Earlier this week, members of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Veterans’ Assistance Program (IUEC-VAP) were in Washington, DC, to participate in a Task Force Movement (TFM) Partners Meeting at the 65^th American Legion Washington Conference.

 

Featured speakers included Frank Christensen, IUEC General President; James A. LaCoursiere Jr., National Commander of the American Legion; and Kris Rick, Director of the Office of Strategic Outreach from the Department of Labor Veterans Employment & Training Service (VETS). There were also panel discussions on Union Veterans & Skilled Trades, the collaboration between the American Legion & IUEC VAP Claims & Disabilities Support, and Cybersecurity, along with updates on the work of the TFM. The event was moderated by Elizabeth Belcaster, Executive Director of the Task Force Movement and Workforce Development and Public Affairs Specialist for the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund.

Participating in panel discussions were Jason Gray, IUEC-VAP National Chairman; Ryan Donnell, IUEC-VAP National Co-Chairman; Ben Valinsky, IUEC-VAP National Director of Programs and Education, and Jeff Handibode (online), IUEC-VAP National Claims & Disabilities Liaison; along with Martin Helms, Executive Director of Helmets to Hardhats; Will Attig, Executive Director of the Union Veterans Council (AFL-CIO), George Chewning, Senior Advisor, Union Veterans Council; Col. (Ret) Sam Whitehurst, Vice President of the Dixon Center for Military & Veterans Services; Esmeralda Silva, Title IX Coordinator and Vice President for Student Affairs at Alliant International University; and Chris Etesse, CEO of Fusion Cyber.

While in DC, IUEC-VAP staff visited with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (Illinois 3rd district) and attended a Joint House and Senate Veterans’ Service Organization (VSO) Hearing of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs featuring presentations by the American Legion & Multi VSOs (MVA, JWV, NACVSO, MOAA, NASDVA, IVMF, WWP).

To watch a video of the congressional hearing on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs website, visit https://veterans.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=6649