Bank of Springfield (BoS) Center, Springfield, IL​​

November 18, 2025

 

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The North America’s Building Trades Unions Career Day was Tuesday, November 18, at the Bank of Springfield (BoS) Center in Springfield, IL. Both the Bid Credit Program and the Career Services Teams were fortunate to be able to attend this open house event hosted by  North America’s Building Trades Unions. Career Day is intended to give students exposure to the construction trades as an alternative to the traditional college career path. Local high schools and trade schools were invited to attend the one-day event, but it was also open to the public. Anyone interested in the construction trades was welcome to attend the free event. 

​Pictured left (brown jacket), John James, IL Works Career Services​​

The IL Works Team is committed to building great relationships with our local unions. If you are looking to connect with an IL Works Pre-apprenticeship graduate, whether as a contractor or union affiliate, contact our great Career Services Team to get started. You can check out the Career Services website or email them directly Career Services Team.

The Career Day was represented by the fourteen local building trades unions (list below), who were there to answer questions and provide general information about their individual trades and union affiliations. Most trades at the event had hands-on demonstrations, such as brick laying and carpentry, while other brought in their decked-out semis displaying their trade work (plumbers/pipefitters, pictured above) which was used at trades shows nationwide.

• Plumbers, Fitters, HVAC/R- Local 137
  
• Teamsters- Local 916​
  
• Ironworkers- Local 46​
  
• Carpenters- Local 270
  
• Operating Engineers- Local 965
  
• Cement Masons- Local 18​
  
• IBEW Electricians- Local 193 & 146
  
• Painters- Local 90
  
• Insulators- Local 1
  
• Boilermakers- Local 363
  
• Bricklayers- Local 8
  
• Roofers- Local 112
  
• Sheetmetal Workers- Local 218
  
• Laborers- Local 477​
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Westin Chicago Northwest - November 6, 2025​

The Bid Credit Program partnered with IL Works Career Services November 6, 2025, as a vendor at the 3rd Annual 2025 Construction Summit co-hosted by Associated Builders & Contractors-Illinois (ABCIL) and Lumber in Itasca, IL. Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year as the nation’s largest non-union trade association, ABCIL brings together more than 300+ members in Illinois alone.

ABCIL is also one of our ILW Pre-Apprenticeship Program Providers. If you are a contractor looking for a Qualified​ Apprentice​ to hire into a DOL-RAP, you can check out our list of training providers and heat map in your area, or contact Career Services for individualized assistance.

Pictured left to right:  Victor Castillo, Career Services and Rosalia Boccardi, Bid Credit Program

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Pictured left to right:  Rosalia Boccardi, Bid Credit Program and Susette Crenshaw, ABCIL Workforce Development Director​

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Where you there? We were! The Bid Credit Program (BCP) showed up at the ChicagoBuild Expo this year representing the DCEO vendor booth in the Government Hub. This two-day event, held annually at McCormick Place Chicago, attracts over 30k+ attendees, 350+ exhibitors, and 400+ speakers throughout 13 specialized conference tracks. As Illinois’ largest construction expo, we were excited to make this our third year in attendance!

Did you know that ChicagoBuild is also the largest networking event in America for both diversity and women in construction? That said, IL Works was honored to promote our Bid Credit and Career Services Programs, which prioritize such underserved populations, in addition to our veterans, in the construction trades.​

Whether you attended ChicagoBuild this year or not, we're here to help you navigate the Bid Credit Program. If you're a BCP Registered Contractor looking to hire an IL Works Pre-apprenticeship Graduate, then the Career Services (CS) Team is your go-to partner! This is the NEXT STEP for you to start earning bid credits! You can choose from a pool of potential candidates catered to your needs, who are ready to enter into a DOL-RAP, by submitting the IL Works Job Order Request. You can also contact Victor Castillo and the Career Services Team directly to get started! Learn more about Career Services.

Not yet a BCP Registered Contractor? That's okay! Complete the Contractor Registration Form to get started. It's QUICK! It's EASY! It's FREE!

New for us this year at ChicagoBuild, BCP and CS had the opportunity to partner with DCEO's Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology (EIT). They provide government contracting support through their APEX Accelerator programs. You can learn more about them on their website.

​​​ Pictured above, left to right: Rebekah Piatt, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology (EIT); Hans Erickson, Career Services (CS); Kathryn MacDonna, Bid Credit Program (BCP); and Rosalia Boccardi, Bid Credit Program (BCP). Pictured right: Demetrius Daniels, Career Services (CS).​	​	​​​
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DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center Chicago-Downers Grove

September 16, 2025

This was a really nice event hosted by the Indiana, Illinois,​ Iowa Federation for Fair Contracting (IIIFFC) at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Downers Grove, IL.  This FREE Public Construction Seminar was held from 9am-3pm, and included a continental breakfast and full buffet lunch, with coffee, tea, soft drinks provided throughout the day.

There were two Breakout Sessions to choose from, hosted in the Grand Ballroom and Atrium Ballroom respectively, sandwiched between Plenary Sessions.  Marc Poulos, Executive Director of the IIIFFC, lead the opening Plenary Session Panel on Responsibility in Public Contracting, along with guests Kevin McGuire and Scott Dietz, Illinois State Comptroller’s Office; Michael Glotz, Village of Tinley Park; and Frank Manzo IV, ILEPI.

