MASCI Executive Board

LEE GRAHAM

President

Operating Engineers 324

Executive Director LMEC

Lee Graham is the Executive Director of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324 Labor Management Education Committee. Lee, a 29-year member, has served a variety of leadership positions during this time including Trustee (12 years) and Apprenticeship and Training Director (9 years) before his current role

Lee oversees and directs Operating Engineer 324’s considerable recruitment outreach, as well as many of their community improvement volunteer efforts. He has been a strong advocate for pre-apprenticeship programs and workforce development, with a particular focus on urban areas. He helps guide curriculum and projects for several programs. He is also a tireless advocate and subject matter expert for skilled trades apprenticeships adhering to the US Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship model and regulation.

In addition to his duties with OE324, Lee serves on many prominent boards in the industry, including as Chairman of the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc. (MASCI), on the Advisory Board for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT–OJT), Governor’s Talent Investment Board (GTIB), MI Stem Advisory Council, Michigan Urban Search and Rescue (MUSAR), Michigan Safety Conference and Southeast Michigan Workforce Development Boards, among several others.

STEVEN R. LONG

Vice President

UAW-General Motors Dept.

Apprenticeship - GMS Maintenance.

Steve served in the U.S. Air Force from 1989-93 as a Comm/Nav-Aircraft Guidance and Control Systems Technician on the F-4E/G and A-10 Tactical Fighter Aircraft. Following his enlistment Steve was able to apply the technical aspects of his military training and experience in order to transition into the UAW Skilled Trades arena as an Industrial Electrician. Steve Began his GM career with Chevrolet Gear and Axle-UAW Local 235 as a Journeyman Electrician in 1993 Steve relocated to GM Pontiac Truck Assembly-UAW Local 594 where he began to work in the delivery of training for electrical apprentices in body assembly, transitioning into the area of predictive maintenance technologies training. Steve serves the UAW membership in the General Motors Department. He has three grown children, all of whom are serving or have served in the U.S. Armed forces, but spends much of his free time in support of his wife Shelly of 29 years. Shelly is pastor of Richfield United Methodist Church near Davison MI.

HOWARD HIPES

Treasurer

Director of Training

Michigan Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Training Center

Mr. Hipes is the Apprenticeship & Training Coordinator for the Michigan Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Apprenticeship & Training Fund covering 79 counties in Michigan. He is responsible for the apprenticeship programs of multiple crafts, continuing education for journeyman, mentor coordination, recruitment, and course instruction. He is a Bricklayer and 29-year member of BAC Local 2. Formerly as a foreman, Mr. Hipes was responsible for the coordination of masonry construction on multi-million dollar masonry projects.

He is the Program Coordinator of Michigan Apprentice Readiness; a seven week program to prepare minorities & under-represented populations to apply to the MI Building & Construction Trades. He is a Board Member of the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee and Genesee Shiawassee Tuscola (GST) MiWorks! Workforce Development Board.

He is a graduate of the International Masonry Institute’s Instructor Certification Program and co-authored an article, Skilled Trades Mentoring, published in 2005 in The Benefits Digest of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP). He has been a presenter in several sessions on Best Practices in Recruitment & Retention for the IFEBP, State of Michigan Governors Conference & Apprenticeship Learning Network, and several workforce development workshops.

JANENE ERNE

Secretary

Workforce Intelligence Board

Region Apprenticeship Administrator

Janene Kelley Erne is a Regional Apprenticeship Administrator at the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN). In this role, Janene works with partners from across apprenticeship systems to grow apprenticeship opportunities in southeast Michigan. Janene has over 25 years of experience in career development and apprenticeship, and is passionate about connecting industry and individuals for these opportunities.

Janene recently retired from Oakland Community College as the college’s Director of Apprenticeship and Technical programs and has an in-depth working knowledge of the world of registered apprenticeship. Janene is Past President of the Michigan Educators’ Apprenticeship and Training Association (MEATA) and secretary for the Michigan Apprenticeship and Steering Committee Inc (MASCI). She is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator as well as a DOL/OA certified Youth Development Practitioner and holds a Master degree in Education from Marygrove College.

SCOTT McDONALD

Trustee

Director of Apprenticeship

Michigan Apprenticeship at Michigan Laborers Training and Apprenticeship Institute (MLATI)

Scott McDonald is the Director of Apprenticeship at Michigan Laborers Training and Apprenticeship Institute. Scott has held the position for over twenty-two years. Prior to his employment with MLTAI Scott spent twelve years performing a variety of duties as a Construction Craft Laborer. During that period Scott gained experience as a Concrete Laborer, Pipelayer, Asbestos Abatement Supervisor and a Mason Tender.

Scott coordinates training activities and monitors work hours for all of Michigan’s 2200+ Construction Craft Laborer Apprentices. Additionally, Scott attends numerous outreach activities to help fill the immediate need of construction contractors and to increase industry awareness in younger people who will enter the workforce at a future date. Scott McDonald works with veteran organizations, minority advocacy groups and reentering citizens to serve what are typically underserved members of society.

BARBARA STRACHAN, CIT

Trustee

Director of Workforce Development

Associated General Contractors of Michigan

Ms Strachan has spent over 35 years serving the construction community in Michigan. For the last 30 years she has worked at the AGC of Michigan as the Director of Workforce Development Services where she assists contractors in administering the jointly-managed apprenticeship training programs for the civil trades. Since the 1990’s, she has been a member of the Lansing Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc (MASCI) where she has served in many different leadership roles and facilitated several innovative programs to promote apprenticeship and affirmative action. Currently she is actively involved in the Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) apprentice readiness program. Ms Strachan received her degree from Michigan State University along with a secondary teaching certificate.

TOD SANDY

Trustee

State Director of Training

Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights JATF

Tod Sandy is the State Director of Training for the Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship and Training Fund. Representing the training needs for the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, Tod is actively engaged in optimizing training operations for Carpenters, Floor Layers and Millwrights. An Instructor and Coordinator for over 15 years, Tod has had the honor and privilege to open two of the Carpenters’ new training centers, and is currently working on the design of a new, state-of-the-art training facility in Detroit.