New Helmets to Hardhats Executive to Lead Construction Pathway Program for Military Servicemembers, Veterans

North America’s Building Trades Unions and its signatory contractor associations who operate the Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment and Veterans Employment have selected Martin Helms as executive director of the Helmets to Hardhats program.

Helms joins Helmets to Hardhats from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, where he served as training director in Akron, Ohio. As a successful Helmets to Hardhats participant, Helms has a passion for the program’s mission and a personal understanding of the career pathways that H2H provides. With over 10 years of joint labor-management apprenticeship leadership and a respected military history as an Army Engineer Warrant Officer and current Reserve officer, he brings strong training, management, military and recruitment experience that the program needs. He also has a true appreciation for the unique challenges faced by those transitioning from a military to civilian career.

“H2H means more to me than most,” Helms said. “After deployment, I was struggling to further my career, financially struggling with my young family and not enjoying my military occupation. The day I heard about Helmets to Hardhats changed my life and, since then, I am financially sound with an awesome family and have been helping to change more lives directing the training at the same JATC, which uplifted mine. I look forward to continuing to transform even more lives, using my skills from the trades and in uniform and continuing to give back to this great industry and country.”

Helms’ hiring comes as the Helmets to Hardhats program implements a plan of strategic growth in programs, development and outreach and furthering the successes of almost 50,000 known successful transitions into Registered Apprenticeship programs. Helms will begin his tenure with Helmets to Hardhats on Oct. 4.