Chairman of the Board, Ullico Inc. President Emeritus, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
Joseph “Joe” Hunt was elected Chairman of the Ullico Board of Directors in August 2006 and has served on the Board since 2003. He is also President Emeritus of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, having served as the organization’s President from 2001 until 2011.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Hunt was an Executive Board Member of the Metal Trades Department, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. He has also been a member of the Governing Board of Presidents of the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department.
Additionally, Mr. Hunt was an Executive Board Member of the Maritime Trades Department and a Vice President of the AFL-CIO. He was President of the Iron Workers District Council of St. Louis. Earlier, he was a general organizer assigned to International Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
He was also a board member of the Maria Droste Home, a trustee of the Arch Mutual Fund and a board member of Firmco. He was appointed to both PRIDE (a St. Louis labor/management coalition) and the Missouri Atomic Energy Commission. While in St. Louis, he was an Executive Board Member of the St. Louis Ambassadors and a commissioner of Lambert St. Louis International Airport.
A native of St. Louis, Mr. Hunt is a third-generation ironworker. His father and grandfather both held offices in Iron Workers Local 396 in St. Louis. Like his father and grandfather before him, Mr. Hunt held numerous positions in Local 396, including Business Manager.
Mr. Hunt is a1987 graduate of the Harvard University Trade Union Program. He and his wife, Jan, have four children, including their son, Joe who is a fourth generation member of Local 396, and nine grandchildren.
Secretary-Treasurer, Ullico Inc. President, North America's Building Trades Unions
Sean McGarvey was elected President by the BCTD's Governing Board of Presidents on April 16, 2012. In 2005 he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the BCTD and was re-elected to another 5 year term in August 2010. Mr. McGarvey was appointed a general president's representative for the IUPAT, and then Assistant to the General President. In 2000 Sean was elected general vice president at large and in May 2002 he was appointed government affairs director for the IUPAT.
He currently serves on the National Alliance for Fair Contracting, Inc. Board of Directors, the Bipartisan Policy Center National Transportation Policy Project and the US Maglev Coalition Board. In addition he is the Treasurer of The Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment, and Veterans Employment which operates Helmets to Hardhats and he also serves as trustee on numerous other labor management committees.
Mr. McGarvey attended the St. Joseph's University of Philadelphia Labor Relations program; Harvard University's Trade Union Program and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the National Labor College.
Chairman of the Board of Directors Emeritus, Congressional Bank
Stuart Marshall Bloch was a Founding and Managing Partner of Ingersoll and Bloch, chartered, from 1972 until its merger with Holland & Knight, LLP in 1998. He currently serves the firm as "of counsel."
Well-known throughout the real estate sector, Mr. Bloch is the author and editor-in-chief of more than 25 books and treatises and has lectured on real estate lending topics since 1972. He is the founding co-chair of the University of Miami Presidents Council and created the university’s Distinguished Alumni Endowment Fund. Additionally, he co-founded the F.Y. Chang Fellows program at Harvard Law School.
Mr. Bloch earned his L.L.B., with honors, from Harvard University Law School in 1967, where he was the Founding Editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. He is a 1964 graduate of the University of Miami, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors. From 1967-1968, Mr. Bloch served in Vietnam with the International Voluntary Services.
Mr. Bloch is married to the Honorable Julia Chang Bloch, the former U.S. Ambassador to Nepal.
President, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
A member of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers for more than 30 years, James Boland was elected the union's President in February 2010. He had previously served as BAC's Secretary-Treasurer, a position to which he was elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2005.
Additionally, Mr. Boland, a member of the Executive Board since 1995, served first as an Executive Vice President until June 1999. After joining BAC in 1977, Mr. Boland spent the next decade working on commercial projects in the San Francisco Bay area in brick, block, stone, and marble. He became Business Agent in 1988 and then President of BAC Local 3 California in 1992. A year later, he was appointed to serve as a member of the International union’s highest advisory body, the BAC Executive Council.
