We can all make “ripples for good” and understand each other better, Mindy Corporon told 250 labor, business, government and community leaders at the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City’s (LMC) 19th Annual Awards Dinner and 39th Anniversary Celebration April 19 at Argosy Casino.
The LMC also recognized one retiring and two retired Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service commissioners for their leadership in labor-management cooperation. Peggy McNeive, Gene Bralley and Pat Dunn were cited for their commitment and continued efforts. Robin Norris, Builders’ Association; Emilia Peek, E&K and Nicole Abrahamson, Belger Cartage, received the Service to the Labor-Management Council for their volunteer work with the organization.
Brian Dietz, JE Dunn Construction Co. vice president, was elected Co-Chair, Management and Greg Davey, Builders’ Association labor relations director, succeeded Dietz as Vice Co-Chair, Management, at the event. Re-elected were Alise Martiny, Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, as Secretary; Don Greenwell, Builders’ Association president, as Treasurer; and Bret Bonge, Kansas City Power & Light Co.; Teri Casey, City of Kansas City, Mo.,; Joe Hudson, Carpenters District Council and Lindsey Walker, Service Employees International Union, as Board members.
Corporon, founder of the Faith Always Wins Foundation and its Seven Days: Make a Ripple, Change the World, program, lost her father and son in a shooting by an anti-Semite at the Jewish Community Center in 2014. The gunman wanted to assassinate Jews, though neither Corporon’s father nor son were Jewish. She said that her reaction to the shooting led her to explore Judaism and eventually Islam and other faiths to try to understand why the shootings happened and how to prevent future hate crimes.
A successful business owner long active in the community, Corporon started the foundation with a focus on kindness. “Maybe if someone had been kinder to the shooter, my father, son and Terri LaManno would still be here” she said. Corporon said she learned in her research of the common elements among Christianity, Judaism and Islam as well as other faiths. “I like being a Christian, but faith in God is something these religions share.” The term faith in the foundation name, she explained, does not mean religion but a shared faith in God and heaven that gives strength in difficult times.
The Seven Days program is set for next year April 9-15. The foundation is also working on a program to help healing in the workplace. She noted that after the shootings, she continued to work but did not share with her co-workers. Instead, she wants people to share with co-workers and co-workers know how to help to facilitate healing.
The focus on workplace healing proved especially poignant as the event coincided with services for Mario Circo, a Kansas City, Mo., fire fighter. Mario was the son of Cindy Circo, former Kansas City, Mo. City Councilwoman and now with Kansas City Power & Light. Circo’s father, former Independence City Councilman Bill Baker, died earlier in the day. Mario’s brother is a member of Pipefitters Local 533 so many in the audience were grieving.
Corporon received a standing ovation from the audience.
The LMC also recognized Sam Alpert, Construction Users Council, as outgoing Co-Chair, Management, for his service. Alpert brought the perspective of customers to the LMC as well as knowledge of development and issues such as housing, noted LMC executive director Bob Jacobi.
Recent graduates of the Mid-Level Leadership Program received their certificates. The 2017-18 graduates are Jason Beaman, Fire Fighters Local 42; Lalita Brown, Kansas City, Mo. Aviation Department; Anthony “Nino” Bruno, Kansas City, Mo. Fire Department; Phillip Butler, Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663; Daniel Heizman, Fire Fighters Local 42; Joseph Hegendeffer, Kansas City Power & Light Co.; Robert Hollinsworth, Kansas City Power & Light Co.; Kyle Lewis, Kansas City Power & Light Co.; Andres Nelson, Kansas City Water Services; Todd Rohr, Kansas City Water Services.
Sponsors making the event possible included Founding Sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Cigna and IBEW Local 124. The Builders’ Association was the Anniversary Sponsor and Awards Sponsors included Delta Innovative Services, Fire Fighters Local 42, Heavy Construction Laborers Local 663, JE Dunn Construction Co., Pipefitters Local 533 and Power Partners. Supporters included Bricklayers Local 15 and Laborers Local 1290. Volunteers were Mary Jacobi, Nicole Abrahamson, Emilia Peek and Debbie Sawyer, Belger Cartage.
Photos from the event will be available soon on this blog in the left side photo albums.
The next LMC events include the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 8-11, the Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament July 16 and the annual Public Officials Reception Oct. 11.
The LMC is a nonprofit association based at Rockhurst University. Its mission is to enhance collaboration by solidifying trust between labor and management and the community. For more information contact Bob Jacobi, [email protected] or (816) 501-4565.
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