Gordon Graham to Address Union Apprentices Oct. 7

In a year when "change" is the operative word in politics, a speech on "change within" will seek to capture the attention of more than 3,000 St. Louis union construction apprentices.

On Oct. 7 at the St. Charles Family Arena.  PRIDE of St. Louis, Inc., the region's construction labor-management organization, is bringing nationally known motivational speaker and change-agent Gordon Graham to St. Louis. Gordon will share his personal story of redemption to inspire the region's future workforce to reach its full potential.

His  presentation is entitled "Change is an Inside Job!"  Raised in an abusive environment, Graham turned to a life of crime, spending nearly 20 years in prison before finding the will to "change within" to find happiness, success and personal freedom.

"The message of Gordon Graham will jump-start careers by giving apprentices the right frame of mind to build integrity and accountability, empowering them to successfully advance their careers," said Jim LaMantia, executive director of PRIDE. "It will ultimately benefit the buyers of construction if the next generation of union construction worker is ready to serve in the most professional and productive manner."
Graham instills principles that are the very foundation of PRIDE, such as the need to work as a team and find common ground with management in a global economy to ensure jobs remain in the local community and are not shipped overseas.

Joining Graham at the Oct. 7 event will be Terence M. O'Sullivan, general president of the 500,000-member Laborers' International Union of North America, St. Charles Mayor Patti York, PRIDE Owner Co-chair Carol M. Schmidt, PRIDE Management Co-chair Jim Frey, PRIDE Labor Co-chair Jerry Feldhaus and PRIDE Executive Director Jim LaMantia.

Graham founded Bellevue, Wash.-based Gordon Graham & Co. in 1983 and today his motivational programs serves corporations, correctional facilities, social service agencies, labor-management groups and youth programs.  Among his clients are the Ford Motor Co., General Motors, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, Merck & Co., Federal Bureau of Prisons, United Auto Workers, International Association of Machinists and a number of municipal governments.  He is also an author of several books.

The Graham event is the second in as many years sponsored by PRIDE to motivate union construction apprentices.  Last year, it brought labor strategist Mark Breslin to St. Louis to address apprentices in a presentation called "Survival of the Fittest."

PRIDE, founded in 1972, is an acronym for Productivity and Responsibility Increase Development & Employment.  For more than 35 years, PRIDE has worked to maintain harmony and build cooperation among St. Louis area AFL-CIO construction craft workers, contractors, construction buyers, architects, engineers and suppliers.
 

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