About OUR TEAM

Level Up CTE was founded inside Rikers Island by 25-year union carpenter James “Shoppy” Foster. What began as a short-term Department of Correction carpentry course has evolved into a nationally recognized model for hands-on, union-aligned vocational education. Through partnerships with the NYC District Council of Carpenters (NYCDCC), Dewalt, Union Labor Advisory Network (ULA), Harbor Freight, and District Attorneys’ Offices across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, Level Up provides direct pipelines into pre-apprenticeships, industry credentials, and long-term union careers.

A New York City Mitigation Specialist with extensive experience in youth justice initiatives currently serves as Vice President and Director of Legal Affairs, overseeing Citywide Recruitment, Community Engagement, and Justice-Involved Initiatives. In this role, she manages Level Up’s partnerships with justice-system programs, participant recruitment strategies, compliance standards, and reentry pathways. She collaborates closely with District Attorneys’ Offices, Probation and Parole departments, and defense attorneys to develop ATI (Alternative to Incarceration) and post-release workforce opportunities in partnership with all nine labor unions.

Luigi Regina, a union carpenter journeyman and shop steward, now serves as Vice President, Director of Programs, and Financial Secretary. He oversees all technical instruction, training operations, and union-aligned curriculum development, ensuring that participants meet industry standards and move smoothly into apprenticeship pipelines.