Kansas City, Mo – The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City (LMC) honored two leaders, learned about key workplace mental health issues and elected officers at its 47th Anniversary Celebration and 26th Awards Dinner April 9 at Argosy Casino. More than 200 leaders from labor, management and government attended the event, which is a key program towards the LMC mission of enhancing collaboration by solidifying trust and communication between labor and management in the community.
Photos from the event can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/labormanagementkc/.
Bret Bonge, Evergy Labor Relations Lead, earned the Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation Award for his roles enhancing labor-management relationships at Evergy, as a past Co-Chair of the LMC and as Co-Chair of the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference.
Jason Mendenhall, Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663 Business Manager, received the Service to the Labor-Management Council award for his more than 30 years of active support for the LMC and its programs, including serving as Co-Chair, speaking each year to the Mid-Level Leadership Program (of which both he and Bonge are graduates) and participation in LMC events.
The “triangle” of mental health, opioid abuse and suicide was described by keynote speaker John Gaal, wellness director of the Missouri Works Initiative. Gaal noted key trends in each leg of the triangle and the connections between them. Gaal pointed out the resources available including 988, employee assistance programs and greater awareness trouble signs among workers. He urged avoidance of silos in addressing these issues as they often connect. Suicide in the construction industry is among the highest of any industry, he noted, with first responders and nurses also ranking high.
“These issues affect our workers and families every day. We are grateful to John to help us understand them better and how we can help” said Bob Jacobi, LMC executive director.
The LMC elected Chris Stanton, McCownGordon Construction vice president of preconstruction, as Co-Chair, Management for a two-year term. Stanton succeeds Jimmy Walker, City of Independence fire chief. He serves alongside Bo Moreno, IBEW Local 124, business manager who is Co-Chair, Labor. Chosen as Vice Co-Chair, Management succeeding Stanton was Ed Downey, Capital Electric Construction president. Ralph Oropeza, Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council business manager, was re-elected Secretary and Greg Davey, The Builders, a chapter of the AGC vice president of labor relations, as Treasurer.
Other board members with new terms include Mike Kane, Tri-County AFL-CIO president; Stacey Smyly, SMACNA-KC executive director; Mike Keeran, Teamsters Local 541 business manager, and Dan Heizman, Fire Fighters Local 42 president, as board members with three-year terms. The LMC thanked Teri Casey, recently retired director of of human resources for the City of Kansas City, Mo., for her service on the executive committee.
Sponsors were key to the event’s success. Founding sponsors were Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, The Builders, a Chapter of the AGC, IBEW Local 124 and Plumbers Local 8; Anniversary Sponsors were McCownGordon Construction and Power Partners; Awards Sponsors were Aetna, Arnold Newbold Sollars & Holliins, Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal, Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663, JE Dunn Construction Co., Kansas City Royals, Lee Cross, Painters District Council #3 and Secure Unions.Com. Supporter sponsor was Blake & Uhlig.
Volunteers were also crucial to the event: Jennifer Borkowski, Humana; Matt Eberle, The Builders, a chapter of the AGC, Mary Jacobi and Laurie Troppito-Brewer, Philly Lily.
For more information contact bob.jacobi@rockhurst.edu and https://thelaborbeacon.com/category/lmckc/.
