Construction Industry Represented on Trump’s Apprenticeship Task Force
Michael Bellaman, President and CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors
Following President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced members of the President’s Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion. The Task Force—representing companies, trade and industry groups, educational institutions, and labor unions—brings to the table substantial workforce development experience in addressing the nation’s skills gap.
“Expanding apprenticeships will help Americans learn the skills they need to fill jobs that are open right now and in the future. I am pleased to see business leaders, unions, educational institutions, and industry groups come together to help the American worker,” said Secretary Acosta.
The Task Force includes several members representing the construction industry. These include: Michael Bellaman, President and CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors; Douglas J. McCarron, General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; Sean McGarvey, President, North America’s Building Trades Unions; and Joseph Sellers Jr., General President, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.
“I am excited to join Secretary Acosta’s task force to expand opportunities to citizens nationwide who want to live the American Dream while helping to build and rebuild our country,” said Bellaman. “As the president promised in his election night acceptance speech, every single American will have the opportunity to realize his or her fullest potential under his administration. That sentiment will drive this task force as we work to promote affordable education and rewarding jobs for all Americans.”
While Bellaman leads ABC on a national level, the ABC of the Carolinas offers various apprenticeship programs throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.
“Apprenticeship is the ‘other 4-year degree’ teaching Americans how to work with their hands to build their communities in which we work, live and play,” said Doug Carlson, ABC of the Carolinas President & CEO. “There is tremendous opportunity for a successful career in our industry and ABC is at the forefront of training Americas workforce.
To help more Americans obtain relevant skills and family-sustaining jobs, President Trump issued an Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America. Apprenticeships provide paid, relevant workplace experiences and opportunities to develop skills that job creators demand. Hundreds of companies—big and small, across industries—have shown an interest in apprenticeships since President Trump signed his Executive Order.
Acosta added, “The members of the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion will provide varied perspectives that will help guide the Administration’s strategy on growing apprenticeship programs nationwide. I am grateful for their participation in this important effort.”
The President’s Executive Order called for the Secretary of Labor to establish a Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion. The mission of the Task Force is to identify strategies and proposals to promote apprenticeships, especially in sectors where apprenticeship programs are insufficient.
Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion Members:
-Chair – Secretary Alexander Acosta, U.S. Department of Labor
-Vice-Chair – Secretary Betsy DeVos, U.S. Department of Education
-Vice-Chair – Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Department of Commerce
-Michael Bellaman, President and CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors
-Joshua Bolten, President and CEO, Business Roundtable
-Walter Bumphus, President and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges
-Wesley Bush, Chairman, CEO and President, Northrup Grumman
-The Honorable Dennis Daugaard, Governor, South Dakota
-Emily Stover DeRocco, Founder & CEO, E3 Engage Educate Employ
-Cari Dominguez, Director, Manpower Inc.
-Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
-Montez King, Executive Director, National Institute for Metalworking Skills
-Andrew Liveris, Chairman and CEO, Dow Chemical Company
-Katherine Lugar, President and CEO, American Hotel and Lodging Association
-Douglas J. McCarron, General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
-Sean McGarvey, President, North America’s Building Trades Unions
-Marc H. Morial, CEO, National Urban League
-John Ratzenberger, workforce training advocate
-The Honorable Kim Reynolds, Governor, Iowa
-Mark B. Rosenberg, Board of Directors, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities
-Joseph Sellers Jr., General President, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers
-Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO, National Restaurant Association
-Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers
