Testimonials for the Helmets to Hard Hats Program:

Interviews with Shelley Wilcoxson

Timothy Kirchner: Army Reserve, Member Millwright Local  #1051

Tim Kirchner is a 3rd Generation Millwright. Union Life set the groundwork for this man’s future. After leaving high school Tim worked and went to school for about 2 years, not really feeling that he was going anywhere. That is when he joined the Army Reserve in January 2006. Tim has been on standby for the last year to be deployed but has not been as of yet. He called Local #1051 the first of January 2008 about going into the apprentice program. Steve Heckwine, Business Representative, talked to him about the direct entry with the Helmets to Hard Hats Program. He was defiantly interested. 2 weeks later Mike Burse called him about a job opening with Kiewit Construction. They are one of the contractors installing the new Coal Powered Steam Turbine at Dolman Unit 4 at CWPL in Springfield. He started January 14. He is working under the direction of Tim Hughes, Forman for Keiwit Construction. The process was so fast. He loves his job! He likes the fact that he has lots of opportunity to work in different areas of the job to learn all aspects of the installation. Also likes the thought of not being in the same location for his entire 30 year career. In the Millwright profession you know that you have to go where the job is for as long as that job lasts. He knows he will be here in Springfield for a while yet. He feels that Military life and Union Millwright life are very similar. You have to be very flexible, hardworking and disciplined in both. He feels the company he works for recognizes that advantage. His company is very understanding and considerate of his obligation to the 2 years he has left in the Army Reserve. They are flexible with his schedule when he has weekend duty and also he knows that if he did get deployed that he would have a job to come back to. The Helmets to Hard Hats program was just the ticket for him to do something that he really loves and get paid while learning. He appreciates everything that Steve and Mike have done for him and feel that they are always there to answer any question that he has had. He is very impressed with the whole process. Tim is a very courteous and polite young man that I am sure will go far with his chosen career. Best wishes for your future.

Tim Hughes, Forman with Kiewit Construction, Member Millwright Local #1051 
Helmets to Hard Hats Program

Tim Hughes is a Forman with Kiewit Construction and also a member of Millwright Local #1051. Kiewit Construction is currently working on the Coal Powered Steam Turbine being installed in the Dolman Unit 4 at CWLP in Springfield. Tim Kirchner is a Helmets to Hard Hats participant and works on Tim Hughes’s crew. Tim Hughes is a strong promoter of the program. He also comes from a military background. He served in the Marines in the Mid 80’s and was stationed in Beirut during very unsettling times. After being honorably discharged from the Marines in the late 80’s he became a Union Millwright. He joined Local #417 in the St. Louis area. Feeling he had more opportunity working out of the Central Illinois area recently moved his membership to Local #1051 in Lincoln. Tim also comes from a union family. He has an Uncle that was a member of Local #602 in St. Louis for 62 years and lived to be 92 years of age. He is very excited about having Tim Kirchner on his crew. Tim’s work ethic and discipline are very apparent in his daily activities. “He is hard working and very eager to learn” says Hughes of Kirchner. The responsibility that you learn in the military follows you in to your career. Kirchner’s attitude and potential are unsurpassed. Hughes would love to have more Helmets to Hard Hats candidates just like Tim Kirchner. It has been a positive experience for both Kirchner and Hughes.

Nathan Richardson: Marine Reserve, Member Millwright Local #1051

Nathan Richardson knew that after high School that going on to school was not for him and with military service a family tradition in the Richardson family he knew what he needed to do. Nathan followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Marine Reserve in June of 2004 at the age of 17. Nathans younger brother has also joined the Marine Reserve. Nathans job with the Marines is called Combat Engineer. He is involved with all aspects of construction. He has also served 8 months in Iraq. During his time in Iraq he was on a Route Clearance Team. These teams go before the convoys to make sure there are no land mines en route. Upon his return home he wanted to find a good paying job. He said that there was brief mention of the Helmets to Hard Hats Program from different veterans groups but really not a lot of details. He decided to do his own research. After searching on the internet he found the Helmets to Hard Hats web site and seeing the different trades to choose from he did a little more research on “What is a Millwright”. After understanding more about what that job entails he applied online thru the Helmets to Hard Hats web site and few days later got a response back from Local #1051. Within about 6 weeks on December 4th 2007, he was working for Babcock & Wilcox Company. They are working at CWLP in Springfield installing coal grinders and pre-heaters. Nathan says that Steve Heckwine and Mike Burse, Business Representatives for Local #1051 have been extremely helpful in answering all of his questions. He feels very fortunate to be working with Bill McKinney, his forman, and Scott Jones, Union Steward, saying that both Bill and Scott have taught him a lot and are also very supportive of the program because they appreciate the work ethic and responsibility that these military personnel display. He loves the work and the diversity that comes with it. Nathan will be leaving the CWLP jobsite for a short period of time to work at the power plant in Coffeen and then will be back to finish the second phase of the job at CWLP. He knows his job is safe with the Millwright Union if he has to serve another deployment as he has until 2010 in the Marine Reserves. He is a huge promoter of this program trying to get other fellow military interested in it. So far he knows one person that is taking advantage of it and maybe a few others in the near future. In his personal time he enjoys camping, fishing and his jet ski. Best wishes for your future Nathan. I know you will do well.

 Click on this Link for more Information

http://info.helmetstohardhats.org/content/trade-unions/carpenters-joiners