Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) has appointed Tom Ensminger, Vice President of Labor Relations for Day & Zimmermann’s Maintenance and Construction division, to its Board of Trustees. Ensminger brings a long history advancing careers in the building trades and advocating for the support systems skilled craft professionals deserve.
“Over many years that Tom and I have worked closely with one another, he has shown time and again his deep commitment to the hardworking men and women in America’s construction workforce,” said Brandon Bishop, Treasurer of Helmets to Hardhats and Secretary-Treasurer of North America’s Building Trades Unions. “Tom is a solution-oriented, natural-born leader who knows what it takes to create viable, family-sustaining careers. We are honored to have him join the Helmets to Hardhats Board of Trustees, where he will have a direct impact on easing the transition back into civilian life for our nation’s heroes.”
“Tom’s advocacy for the union construction sector and the men and women who serve this country is inspiring and exactly what we are looking for in a Helmets to Hardhats Board of Trustees member,” said Martin Helms, Helmets to Hardhats Executive Director. “His potential to excel on our board is undeniable, and I am confident that he will propel Helmets to Hardhats to the next level in our mission.”
H2H connects transitioning active-duty military service members, veterans, National Guard and Reservists with skilled training and quality career opportunities in the construction industry.
The nonprofit was created by the Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment and Veterans Employment, a joint labor management committee created by North America’s Building Trades Unions and various employer associations.
“Without a doubt, Tom’s deep industry relationships, extensive labor relations expertise, and unwavering commitment to the building trades will be a tremendous asset to Hardhats to Helmets and the military heroes the organization serves,” said Jason Dunaway, Executive Vice President, Operations, for D&Z Maintenance and Construction. “Day & Zimmermann is proud of Tom’s leadership and dedication to ensuring the construction industry skilled workforce remains strong and well-positioned for the future.”
As Maintenance and Construction’s Vice President of Labor Relations since 2015, Ensminger has worked tirelessly at the regional and national level with union managers and national leaders to promote labor availability and skills growth. He is heavily involved with the committees that administer the national agreements in Washington, D.C., giving D&Z the knowledge and experience necessary to properly administer agreements at the local level for customers. Ensminger holds several labor relations positions, including the following:
- President, Associated Maintenance and Contractors (AMC); General Presidents' Project Maintenance Agreement (GPPMA) Committee
- President of the Instrument Contracting and Engineering Association (ICEA) “Instrumentation” Agreement
- Board of Directors, National Association of Construction Boilermaker Employers (NACBE)
- Board of Directors, Trades Futures
- National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee (NMAPC) Labor Management Committee
- Management Board Member, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) Training Certification Board
- Appointed Trustee, Nuclear Power Labor Management Cooperation Committee (LMCC) Trust
- GPPMA Management Trustee
- Trustee, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Laborers Health & Safety
- Management Co-chair, Southern Company Maintenance Modification Agreement (SCMMA) Nuclear Committee
- Southern Company Labor Management Cooperation Committee, SCMMA
- Appointee, American Association for Suicide Prevention Construction Working Group
- Grievance Committee NMAPC
In April 2024, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) invited Ensminger to speak at its Project Labor Agreements Roundtable for a discussion on the Project Labor Agreement Federal Acquisition Regulation as related to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Other attendees at the Roundtable included Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, General Services Administration Administrator Carnahan, OMB Deputy Director for Management Jason Miller, and other senior Biden-Harris Administration leaders.
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D&Z’s Maintenance and Construction division helps customers in the power, renewables, and industrial markets focus on doing their best work better by delivering safe, first-time quality maintenance, construction, engineering, and technical services. In addition to our long-standing, proven Maintenance & Modification (M&M) capabilities, we offer a suite of multidiscipline engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to support large-scale, design-build projects. Plus, as a leading craft employer D&Z proudly provides long, meaningful careers to skilled craft professionals who build our future.