COMMUNITY PARTNERS
IN PARTNERSHIP • PARTNERS IN INCLUSION
Intelligent Partnerships is grateful for our many partners, both on jobsite and off. In this space, we will highlight a few of those partners and recognize them for their outstanding efforts and contributions to inclusion on our projects.
IN PARTNERSHIP
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KEVIN ESPINOZA•WSCCA
OPERATING ENGINEER•LOCAL 302
Intelligent Partnerships, Inc. recognizes Kevin Espinoza as part of an Inclusive workforce on the Washington State Convention Center Addition Project.
Kevin is a Rigger with Operating Engineers Local 302 working for Garco. Eleven years ago, Kevin came to Seattle from El Salvador. He became familiar with forklifts when he went to work in a warehouse after high school. He then became a certified forklift driver and became more interested in different trades while working at Greater Seattle Concrete.
After a few years of getting more experience on work sites, Kevin set a goal to become a Rigger. Leveraging his forklift experience, Kevin joined Local 302. He has now been a Rigger for 9 months and is proud that his first Union Job is the Convention Center. Kevin's new goal is to become a Crane Operator and will be taking his test in September. Kevin takes great pride in being a Latino in the Operating Engineers Union. He is eager to show his friends and family that you can set goals and reach them if you work hard.
MYKAH WARD•CFJC•CARPENTER•LOCAL 129
RECOGNIZED: NOVEMBER 2020
Our Field Enforcement Manager, Kelsey Sparks, chose Mykah, because he has maintained a positive attitude from the first day she met him. Kelsey admires the fact that he never let frustration or obstacles stop him from progressing forward. She describes him as truly inspirational in all of his interactions onsite.
Mykah Ward was born in Dayton, Ohio, and he has always had a curiosity for how things are built and put together. After serving in the Army for three years (Thank you for your service!), Mykah Ward made his way to Seattle. He was ready for a change after spending some time working for Verizon. In 2018, Mykah began working toward becoming a Carpenter. He briefly struggled with getting back into the mindset of being a student and having to study again, but Mykah was able to enroll in the Carpenters Apprenticeship Program and persevere to join Local 129 as a Carpenter.
He joined the CFJC project earlier this year, and he has enjoyed watching the project evolve from the ground up. Being able to witness the process has further piqued his interest in the Trades. Mr. Ward strives to be one of the best carpenters in Seattle; he wants to be able to pass his knowledge onto others and show them how to do things safely and correctly.
Eventually, Mykah Ward would like to help out the less fortunate by building or rehabbing homes for the homeless and the elderly. We thank Mr. Ward for his outstanding contributions to the CFJC project and for being a Partner in Inclusion!
CHRIS HEFTI•WSDOT
PILE DRIVER•LOCAL 196
RECOGNIZED: DECEMBER 2020
This month’s IP Spotlight was chosen by Alex Coll, IP’s Field Enforcement Specialist on the WSDOT project. Alex selected Chris Hefti because of his positive attitude that he brings to the site every day. From the first day that Alex met Chris at the WSDOT project, Chris was always willing to help others navigate the site.
Chris Hefti grew up in Auburn, Washington. His interest in working in the trades grew out of a love for welding, when he heard that he could “work a lot, weld a lot, and work on the water.” His path to becoming a journeyman began in 2014 when he became an apprentice. It took him four years, during which he put in a lot of work and a lot of time, before he became a journeyman. Chris encourages others who have an interest in becoming a journeyman to pursue it: “You just have to put in your time … but it’s a big payoff.”
Chris enjoys working on the WSDOT project because of the group that he works with. He says that the team around him makes the job, especially if the team is willing to put in work to get the job done. According to Alex, one of the biggest contributions that Chris makes to the site is his positive attitude. Chris attributes this to the group around him. He says it’s important for morale to have people around him who are positive and give each other words of encouragement throughout the day.
When Chris isn’t working, he enjoys welding and playing on the water. During football season, you can find him rooting for the Seahawks every Sunday.
Thank you for being such a positive addition to the worksite, Chris!
RONALDO "ROLLO" REYES•WSCCA
MASONRY•LOCAL 1-BRICKLAYERS
RECOGNIZED: FEBRUARY 2021
Our Field Enforcement Specialist on the Washington State Convention Center, Patrick Vikstrom, selected Ronaldo, aka Rollo, because of his outstanding positive attitude and his social nature. Ronaldo has earned the respect and trust of his team through his hard work. He is known for greeting the project workers everyday with a smile and a fist pump.
