About Our Instructors

To learn more about our instructors, choose a name from the list below and you'll be taken to a photo, biography, and certification list.

Brian Fitzgerald

Suzanne Fitzgerald

Laura Fox

Jaik Rustemeyer

Brian Fitzgerald

Brian Fitzgerald is the Chief Training and Sustainability Officer at YouthBuild McLean County, a green public and private High School in Normal, Illinois. Brian plans sustainable and environmentally conscious green projects including green homebuilding, environmental/building science courses, and designs value added strategies in the improvement efforts for an existing green school. He currently facilitates local and national sustainability trainings. He is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction (LEED AP- BD &C) and a Project Management Professional (PMP). Brian is a national trainer for YouthBuild USA, the Department of Labor and a Technical Assistance Provider for the DOL-YouthBuild Collaborative. He also holds the designation and is a proctor for Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst I and Air Leakage Control Installer. He is an Industrial Lift Truck trainer and has completed the North American Board of Certified Electrical Practitioners (NABCEP) entry level Photovoltaic training. He has previously served youth in the following roles at YouthBuild McLean County since 1994: Chief Operating Officer and supervised the school and project managed all construction projects, staff, students and the AmeriCorps Program. Brian also was instrumental in the design and implementation of new community development projects, including 54 acre sub-division in Carlock, Illinois. He property managed a 10 unit multifamily apartment complex and two smaller rental properties with annual operation budget of $300,000 and an annual project budget $1,000,000. VP of Construction, Safety and Environment, Construction Manager, Construction Instructor and Leadership Trainer. Brian has 30 years of experience in residential construction and rehabilitation projects. Brian is a Red Cross certified instructor for First Aid/ CPR/AED, an OSHA Outreach Instructor for 10 & 30 hour courses, a Pre-Apprenticeship Certification Training (PACT). He also is a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Curricula, Green, Weatherization and Carpentry Certified Craft Instructor, as well as a Master Trainer for NCCER. He is a Green Professional Building Skills GIPRO Instructor for Fundamentals and Construction Management. Brian is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Central Illinois Chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).