Painters District Council 30 and VALEES hosted the 7th annual Apprenticeship Expo on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. 454 high school students from 22 high schools across Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, and DuPage Counties attended.
Construction trade union Apprenticeship Coordinators and current apprentices greeted students at booths with materials from their trades, demonstrations, and virtual reality experiences. Students also heard a presentation from Steve Lefaver, Director of Apprenticeship & Training for Painters District Council 30, on the value of apprenticeship as a post-secondary option.
Trade organizations represented included:
- Boilermakers Local 1
- Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
- IBEW Local 461 (electricians)
- Illinois Teamsters Joint Council No. 25
- Ironworkers Local 444
- IUOE Operators Local 150
- LiUNA Laborers
- Mechanics’ Local 701
- Mid America Carpenters
- Painters District Council 30
- Pipe Fitters Local 597
- Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 11
- Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11
Representatives from Chicago Women in the Trades, Hire 360, and the US Army Reserve were also on hand.
Schools participating included:
- Aurora Central Catholic
- Batavia High School
- Dream Academy (Elgin U-46)
- East Aurora High School
- Fox Valley Career Center
- Geneva High School
- Hinckley-Big Rock High School
- Indian Creek High School
- Indian Valley Vocational Center
- Kaneland High School
- Marmion Academy
- Newark High School
- Oswego East High School
- Oswego High School
- Pathways Transitions (Oswego SD308)
- Plano High School
- Sandwich High School
- Somonauk High School
- St. Charles North High School
- St. Charles East High School
- West Aurora High School
- Yorkville High School