Todd Mitchell Is New Washington State Liaison
Journeyman is Former Marine
Governor Christine Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs have teamed up with the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, to provide an H2H Liaison position for the Helmets to Hardhats program. Washington State is one of several states to offer daily support and outreach in the form of a state funded H2H liaison to assist veterans and transitioning soldiers through direct entry agreements into state-approved apprenticeship construction programs.
Newly appointed H2H Liaison Todd Mitchell is a United State Marine Corps Veteran who served in
the Gulf War. Todd Mitchell has a solid foundation and understanding of the transitional trials and
tribulations returning soldiers and veterans face to regain their rightful place in our civilian
society. In addition to his military experience, Mr. Mitchell is also a journeyman member of the
Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 7.
Mr. Mitchell hopes to connect veterans with the programs that can assist them with their
transition. He has offices both in the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs and the Washington
State Building and Construction Trades Council. Mr. Mitchell believes that this two-pronged
approach will provide veterans with experts in every aspect of their transition.
Mr. Mitchell’s goals for the program include increasing contractor support and involving
defense contractors as partners in the Helmets to Hardhats Wounded Warrior program. Mr. Mitchell
also shares Governor Gregoire's goal of placing as many veterans in living wage positions as
possible. Mr. Mitchell mentioned that he's been able to meet with Governor Gregoire a few times in
his first week, "Every time, she's expressed her support and admiration at having this post finally
filled and getting veterans to work." Mr. Mitchell noted that even in a tough economy, construction
depends on growth. Mr. Mitchell stated "We are going to have an extremely large amount of
infrastructure growth here in Washington State which will allow our program, Helmets to Hardhats,
to expand."
Even in the absence of a formal state H2H Liaison, fifty-eight veterans used the national H2H
framework to begin their apprenticeship entry in Washington State in 2006. The recent appointment
of Todd Mitchell as the H2H Liaison will assist many more veterans to realize the benefits of time
tested and proven apprenticeship programs where apprentices earn wages, health care and benefits
while they learn to reach professional journey level status within their chosen building or
construction trade.
Secretary-Treasurer Sean McGarvey of the National Building and Construction Trades
Department, AFL-CIO, and national Helmets to Hardhats Executive Director Darrell Roberts joined
Governor Gregoire, Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs Director John Lee, and Dave
Johnson, Executive Secretary of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council,
AFL-CIO, in welcoming Todd Mitchell on his first day of duty as the H2H Liaison on October 21,
2008, at the VIP Career Fair at Pipe Trades Local 26 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee
Facility in Lacey, Washington.
Mr. Mitchell has spent his first days on the job getting up to speed and meeting members of
the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and the Washington State Building Trades. So
far, he says, everyone has been very welcoming. "The positive attitude behind the program makes me
believe that there should be nothing that will stand in our way as we continue down this path." If
you are interested in a construction career in Washington State, be sure to register at
www.helmetstohardhats.org.
