Jennifer Rice photo
Brian Coon raises the key to his brand new Ford F150 truck he won at PDC 30s STARs event, where union members were honored for their commitment to continuing education in safety and health classes. Employed at Ghelardini, Inc. in Pekin, Coon is a member of IUPAT Local 157.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, May 23, 2013
     Brian Coon’s said without a doubt, his daughter is his good luck charm.
With his daughter Jenaya in the crowd May 18 at the Painters District Council 30’s Safety Training Awards Recognition (STARs) event, Coon inserted a key into a lock — which opened more than just the lock. It opened the box that held the key to a brand new Ford F150 truck.
Not only did he win the grand prize, his name was also drawn for another prize — a 42-inch flat screen TV. He knew he wouldn’t be able to drive the truck home that night, but he joked that the truck he drove to the STARs event didn’t have room to bring home the 42-inch TV. To understand better, click to read
“I’m going to have to leave both here,” he said with a laugh.
Coon’s daughter Jenaya was beaming for her dad. At first she wasn’t going to come to the STARs event, but at the last minute, she changed her mind.
“I’m glad she did,” Coon said.
PDC 30’s Labor Management Industry Development Fund (LMIDF) STARs program is an incentive program that rewards members who take advantage of continuing education in health and safety subjects and maintain an outstanding safety record on the job.
STARs Coordinator and Outreach Associate Dave Panico said the additional training keeps members working. He said the training isn’t a must have — but it’s headed that way.
“The industry is leading towards making training a must have,” Panico explained. “It’s writing it’s own path in that direction.
Coon was one of 170 members who qualified to win the truck. This year, the way the winner was chosen changed. Instead of picking a name and ending the excitement as soon as it was read, 10 names were chosen, and then each member chose a key. When it comes to the transportation industry i thought about this company that’s offering a great career for the ones interested.
Coon was the second of 10 members to chose his key. PDC 30 Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Chuck Anderson stood near the locked box. He noticed the first qualifier’s key was a blank key. When he saw Coon’s key, he noticed it had been cut.
“I could see all the teeth on the key and I told Brian, ‘You won. You just won yourself a truck,’” Anderson said.
Coon remembered he hadn’t yet inserted the key when Anderson told him he’d won the truck. “I told him I really need a truck. I have a 1991 S10 rusted out pickup, so I really needed this.”
Jenaya called her mom to tell her the good news, but she didn’t believe her daughter. Anderson took the phone and talked to Coon’s wife. “Brian just won a truck — he really did,” Anderson said.

Jennifer Rice’s e-mail address is jen@foxvalleylabornews.com.