There were two additional Breakout Sessions over the course of the afternoon consisting of the following four topics:  RISE Certification & Responsible Bidder Ordinances; Home Rule: Funding Public Infrastructure; FOIAs & Prevailing Wage; and Solar Incentive Programs & Competitive Procurements.

The final Plenary Session was Lead Service Line Replace & Workforce, lead by speakers Meghan Moses, MKM Consultants LLC; Jay Rowell, HIRE360; and Justin Williams, Metropolitan Planning Council. Other vendors who participated at this event  included the IL Office of the Comptroller and IL Power Agency.

IIIFFC did an excellent job hosting this event.  Thank you for allowing the IL Works Bid Credit Program to participate!

This event was a monthly ABC member meeting combined with an afterhours networking even held from 5-7pm at the restaurant Craft’d in Plainfield, IL.  There were a few awards given to members who recruited new ABC members, along with featured ABCIL General Contractor ECI Construction Services.  ABC also provided several delicious Craft’d appetizers to go along with the meeting and evening of networking.

Rajshree Hivare came to us with her Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Engineering and Master of Engineering, Computer Science degrees from Mumbai, India.  She will be graduating with her MS in Management Information Systems.  During the year, Raj focused on assisting the Pre-Apprenticeship program Grant Managers with data collection, analysis, and compliance. 

Vinay Ramachandramurthy came to us with his Bachelor of Engineering from Bengaluru, India.  He will be graduating with his MS in Management Information Systems.  During the year, Vinay helped multiple departments within OIW utilizing his computer and networking skills to assist with platform updates.  He also worked with the Career Services team to help them launch a new platform to track all ILWPP graduates. 

Favour Udeh came to us with his BS in Computer Science from the University of Benin in Nigeria.  He will be graduating with this MS in Management Information Systems.  During the year, Favour worked directly with the OIW Deputy Director, Norman Ruano, and multiple special projects. 

All of them contributed tremendously to our OIW programs during this past year and they will all be missed.  They were honored at the UIS GPSI Graduation Breakfast which was held at the UIS Student Union Ballroom on April 22, 2025.  During the breakfast interns from multiple state agencies were recognized along with their supervisors.  Our own, Norman Ruano was nominated as an outstanding supervisor. 

To the right are our interns being honored at the graduates’ breakfast, Vinay Ramachandramurthy, Rebecca Bailey – Senior Bid Credit Program Manager, and Favour Udeh at the UIS Graduation Breakfast.

Below are our interns on their last day with us as they embark on their new adventures.  From left to right, Favour Udeh, Vinay Ramachandramurthy, Kathryn Macdonna, Rebecca Bailey, Blake Young, Raj Hivare, Monica Pruitt, Rosalia Boccardi and Heather Harrison.​​​

Drury Lane Confere​nce Center, Oakbrook Terrace
Friday, March 21, 2025

The BCP Team attended the expo this year to network with plumbers and plumbing contractors from across the State.  The expo provided a great opportunity to view new plumbing products, for the attendees to talk to manufactures, learn new techniques, and network with other plumbers and contractors.  The morning allows for attendees to take their 4-hour continuing education class for their 2025 plumbing license renewal.  The highlight of the day is the trade show from noon to 5pm.  The trade show was busting at the seams with over 160 booths.  These booths highlighting the latest products, tools, trucks, and technologies.  The day completed with an after-EXPO party which included prizes and free food.​

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Tradeswomen Take Over Springfield
Illinois State Capital
March 5, 2025

The BCP Team attended the Tradeswomen Take Over Springfield event hosted by CISCO on March 5, 2025, at the Illinois State Capital.  Despite women representing nearly 50% of the workforce, they make up less than 5% of those working in the construction and building trades.  The event focused on this inequality, asking to reaffirm the State’s commitment to expanding workforce opportunities for all individuals wishing to pursue a career in the building trades.

The Bid Credit Team had the opportunity to attend the 23rd Annual Construction & Safety Conference Expo 2025 on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. This event was co-hosted by ASA (Association of Subcontractors & Affiliates) Chicago and the Chicagoland Construction Safety Council at the Drury Lane Theatre & Events in Oakbrook Terrace, IL.  This two-day conference was a well-attended with 134 exhibitors and an estimated 1,000 people in attendance. Safety sessions provided by the Construction Safety Council were available on both days. The conference concluded with a networking Exhibitors After Party, which included live entertainment.

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The ILW Bid Credit Program Team attended the 3rd Annual S.T.R.I.V.E. Conference hosted by the GPCSA on Friday, February 21, 2025.  This year’s conference was held at the new CAT Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center in Edwards, IL.  One of only three around the world, this Caterpillar location allowed participants t​o get up close and personal with the latest Cat® equipment in the demonstration and training arena.  Learning sessions available focused on three distinct tracts in the construction trades sector:  Health & Safety, Business Development, and Innovations & Workforce Development.  The event was well attended with about 500 participants and over 20 vendors.