In 1994, Mr. Boland was named to the International’s headquarters staff as Assistant to the Vice President for Operations overseeing trade jurisdiction matters. Later that same year Mr. Boland was asked to take on the added field responsibilities of BAC Regional Director for California and Nevada, a position he maintained until his election to the Executive Board in 1995.
In addition to his Executive Board responsibilities, Mr. Boland serves as Co-Chair of the International Masonry Institute (IMI), the training and industry development arm of the organized masonry industry, the International Trowel Trades Pension Fund (IPF), the International Health Fund (IHF), and Co-Chair of the BAC Canadian Congress.
Mr. Boland is a Vice President of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, and serves on four AFL-CIO Committees: International Affairs, Legislation /Policy, Political, and Immigration.
He studied at Ireland's University College Dublin and graduated from the Harvard Trade Union Program in 1996.
General President, IUOE
James T. Callahan was elected general president of the International Union of Operating Engineers in 2011. Callahan previously served as IUOE General Secretary-Treasurer and was elected International Vice President in 2008.
He also serves on the Executive Board of the New York City Central Labor Council and the New York State AFL-CIO. He is a member of the board of governors of the New York Building Foundation and sits on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Blue Ribbon Commission.
A member of Local 15 in New York City since 1979, Callahan was one of the many operating engineers who responded immediately to the September 11 tragedy and worked the entire recovery effort at Ground Zero.
Former Missouri Secretary of State
Ms. Carnahan has served as the director of the State and Local Government Practice at 18F since 2015. 18F is an office within the General Services Administration of the US government that helps government agencies save money and improve service delivery by modernizing their technology and business practices. Ms. Carnahan has also served as Senior Advisor at the Albright Stonebridge Group since 2013. Ms. Carnahan also served as Missouri Secretary of State for eight years. Prior to that she practiced law, founded a trade consulting firm and served as an executive at the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
As Secretary of State, she gained national recognition as the state's securities regulator during the 2008 financial crisis when she negotiated record settlements on behalf of investors in a number of high-profile cases, including a national settlement in August 2008 in which over 40,000 investors gained access to nearly $9 billion in previously frozen assets. Carnahan's tenure also focused on improving customer service to the public by transforming internal operations and integrating new technology platforms for the first time. Her lifelong passion for improving how people experience their government led to being named one of FedScoop's Top Women in Tech in 2017.
Ms. Carnahan continues to advise a number of civic technology companies and serves on several boards, including the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, which provides global support for democratic institutions, citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. She also serves on the Board of the LaunchCode Foundation, which provides training and apprenticeships for nontraditionally credentialed tech talent.
Ms. Carnahan also serves on the Democracy Fund's National Advisory Committee, is a Senior Fellow at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Service, and was a 2013 Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Politics. She was named one of FedScoop's Top Women in Tech in 2017. Ms. Carnahan received her Bachelor's degree in Economics from William Jewell College and Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.
International Secretary-Treasurer
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Kenneth W. Cooper resides in Clarksburg, Maryland with his wife, Gina. Together they have raised 3 beautiful daughters and 2 amazing sons.
In May 2017, International President Lonnie R. Stephenson asked Kenny to join him as International Secretary-Treasurer and serve the IBEW as his partner leading the IBEW.
He began his career in 1985 at Local Union 688 in Mansfield, Ohio where he served a four-year apprenticeship to become a Journeyman Wireman. He served many roles at his local union including Steward, Vice President, President, Chairman Trustee for the Pension Fund, Chairman Trustee for the Annuity and Chairman of Trustees for the Health and Welfare Fund. In 1993 he was elected Business Manager.
Under his leadership the local prospered; market share for construction grew and organizing increased.
He also stayed active in his community. Taking on community roles such as Vice President of the Richland County AFL-CIO, Co-Chairman of the Richland County Building Trades, board member for the American Red Cross, United Way, Catholic Charities and Richland County Woman's Shelter.
