Leadership

Nicole Schwartz comes to TradesFutures with ample experience in education and workforce development. Most recently, Schwartz served as NABTU’s Apprenticeship Readiness Program Coordinator, overseeing nearly 200 ARP programs across the U.S. in conjunction with state and local Building and Construction Trades Councils and their partner community organizations.

Prior to her time at TradesFutures, Schwartz spent nearly a decade educating youth as a High School and Middle School Social Studies and Spanish Teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Outside of the classroom, Nicole worked on several initiatives, including Restorative Practices, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, and Potter’s Forest – Ropes and Challenge Course. After moving to DC in 2015, Nicole worked as a Pastry Cook and Urban Farmer before deciding to focus her efforts on workforce development and broadening pathways to family-sustaining careers for all.

Nicole graduated with a BA from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI in International Affairs and Spanish for the Professions in 2004. In 2007, Nicole received her Master’s in Education from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

Tanji Gilliam, Ph.D., M.F.A., is the Apprenticeship Readiness Program Coordinator for TradesFutures where she serves as a frontline administrator for ~250 building trades affiliates, scheduling learning management system training, assigning  construction math preparation credentials, preparing reports on wraparound services and best practices for the administrators, and other office management tasks.

Gilliam was the Founder of Oil House, a neighborhood planning firm. She is the recipient of numerous awards from the Social Science Research Council.

Dr. Gilliam served as a development consultant for the Old Bronx County Courthouse and has written the strategic plan and directed curricula for the Universal Hip Hop Museum (UHHM). She has also worked with Newark Symphony Hall as an Urban Planning and Development Consultant.

Gilliam received her Ph.D. in History of Culture from The University of Chicago.

As Data Manager, Jack oversees the collection, tracking and reporting of Apprenticeship Readiness Program participant data, including participant demographics, outcomes, and other key metrics. He began his career in the Department of Education and Research at North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) in the Fall of 2021 and transitioned to TradesFutures in the Spring of 2023.

His great-grandfather having been a union painter, his grandfather a union Teamster and his uncle a union glazier, Jack has seen first-hand the life changing opportunities gained through union construction careers. He is honored to help create pathways to the benefits of union membership for workers and their families through the Building Trades.

Jack holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Wake Forest University. Originally from the Philadelphia-area, he remains a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan.

Allison brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit, creative prowess, and strategic marketing expertise to our team. As a seasoned digital marketing specialist and the founder of two businesses, Allison’s innovative approach has consistently driven impactful results.

As the founder of Driven Women Publishing, LLC and Allison Balanc Productions, LLC, Allison has demonstrated her passion for cultivating creative communities, providing creative direction, digital content strategy and driving collaborative initiatives. Her talent has led to contracts with esteemed organizations such as Viacom International Inc., The District Cup and many others.

Allison brings a unique blend of artistic insight and strategic understanding to her role. Her nearly decade long career has been grown through hands-on, in the field experience. However, she is deeply committed to constantly evolving. Allison is slated to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Music Business and Marketing from Berklee College of Music early 2025; allowing her to merge all of her skills and continue to help brands embody their absolute best.

In her spare time, Allison is an active member of the GRAMMYs/The Recording Academy- D.C. Chapter community, performing musician, certified voice instructor, and a teaching artist in underserved communities. She also enjoys hiking, trying new restaurants and time with loved ones.

Micah is a dedicated business operations professional from Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he has lived his entire life. Growing up, Micah initially pursued basketball but later discovered a passion for football. He has a strong affinity for tasks that involve teamwork, finding great satisfaction in seeing multiple people collaborate to achieve a common goal. A fun fact about Micah is that he studied French in high school.