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.

Rita Brown brings 30 years of experience, as a structural/misc. steel detailer and construction-related small business owner. Her experience was earned through boots on the ground hands-on work punctuated by management and education initiatives; the construction industry has provided a strong path to professional success and her work continues to influence the process and priority of an evolving industry landscape.

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Brown serves as a State of MI, Transportation Commissioner and owns her own consulting and services company which includes detailing, industry business consulting and commercial/industrial energy and EV installation services.

In a volunteer capacity, Ms. Brown currently serves as NOW State of Michigan President [National Organization for Women], is a founding member of North American Professionals in Building and Infrastructure, serves as National Director for Project Accelerate [Women’s Career Development and Exposure], served as the AGC National D&I National Chairwoman [Assoc. Of General Contractors]; she is a former AGC MI Board member and current DEI MI AGC and AGC National Specialty Subcontractors Committee member. She serves as Vice President for MASCI, a registered apprenticeship collaborative in the state of MI, and is a member of GLFEA [Great Lakes Fabricator and Erectors Association], NAWIC, NABWIC and a number of industry organizations. She also serves on Lawrence Technological University’s STEM Advisory Board and Wayne State University Susan Harwood and CET Work Zone Safety Training Grants Advisory Committee

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.

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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. 

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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.