In 2002, Cooper relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, working for Local Union 396 as the Assistant Business Manager. While there he was instrumental in organizing five new units of workers at Nevada Power Company.
In 2006 IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill recognized his leadership skills when he asked him to serve as an International Representative for the 4th District of the IBEW.
In May 2011, Brother Cooper's hard work and dedication to the IBEW was once again recognized when President Hill recommended to the International Executive Council that Brother Cooper be appointed as the International Vice President for the Fourth District.
He was elected in September 2011 by the delegates at the 38th International Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia and re-elected in 2016 at the 39th International Convention in St. Louis, Missouri
.Most recently, through his persistence and leadership, the IBEW celebrated one of the biggest organizing wins in our 125-year history when 1418 Baltimore Gas and Electric Employees voted to be represented by our great brotherhood.
Former Congressman, Illinois 12th Congressional District
The Honorable Jerry F. Costello served in the U.S. House of Representatives for almost 25 years representing Illinois’ 12th district until his retirement in January, 2013. Costello began his career in elected office when he was elected Chairman of the St. Clair County Board, one of the largest counties in Illinois.
Costello served as a senior Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as well as the Science, Space and Technology Committee, playing a major role in writing several major pieces of legislation focusing on improving the transportation infrastructure of the nation as well as research and development on renewable energies.
Costello served as both the Ranking Member and Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee. In 2010, after the Colgan crash in Buffalo, NY killing 49 people, he wrote and helped pass the strongest aviation pilot safety and training bill in over 50 years. He also served on the Railroad Subcommittee and Water Resources and Environmental Subcommittee. On the Science, Space and Technology Committee, Costello served as the Ranking Member of the Energy Subcommittee as well as the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee.
While serving in the House, Costello was know as the “go to member” on transportation issues. He was also known as a strong voice for labor and working men and women.
In January, 2013, Costello formed and became President and CEO of The Jerry Costello Group, LLC. The Group provides services and advocacy for government agencies, trade associations and businesses seeking knowledge, assistance and results to achieve their goals.
Congressman Costello received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and the Administration of Justice from Maryville University in St. Louis. He also holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from Maryville University and McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois.
Vice President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Eastern Region
Daniel J. Kane has been a member of the Teamsters (I.B.T.) for more than 45 years and has served at all levels of elected office within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Currently, he serves as Vice President of the union’s Eastern Region and has been the President of the Teamsters Local 111 since 1971.
Previously, Mr. Kane served as a member of the Teamsters Joint Council 16 Executive Board and headed the I.B.T. Communications Trades Conference. He was also a former Chairman of the Board of the Labor Research Association as well as the former Vice President of the New York State AFL-CIO.
Mr. Kane continues to be an active member of the New York City union community. He currently serves as a delegate to the New York City Central Labor Council and is a founding member and Secretary-Treasurer of the Irish American Labor Coalition.
President and Managing Member, Acropolis Investment Management, LLC
With 30 years of experience in the banking and money management businesses, Mr. Lissner is one of the founding partners of Acropolis Investment Management, LLC, the origins of which he started in 1999. He is a long-time resident of St. Louis and served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Mark Twain Banks Capital Markets Group from 1984-1998. He began his career with Bear Stearns & Company in 1980, working on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Mr. Lissner brings experience evaluating and implementing investment strategies to bear for a variety of organizations and situations. His expertise includes asset/liability analysis; asset allocation; individual security analysis including domestic, global and preferred stock analysis; and the analysis of structure, including mortgages, agencies, treasuries, corporates, municipals, money markets, asset-backed swaps, futures and options. Recognized as a knowledgeable student of the markets and economy, Mr. Lissner prepares and presents market and economic symposiums for various organizations.
He is active in the community and has served on numerous boards for both non-profit and corporate organizations. He is currently serving as Treasurer and Board Member of The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis.
