2023 Success Stories
2023 was a great year for the IKORCC and its members. We saw record growth and productivity from the council – and we wanted to take some time and highlight how the organization has helped individual members throughout their journeys as UNION Carpenters…
Logan Beers
Logan Beers, a Local 301 member, credits the times he would help his grandfather on his farm growing up for his aptitude for carpentry. He decided to attend Central Nine Career Center in Indiana – where he would encounter the IKORCC for the first time. He remembers the day that Business Representatives came into his class to discuss the benefits of joining the union, as well as how to go about joining.
Logan had a decision to make – does he go to college for construction management first, then join the union? Does he go directly into the union? COVID hit and he decided he didn’t want to spend four years sitting in a dorm room behind a computer all day, every day. So, he began his journey into the IKORCC.
From working in the Pacers locker room and training facilities to working on Targets and TJ Maxx’s across state lines, Beers praises the opportunities the IKORCC has presented him with.
“This is a great opportunity,” Beers said, “I always thought about where I’m going to be in 30 years and ready to retire – I didn’t want to have zero options by the time I’m finished.”
Samuel Salgado
Samuel Salgado found himself as a part of a tank crew at Fort Knox outside Louisville, Kentucky – there, he was introduced to a friend who had a relative go through the apprenticeship at IKORCC after the military. Samuel decided to talk to a Business Representative to see what the union had to offer – specifically for veterans. That’s when he was told about Helmets to Hardhats, what they do for veterans, and how he can get involved. He didn’t waste any time filling out his application and getting enrolled in the apprenticeship from there.
“Being in the Brotherhood, I feel like it goes hand in hand with being in the military. If there’s something that you can do to make the next person’s job easier, you do that.” Salgado mentioned that you want to take care of your fellow brothers when you’re out on a job site. That sense of belonging is what makes Helmets to Hardhats a good transition tool for anyone coming out of active duty.
“It takes a tremendous amount of courage, hard work, and perseverance to complete an enlistment in the military. Then, to exit – to learn a new way of life – to be a civilian again? It’s even harder,” Marcos Martinez, Senior Representative and Local 301 member said about the adjustments veterans must make. With the IKORCC, someone always has your back.
Francisco Gonzalez
After moving from Venezuela to the U.S., Francisco Gonzalez got into construction with his cousin while in college. “My cousin was a smart guy,” he says, “I am grateful to have been able to learn everything that I did.” Francisco has reflected on how many doors his knowledge and experience have opened for him. For the next portion of his life, he would go on to work as a subcontractor, stating there were ups and downs with that. IKORCC reps stopped at his job site to talk with his crew.
“For me, hearing about the union benefits, it was a no-brainer being in a new country with a family and no support,” he said about the first time he heard about the IKORCC.
The Brotherhood gave Gonzalez peace of mind. Before the IKORCC, there was too much instability – with the union, he was guaranteed health coverage, great pay, and preparation for retirement. “The best decision I ever made” is how Francisco describes coming into the organization.
Now, he gets to pay that forward. Now as a business representative, his primary role is to organize and connect with people. Sharing his journey, he finds, is a great starting point. Being a mentor and guide creates an even more profound impact for him. That’s what it’s all about – forging connections, exchanging experiences, and becoming the reliable support that our members can depend on.