Ronaldo was born in McCallan, Texas. Soon after, his family moved to Ufreida, Washington, where he grew up. Ronaldo became a Registered Apprentice in June 2020, after he was recruited while he was working as a painter. He joined the WSCC Addition project in October 2020, where he continues to soak up everything he can “like a sponge” and keep up with his team. Ronaldo enjoys working on the WSCC Addition project because he likes the people he works with, and he enjoys the team spirit on the project.
Ronaldo began not knowing anything about masonry, but he finds that he comes relatively easy to him. He keeps focused by constantly setting personal goals. His overall goal is to become a Foreman one day, and he plans to learn everything that he can in pursuit of that goal.
When Ronaldo isn’t working hard on the job, he can most likely be found lifting weights in the gym. He says one of the perks of working on the project is that he feels like he also gets to workout at work.
MICHELLE ANN PADILLA ADLEBLUE•WSCCA
FOREMAN•GARCO
RECOGNIZED: MARCH 2021
This month, we revisit the Washington State Convention Center Addition to highlight Michelle Ann Padilla Adlebleu, a foreman with Garco. She is a carpenter out of Local 30. Our FES Patrick Vikstrom selected Michelle this month, because she is a “highly respected foreman with Garco that workers frequently come to for guidance … She is a true hands-on leader that leads from the front of the pack and can be seen any given day working on rebar, cement, metal or wood.”
Michelle grew up in Yakuma, Washington, and she moved to the Puyallup area when she was 11 and has lived there ever since. There are many members of her family who are also involved in the Trades. On the WSCC Addition, she is joined by her brother-in-law, who is a labor foreman, and her sister, who is a carpenter apprentice. Her father, who got her interested in the carpenters’ trade, works as a carpenter at the Port of Seattle.
Michelle became a foreman with Garco about a year ago, after they approached her with the opportunity to move up. She began working in the trades in 2007, and she started out doing bridgework (which is why she is not afraid of the heights at the WSCC Addition).
She believes that a great foreman is someone who learns from others, is organized, and communicates. Michelle particularly enjoys the project site, because “the view is beautiful out here.” She enjoys the site because it’s fun and she learns something new every day. She also appreciates how nice the other trades are.
When Michelle isn’t hanging off tall structures, she enjoys working out and doing outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. She also loves watching her kids play sports.
We appreciate everything you do and contribute to the project, Michelle!
KEITH BURGESS•WSDOT
OPERATING ENGINEER•LOCAL 302
RECOGNIZED: APRIL 2021
Keith Burgess is an Apprentice with American Bridge on the WSDOT SR-520 Project. Our FES Alex Coll selected Keith to be recognized because of his impressive presence on the project. His excellent attitude on the project each and every day.
Keith is an Operating Engineer out of Local 302. He grew up in Houston, Texas, and he moved to Washington State to pursue a career in construction after hearing it was a good pathway to a high-quality career. Keith began his apprenticeship 2 years ago, and “as of now,” his goal is to become a Lift Director. Keith enjoys working on the WSDOT SR-520 Project because of his co-workers and his supervisor, who make the project fun and interesting.
When Keith isn’t onsite, he enjoys playing basketball and video games. And because you can take the man out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the man, he remains a diehard Houston Texans and Houston Rockets fan.
Thank you for everything you onsite and all the positivity you bring to the project, Keith!
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EMMANUEL GONZALEZ•CFJC
CEMENT MASON•LU 528
RECOGNIZED: APRIL 2021
Our CFJC FES Kelsey Sparks selected Apprentice Emmanuel Gonzalez because of his ever-present positive attitude onsite, and because he is an asset to his co-workers and the project. Emmanuel is a Cement Mason who works for Belarde. He is a member of LU 528. A former baggage handler, Emmanuel entered the trades in pursuit of a high-quality career.
He began his career as a Pre-Apprentice with ANEW, and he graduated about two years ago and became an Apprentice. Emmanuel chose Cement Mason, because he likes to do physical work and he likes being in a field where there’s so much to learn and so much to take in. Being on the CFJC project has allowed him to expand his knowledge, which is his favorite thing about the project.
When Emmanuel is not onsite, he can often be found playing soccer.
Thank you for all you do!
CHRIS MCCLAIN•LOCAL 86
Intelligent Partnerships, Inc. would like to recognize Chris McClain as an excellent labor partner on the Washington State Convention Center Addition
Project
Chris is always available to support Intelligent Partnerships by providing clarity with the Local 86 issues that arise on the project site. Chris enables great communication between Intelligent Partnerships, Local 86, the General Contractor, and the Contractors. Chris has visited the Convention Center project site on multiple occasions to speak with Local 86 Ironworkers during every work shift and is very aware of all that is going on with his members on the Convention Center Project.
Thank You Chris!