Mr. Lissner received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 1980 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has successfully completed the NASD Series 7, 24, 53, 63 and 65 securities license exams.
President Emeritus, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
Edward J. McElroy, a life-long educator and Labor leader, served as Chief Executive Officer of Ullico Inc. for 19 months until December 2010. Having also been a Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee for more than five years, Mr. McElroy provided perceptive vision, strategic positioning and financial management for Ullico.
Mr. McElroy is also President Emeritus of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, having served as its president from 2004 to 2008.
After beginning his career as a teacher in Warwick, Rhode Island, Mr. McElroy became president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers (AFT) at the age of 30. Throughout his years at the international union, Mr. McElroy led efforts to strengthen financial accountability requirements and was instrumental in AFT initiatives to harness technology in order to support, inform and mobilize union members.
Mr. McElroy currently serves on the Board of Directors of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, Council on Competitiveness, Education International, ThanksUSA, and the National Endowment for Democracy.
A graduate of Providence College, Mr. McElroy resides in Washington, D.C. and is married to Edwina B. Ricci. McElroy and his wife have four children – Kathy, Mary, Steven and Elizabeth, and four grandchildren— Kyle, Evan, Chloe and the late Noah Jordan.
General President, United Association
In August 2016, Mark McManus was unanimously elected General President of the United Association (UA) at the UA's 39th General Convention and on November 10, 2016, he assumed his new position leading the nation's most progressive and influential trade union.
Mark began his career with the UA in 1983 when he was initiated into Plumbers Local 24 in Newark, New Jersey. He was elected Business Agent in 1994 and Business Manager in 1997. His talents and leadership brought him to the United Association General Office in 2007 where he has served as International Representative and Administrative Assistant to the General President. He most recently served a five-year term as General Secretary-Treasurer.
As General President Mark McManus is responsible for supervising the day-to-day affairs of the United Association and for decisions concerning internal union governance, as well as rendering decisions and adjusting disputes and other matters affecting the organization. He is the Chairman of the UA General Executive Board, UA Strategic Planning Committee and is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees on multiple UA pension Funds. Mark McManus supervises the development and implementation of all major policies and programs of the United Association including the industry leading UA Veterans in Piping®(VIP) Program.
In addition, he serves as Vice President of the Executive Council of the Metal Trades Department and is a member of the Building Trades' Governing Board of Presidents and serves on the Board of Directors of Helmets to Hardhats.
Mark McManus has had a distinguished career in support of our nation's hard working men and women and is unwavering in his commitment to a strong and mutually beneficial partnership between labor and management.
General President, Laborers' International Union of North America
Terence M. "Terry" O'Sullivan is General President of the 840,000-member Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA). He previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ullico Inc. from May 2003 until August 2006. Mr. O'Sullivan is widely credited with the operational, financial and governance turnaround that restored Ullico to growth and profit.
To strengthen Ullico's finances, Mr. O'Sullivan streamlined company operations and drove a revenue recovery program that led to the company's return to profit. He was also a key voice in the company's decision to adopt the principles and standards of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, even though as a private company, Ullico is not subject to the regulations applied to public corporations.
Elected as General President of the Laborers’ Union in 2000, Mr. O'Sullivan led LiUNA to the forefront of the union movement, reshaping it into one of the most active, aggressive and progressive affiliates in North America. He previously served as Vice President and Regional Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Laborers' Union and as the Union's Chief of Staff and Assistant to the General President.
A long-time, vocal supporter and activist for Sinn Fein to secure peace, justice and a united Ireland, Mr. O’Sullivan is Executive Vice President of D.C. Friends of Ireland and President of New York Friends of Ireland.
A proud native of San Francisco, he joined LiUNA in 1974 and is a member of Local 1353 in Charleston, West Virginia.
