The LMC enjoyed a visit from co-founder Jim Monroe. Jim, now retired and living near Seattle, was visiting family in KC. Jim served as president of the Kansas City Area Development Council and co-founded the LMC with William H. Dunn, Sr. (who just celebrated his 100th birthday), the late Meyer Goldman, the late Bob Reeds, the late Rev Maurice Van Ackeren, S.J. and the late Rev. Frank Murphy, S.J.

Jim continues to follow LMC activities. He recalled the trip that he, Bill Dunn and Fr. Murphy took to South Bend, IN, to learn from a labor-management effort and how it could apply to KC. That trip helped spur the LMC's founding, incorporating in 1979.

One of the LMC's early successes, the Mid-Level Leadership Program, continues today. The first of 16 sessions of the 2023-24 class was held Sept. 20 at Rockhurst University. Bret Bonge, Evergy, LMC Co-Chair, and Jimmy Walker, City of Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department and LMC Vice Co-Chair, shared with the class their views of leadership in the labor-management context. Both are Mid-Level graduates and discussed how the class prepared them for their future leadership roles, particularly gaining an understanding of the "other side." Walker noted how important the learning is for the labor-management partnership that develops much of the Fire Department's operating policies. Bonge added the importance of learning about building relationships was particularly vital during the past few years when a merger and COVID required many changes.

Photos from the Sept. 20 (and future) classes can be found in the photo album to the right, 2023-24 Mid-Level Leadership.

The LMC Board of Directors will meet Oct. 5 at the Builders' AGC offices, and the LMC Construction Industry Committee next meets Oct. 12, 8 a.m. at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.