State Building Trades hold 64th Convention in Spokane

The following is from the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council:

SPOKANE (Oct. 5, 2021) — Delegates, guests and partners gathered for the 64th Convention of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council in Spokane at the Historic Davenport Hotel from Sept. 27-29.

Opening our convention, the Airway Heights Correctional Center Honor Guard honored us through the ceremony of placing the flag and administering the Pledge of Allegiance, the Rev. Walter J. Kendricks of the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church delivered a beautiful and inspiring invocation while blessing the Convention, Spokane City Councilmember Betsy Wilkerson warmly welcomed all of us to Spokane, and Jenny Slagle of Spokane Schools delivered the People’s Acknowledgment welcoming us to the ancestral lands of the Spokane Nation.

Special guests addressing convention attendees included U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) via live Zoom link, and in-person addresses were delivered by Gov. Jay Inslee, State Sens. Andy Billig (D-Spokane), Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) and Curtis King (R-Yakima), and State Reps. Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane) and Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane). State Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber (R-Republic) joined us for the Welcome Reception. State agency leaders in attendance included Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar, Labor and Industries Director Joel Sacks and L&I Deputy Director Liz Smith.

Washington State Labor Council President Larry Brown, WSLC Secretary Treasurer April Sims, WSLC Government Affairs Director Joe Kendo, and IUPAT General Vice President at Large Mike Gutierrez addressed the convention as well and participated in convention events.

Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary Robert Camarillo addressed our convention and celebrated the mutually beneficial partnership between our two states.

A legal update was provided by Kristina Detwiler of Robblee, Detwiler for all affiliates’ information.

Business partners addressing convention delegates included J. Clay Sell of X-Energy, Erik Steimle of Rye Development and Larry Krauter of the Spokane International Airport. Scott Middleton of the Mechanical Contractors Association joined us for the entire convention as well.

All of these partnerships are extremely important to us and we are grateful for the dedication to our joint efforts that all of the above partners displayed.

Officers are sworn in Nick Bumpaous, President of the Central Washington Building and Construction Trades Council: (from left) President Todd Mitchell, Executive Secretary Mark Riker, Trustee Keith Weir, and Sergeant-at-Arms Sean O’Donnell.

During convention, delegates re-elected Executive Secretary Mark Riker, President Todd Mitchell, Vice President Chris McClain, Trustees Dale Cannon and Keith Weir, as well as electing Sean O’Donnell as the new Sergeant at Arms, and Joe Kershisnik as a new Trustee.

Additionally we received a presentation on the difficult, but immensely important issue of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Suicide Prevention. This work is of utmost importance for all our affiliates.

It was an excellent convention, facilitated beautifully by the Historic Davenport Hotel Staff and leadership.

We extend special thanks for the excellent work in both planning, and during this convention to Cheri Bookheimer, Erin Frasier and Randall Friesen of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, as well as for all of the assistance provided by Carrie Magnuson of Bright Now Dental in the registration process, and Roberta Cornelson for assistance with the Ann Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Raffle.

Thank you all.