General President, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Mr. Rigmaiden was unanimously elected to the office of General President by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades General Executive Board in March 2013. Prior to his election, Mr. Rigmaiden served as Executive General Vice President of IUPAT, acting as general administrator of affairs and assigned tasks to board members and staff. Furthermore, he coordinated national union meetings, conferences and the general president's schedule.
Mr. Rigmaiden serves as a Co-Chair of the Finishing Trades Institute, Co-Secretary of the Labor Management Cooperation Initiative and is a trustee of the IUPAT International Pension Fund and the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of several AFL-CIO constituency and allied groups.
Mr. Rigmaiden began his career with IUPAT in 1977. He immediately enrolled in the floor covering apprenticeship training program of Local Union 1288. Over the next six years, he served as an executive board member, a trustee, the vice president and eventually president of Local Union 1288. In 1986, Mr. Rigmaiden was elected as Local 1288's business representative. His noted accomplishments during his seven-year tenure include administrating a residential collective bargaining agreement which served to recapture market share and the amalgamation of several local unions in his region to form Local Union 12.
Mr. Rigmaiden was elected business manager for the new Local Union 12 in 1993, and participated in the first region-wide collective bargaining agreement for Northern California. Mr. Rigmaiden was selected to serve as a general representative in 1996. His duties in this post included labor management relations, contract administration, grievance and arbitration, organizing, education and training in 18 western states. Mr. Rigmaiden also served as a Director to the United Way.
Mr. Rigmaiden graduated from California State University in San Jose. He also earned a degree in labor studies from the George Meany Center/Antioch University.
International President, United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers
Kinsey M. Robinson was formerly the International Secretary-Treasurer of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, which has 25,000 members working throughout the United States in the industrial and commercial sectors of the construction industry. During his tenure, he was responsible for the financial operations in the Washington, D.C. headquarters and 86 local offices located in 47 states.
Mr. Robinson was unanimously elected International Secretary-Treasurer in 1985 and on four successive occasions. As International Secretary-Treasurer, he placed a strong emphasis on developing quality auditing procedures and internal controls for local unions and has fostered strong relationships with contractor groups and associations to provide members with comprehensive pensions and health care. As Trustee of the National Roofing Industry Pension Plan, he worked diligently to dramatically improve Plan design and benefits covering 31,000 participants; during his time as Trustee, Plan assets have risen from $100 million to over $1 billion.
Mr. Robinson began his roofing career in Spokane, Washington, graduating from Local 189's apprenticeship program in 1968. In 1969 he was elected to the Local's Executive Board and three years later was elected Recording-Secretary. In March 1974 he was elected Business Manager of Local 189, a position he held until his appointment as International Representative in 1982.
In April 2006, Mr. Robinson was elected to the position of International President. In that position he has continued to emphasize organizing, market development and labor/management relations.
He is married to the former Mona Lynn Nagle, a pediatric nurse. They split their time between Spokane, Washington and Upper Marlboro, Maryland outside Washington, D.C.
Executive Director, National Football League Players' Association
DeMaurice Fitzgerald Smith is the Executive Director of the National Football League Players' Association (NFLPA). Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives on March 16, 2009. Upon his election, ESPN opined that he had assumed the toughest job in all of sports having succeeded the late Gene Upshaw and facing the most contentious and public labor/management battles in history. Smith was re-elected unanimously to a second term as Executive Director on March 29, 2012.
In July 2011, he successfully negotiated an historic 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement with Roger Goodell and the National Football League. As the Executive Director, Mr. Smith, led the Players through a lockout by the NFL which lasted 132 days. The Players Association voted unanimously to decertify as a Union and file an antitrust lawsuit against the owners of the thirty-two teams. He is credited with leading the Players through the Lockout and into a ten-year agreement by employing novel multi-faceted strategy that combined a successful legal attack on the NFL's Lockout Funds, a federal and local legislative agenda, the creative use of social media and the unprecedented securing of the first employee anti-lockout insurance policy that would have compensated NFL Players during the loss of any games. During his tenure, the US Congress has held its most expansive and targeted inquiry into the NFL's handling of Player concussions and as a result the NFL implemented several new protocols aimed at improving the manner in which concussions are handled by team medical personnel The Collective Bargaining Agreement codifies new health and safety protocols for players, achieved longer off-seasons, significantly reduces the amount of contact during practices, provides for unannounced inspections of training camps, creates the first compliance and accountability structure for NFL medical personnel, and provides the Players' with their highest revenues of TV Contracts in history while incentivizing teams to maximize investment and revenue.
