Meet Tim

As Minnesotans celebrate the newly renovated Capitol, Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota (GESMN) celebrates former participants who worked on the historic project. One of these participants is Tim, a GESMN Construction Training graduate and Re-Entry Program participant.

Tim needed to brush up on his construction skills, but also needed a steady paycheck and assistance getting his driver's license. That’s where GESMN came in. Tim split his time between the 12-week Construction Training Program, working in the Goodwill Outlet and meeting with a case manager.

Tom Kennedy led Tim’s class and remembers Tim as a hardworking and outgoing participant. “Tim was great to have in class because he understood the importance of attendance and punctuality and took on a leadership role among his peers,” Tom says.

Tim’s case manager helped secure grants to pay for driver’s education classes and license fees, and it wasn’t long after graduating from the construction program that he landed a job with JE Dunn, the lead contractor for the Capitol restoration project.

Tim worked on every level of the Capitol, from restoring intricate gold-leaf trim to meticulously installing mahogany doors. “It was an honor working in the Capitol,” Tim says. “Thanks to Goodwill, I was able to refresh my skills and get back in the union hall.”

So, when you visit the Capitol and gaze in awe at the incredible restoration, think of Tim and the GESMN participants who also restored their lives with the power of work.