The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City recognized construction industry leaders Jim Delaney and Garry Kemp at its 32nd Anniversary Celebration and 12th Annual Awards Dinner April 14 at Argosy Casino.
More than 200 participants also elected several officers and board members for the LMC and recognized Terry Akins, business manager of IBEW Local 124, whose term as labor co-chair expires soon.
Founding sponsors of the event were the Builders’ Association and Power Partners. Award sponsors included Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Brotherhood Bank, CIGNA Healthcare, J.E. Dunn Construction Co., Pipefitters Local 533 and Truman Medical Centers. Supporters included Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663, Michael D. Fitzgerald Attorney-at-Law and MMC Contractors.
Delaney, vice president and operations manager for Turner Construction Co. in Kansas City, received the Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation Award. He has served as LMC co-chair as well as president of the Builders’ Association. “He has never been afraid to ask the tough questions that needed answers or to bring forward difficult issues that needed to be addressed” noted Dan Couch, a past LMC co-chair and previous honoree. “He has worked to ensure that both labor and management had the opportunity to become involved early in key projects where both sides and the project’s developers would benefit from joint efforts,” he added.
Kemp, retired business manager of the Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council and a past LMC secretary, was honored with the Service to the Labor-Management Council award. “His advocacy for the LMC and its mission, and his work on its implementation, have been vital to the LMC’s survival and successes,” Couch said. “His service to the organization has been consistent, passionate and even fun.”
The annual event experienced an increase in attendance and revenue this year, “a sign of an improving economy,” said Bob Jacobi, executive director. “It is also testament to the value of our mission to enhance labor-management collaboration and trust,” he added.
As in the past, the celebration drew many elected officials. Participants this year included Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders, LMC co-chair; Kansas City, Mo. Mayor-Elect Sly James; Kansas State Rep. Tom Burroughs; Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp; Jackson County legislators Theresa Garza-Ruiz and Crystal Williams; Kansas City Council members Melba Curls, Jan Marcason and Cindy Circo; Kansas City, Mo. School Board member Joseph Jackson; Johnson County Commissioner Jason Osterhaus and others.
The LMC re-elected Dave Kendrick, business manager for the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, as secretary and Don Greenwell, president of the Builders’ Association, as treasurer. Re-elected to the Executive Committee were Donna Birks, president, AFL-CIO Tri-County Labor Council and John Phillips, Husch Blackwell, and to the Board Chuck Tarpley, business manager, Plumbers Local 8. Newly elected Board members were Marcos DeLeon, senior director of human resources at Truman Medical Centers, and Mike Kotubey, president of MMC Contractors.
Thanks to LMC member the Kansas City Ballet, two attendees won tickets to the Ballet’s May performances. Scott Hoisington, Turner Construction Co., and Joseph Keller, Brotherhood Bank, were the recipients.
Photos of the event will soon be posted to the LMC blog, http://labormanagementkc.typepad.com.
Upcoming programs announced at the dinner included the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 5-8 at the Lake of the Ozarks, the LMC’s annual golf tournament July 18 at Oakwood Country Club and the Mid-Level Leadership Program next class beginning in September.
The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City is a nonprofit association based at Rockhurst University. For more information contact Bob Jacobi, executive director, at (816) 501-4565 or [email protected].
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