This is our new site! Bear with us as we switch over to our new provider!
Welcome to Pullman Tech Workshop
Pullman Tech Workshop is redefining vocational education with its comprehensive, hands-on training programs designed to equip individuals with practical skills for future employment. From our handyman training program to our advanced trade skills program.Pullman Tech Workshop combines expert instruction with real-world experiences through our social enterprise & transitional employment opportunities.
About Us
Our Focus
Skilled workers in historic building rehab are in short supply nationwide—especially in Chicago. At Pullman Tech Workshop (PTW), we believe excluded young adults aren’t the problem—they’re the solution.Many of our participants have faced barriers like poverty, incarceration, or lack of work experience, yet are eager to learn and work. Traditional trades training often overlooks them, and PTW was founded to change that.We address this gap through three core efforts: (1) advanced workforce training, (2) building maintenance training, and (3) our Made in Pullman social enterprise. As a growing nonprofit, we’re developing more programs in partnership with like-minded organizations to expand our impact.
Our Supporters
Pullman Tech Workshop exists due to the generosity of the following foundations, businesses, and nonprofits that believe in us & our mission.
Our Programs
Handyman Service & Building Maintenance Training Program
Our 8-week Handyman & Building Maintenance Training Program—launched to meet high demand—has quickly become a favorite among partners and participants.It equips trainees with practical, in-demand skills like drywall repair, basic plumbing and electrical, painting, and more—services often hard to find due to a shortage of tradespeople focused on larger, higher-paying jobs. Our graduates are ready to work immediately.For those interested in freelancing, we offer an additional 4-week business development course to help them land jobs and grow their income.This program isn’t just about tools—it’s about life skills that create real financial impact, whether it’s paying rent, clearing debts, or buying a car. It’s not a second chance—it’s a first chance for those often overlooked by traditional training programs.
Coverage by CBS Chicago on our Handyman Training Program!
Advanced Workforce Training Program
Participants of this program will be enabled to pursue higher living wages through the combination of skill development, job placement programming, and transitional employment opportunities.PTW‘s trade-specific training in the fields of historic preservation, restoration, and green-building technologies, yields participants who can excel in a rapidly evolving and in-demand market.Each cohort will receive on-site job training at the end of their program session where they will construct and maintain porches and other historically-accurate façade elements for the Pullman community.
Coverage by Fox 32 Chicago on our Advanced Workforce Training Program!
Shoot us a message!
We'd love to talk.
Service & Product List
Every dollar counts to make our mission a reality! Even just $20 dollars is lunch for our participants. $100 dollars is enough to keep our machines in running order. The level of gratitude is hard to express. Donations from people that believe in our mission is what keeps our staff fighting for our participants every day.
This wonderful couple, with a donation through the WoodmenLife Fraternal organization learned about our mission and surprised us with a $500 dollar donation. These are the types of experiences that mean the world to our team.
Made in Pullman.
Our Social Enterprise is Open for Business!
About Pullman Tech's Social Enterprises
Launched in February 2025, our social enterprise builds on our Pullman porch services and now offers custom woodworking, marketing products, and digital fabrication for businesses, nonprofits, and individuals.The response has been incredible—keeping us busy and enabling us to hire several past participants to help meet demand.
Interested In Making With Us?
We are excited about continuing the success we have had since our launch – especially to make new products we haven't made yet.We are able to keep our prices competitive – usually equal to what you'd pay a big company. We also work with you on your design from start to finish. Have an idea but not sure how to make it happen?Reach out to our lead designer, Tony Landek, to see what we can do for you!Email: [email protected]
How Does Our Social Enterprise Impact Our Participants?
Our social enterprise is all about getting money in our participants pockets to assist them with short-term financial needs that are barriers to them obtaining:
Stable Housing
Reliable Transportation
Work Experience
Savings to Look for Work
Child Care
Their time at our social enterprise provides real-world experience, teaching teamwork and attention to detail—skills that go beyond what an 8-week training program can offer.Every job PTW receives lets us pay participants at least $20/hour while covering project costs.
Examples of Client Work
Client: Chicago Cubs Charities
Project: Gifts for Players from Reclaimed Wrigley Wood (Qty: 29)
Chicago Cubs Charities connected with us to re-purpose 200+ year old Douglas Fir beams that were reclaimed from Wrigley Field's roof during renovations in 2019 & 2024 to make gifts for their players. They gave us free reign to design something interesting their players would enjoy! Our most challenging project yet!We settled on custom picture frames with vintage wood Cubs tickets from the 1920's that were customized with each players number. Every part of this product was made with reclaimed Wrigley Field Wood!
Client: Youth & Blue United Inc.
Project: Wood Boxes for Youth Mental Health Program (Qty: 10)
One of PTW's board members runs a mentoring program for vulnerable youth in Chicago. We created these "affirmation" boxes for his students to write daily affirmations, drop them in their box, and look at them in the future when life might throw them some challenges.
Client: Private Individual
Project: Milled Teak Wood for Boat Restoration (Qty: 37)
Our first, but hopefully not last job for a private client that involved milling 37 unique pieces of replacement teak wood for the floor of his boat.
Client: Ignite - Futures with Promise
Project: Set of Coaster for Annual Gala (Qty: 400)
Ignite is a fantastic organization that works to endless youth homelessness. For their annual gala they wanted a unique design for a giveaway to all their guests. We landed on coasters with hand drawn engraving of their facilities.
Client: American Historic Trades Summit 2025
Project: Wood Conference Name Badges (Qty: 94)
Close to our heart at PTW, the American Historic Trade Summit in 2025 took place in Chicago. We worked with their team to iterate on several designs to make maybe the first ever wood conference badges for every attendee. Each badge had their name and organization engraved on it.
Client: Night Ministry
Project: Custom Name Tags for Board of Directors (Qty: 27)
We provided Night Ministry with a sample name tag at an event we were both attending. They loved them. And quickly after the event they ordered name tags for their entire executive staff and board of directors.
Service & Product List
We offer much more than what you see below. Reach out to us and we can talk about making your idea into a reality!