Doctor Degree). He served as both General Counsel and Director of Human Resources at the National Labor College (NLC) for a number of years.
As part of his duties at NLC he oversaw the College’s successful efforts to achieve accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. He is currently a partner at PTM Consulting Group and served or serves as a consultant to a number of labor-based organizations which have applied for accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education, including: International Training Fund of UA, the International Finishing Trades Institute, Lloyd E. Williams Pipe Trades Center (LU393), Finishing Trades Institute of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, IUPAT District Council 14 Apprenticeship Program, North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute, and the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 Central PA JATF.
866-707-1786 (1PTM) x703
Michael Schurr was the Education Director for the Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region (FTI) from 2006-2017, when he retired. He oversaw all day to day operations of the FTI which covers a large geographic area over four states; Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Northern Maryland and all of Delaware. The FTI is the official training provider for IUPAT District Council 21 and offers 5 registered apprenticeship programs; Architectural Glass & Metal Workers, Architectural Glassworkers, Commercial Painters, Drywall Finishers, Industrial Painters and Multi-Craft Decorators. The FTI is also fully accredited with the U.S. Federal Department of Education and considered a post-secondary college.
Mike comes from a labor background; being a third-generation union tradesperson. From 1987-91 he served an apprenticeship with Glaziers Local 252 in the Philadelphia area. After serving his apprenticeship he became a lead foreperson on several large projects. In 1996, he became a part time instructor for Glaziers Local 252’s Apprenticeship Program. He rapidly moved into the positions of Full Time Instructor, Glaziers Coordinator, Assistant Director, and then in 2006 became the Education Director of the FTI.
Mike has a multi-discipline Bachelor’s Degree in Labor History, Labor Education Studies, and Safety and Health from the National Labor College in Silver Springs, MD. He also has a Master’s of Science Degree in Organizational Development & Leadership from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Additionally, he has an abundance of experience in apprenticeship and education; serving as the Chairman for the Pennsylvania State Apprenticeship & Training Council, Chairman of the State and Southeast Region Chapter of the “Pennsylvania Apprenticeship Coordinators Association” (PACA), three year member of the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board (PWIB), member of Pennsylvania’s Apprenticeship Action Planning Committee, member of the Strategic Planning and Liaison Committee’s for the Council on Occupational Education, member of several school advisory boards, and serves on several other boards and committees dealing with apprenticeship, education, and workforce development.
Mike has been married for 25 years to his wife Sue and has three children. Mike has dedicated his life to improving conditions for working people and has a deep-rooted belief that education is one of the key factors to improving the quality of life for working class people.
Schurr Bookkeeping, LLC
888-712-6657
Schurr Bookkeeping, LLC is the third party financial administrator for PTM Consulting. Financial questions or concerns for PTM Consulting should be directed to the Managing Partner, Mike Schurr. However, simple financial inquiries [i.e billing questions] can also be made to Sue Schurr at the contact information listed above.