VIDEO: Dr. John Gaal Honored With “Legacy Award” by Apprenticeship MO Statewide Summit
Date Posted: November 16, 2021
Posted In: Discussion, Organizations, Workforce,
Dr. John Gaal, a scholar and educator in the workforce space whose work has garnered international attention, was recognized with the inaugural “Legacy Award at the Apprenticeship Missouri 2021 Summit in Columbia, Tuesday (Nov. 16).
The conference was convened by the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD)
Gaal was the director of workforce and education for the Carpenters union in Missouri and Southern Illinois for three decades. His research and writing has furthered the cause of registered apprenticeship and has received attention locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Gaal is the current president of the International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA).
Gaal developed the concept of the Building Union Diversity (BUD) pre-apprenticeship program.
From left Dr. Marty Leathers, director of workforce development, MDHEWD; Dr. John Gaal; Greta Bax, director of MO Works Initiative, AFL-CIO; and Jake Hummel, president, MO AFL-CIO.
“My Mom and Dad told me I could do one of three things,” Gaal said. “I was going into the military, a trade, or college. I was blessed to have done two of them. Who would have known that I was able to use the geometry and trig I learned in high school in the trades. It wasn’t until my apprenticeship that I was able to connect the dots.”
At a luncheon panel at the conference, the Missouri AFL-CIO presented a panel on skilled construction trades. Greta Bax, director of the Missouri Works initiative of AFL-CIO moderated the panel.
Panelists were:
- Alise Martiny — Secretary and Business Manager, Greater KC Building and Construction Trades Council
- Paul Smith — Vice President of Workforce, AGCMO
- Jordan Williams — Deputy Director and General Counsel, Missouri Community College Association
- Bob Kanatzar — Director of Training, MOKAN Iron Workers Local 10
Alise Martiny encouraged unions to go to owners and developers and stress the importance of recruiting diverse people into the industry. Bob Kanatzar said that mentoring of new employees — teaching them about what to do during downturns in activities.
Paul Smith said that one of the biggest problems is getting the information out to the right people. He told of the AGCMO website Missouri.BYF.com. Smith told about a series of career fairs that AGCMO is holding throughout the state. “When you work with the high school, especially the freshmen — have a chance to get them into the CTE program,” he said.
Williams said that the community colleges can serve as an entry point to apprenticeship. “People at the community college to walk you through the registered apprenticeship space. We’re a nimble, one-stop shop”.