April 7, 2014
By Stephanie West
Washington, DC – Mark A. Coles, a Washington DC native, has been tapped to become the Executive Director of CHOICE – Community Hub for Opportunities in Construction Employment, a new building trades initiative that will serve the greater Baltimore and Washington, DC markets.
A Marine Corps veteran and a member of Ironworkers Local 5 in Washington, DC, Coles has held leadership positions that include Business Agent for Local 5, as well as the Business and Legislative Representative for the former Washington, DC Building and Construction Trades Council. Mark successfully led efforts that resulted in approval of legislation and initiatives designed to create significant job-creating prospects for local residents, including the campaign that resulted in the approval of the construction of MGM National Harbor in Prince George's County.
"We are excited to announce that Mark Coles will be taking the helm of CHOICE, and will be leading our efforts to work in conjunction with businesses, developers, lawmakers and community leaders to develop sensible economic development policies that also produce opportunities for people throughout the greater Baltimore and Washington, DC region to obtain the skills and training that will put them on a path to the middle class," said Sean McGarvey, President of North America's Building Trades Unions. "Mark's background as a union leader, legislative strategist and community advocate will be extremely valuable to these efforts."
"I am honored to be given the responsibility of building the coalitions and relationships in this region that will ensure further economic growth and prosperity," said Coles,