Prior to his election as the Executive Director, Mr. Smith was recognized as one of the best Attorney's in the United States. He is a Member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. He served as a Partner in the firms of Latham & Watkins, LLP and Patton Boggs, LLP, in Washington DC. He represented corporations and senior executives in civil, criminal matters as well as serving as counsel to Boards of Directors. He served two terms on the Board of Governors of the District of Columbia Bar Association. An accomplished and nationally recognized trial lawyer, Mr. Smith served for a decade at the United States Attorneys' Office for the District of Columbia and as Counsel to then Deputy Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. in the United States Department of Justice. He was awarded the US Attorney's Office highest honor for courtroom advocacy with the John H. Evans Award. In 2000, he was awarded the Department of Justice's highest honor with the Attorney General's Award by US Attorney General Janet W. Reno.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Ullico Inc.
On January 3, 2011, Edward M. Smith was elevated to Chief Executive Officer of Ullico Inc. after serving as its President since May of 2008. Ullico Inc., founded in 1927, provides insurance and financial solutions for labor unions, union employers, union benefit funds, and union members. Prior to becoming President, Mr. Smith served as Ullico Inc.’s Executive Vice President from January 2007 until May 2008.
Before joining Ullico, Smith had a long and distinguished career at the Laborers' International Union of North America. After joining LiUNA at age 13, he was elected Business Manager of Laborer's Local 773 at age 21. Smith later became International Union Vice President and Midwest Regional Manager serving over 58,000 members. He also served as Assistant to the General President.
Smith formerly served as Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Investment, Chairman of the National Alliance for Fair Contracting, and a member of the Illinois Department of Labor Advisory Board. He has also been a key benefactor to the Therapy Center in Carterville, Illinois which provides free services for children with disabilities.
Smith was the first member of the Laborers International Union (LiUNA) to graduate from the National Labor College with a bachelor’s degree. Smith went on to graduate from the Harvard University Trade Union Program. He is now an active board member for Laborers’ Charitable Foundation, Laborers CARE, Jobs with Justice, America's Agenda-Healthcare for All, and serves as a trustee for the AFL-CIO Staff Retirement Plan.
President Emeritus, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Edward C. Sullivan, former President of the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), AFL-CIO, is a man who knows his way around the labor movement. Prior to his election in 2000 to the top post in the BCTD, which consists of 15 international unions representing three million construction craftspeople in the U.S. and Canada, he was General President of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC).
In 1964, Mr. Sullivan began his career in the elevator trade as a probationary helper in IUEC Local 4 in Boston. He worked as a construction mechanic and an adjuster in maintenance for 17 years. In 1981, he was elected Business Manager of Local 4, and he served in that capacity until his election as Assistant to the General President of the IUEC in 1996. He was then elected General President of the Union in 1998. Additionally, Mr. Sullivan chaired the Board of Elevator Regulators in Massachusetts for 10 years.
In 1997 he received the Gompers-Murray-Meany Award, the top honor awarded each year by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
Mr. Sullivan is a former chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Coordinating Committee for Multi-employer Plans (NCCMP) and the Center to Protect Workers' Rights (CPWR).
Edward C. Sullivan's makes his home is in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where he resides with Mary.
President, Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
George Tedeschi has been a union member for more than 50 years, joining in February 1959 as a flyboy for Newsday in Melville, New York on Long Island. Mr. Tedeschi also served as an apprentice and became a journeyman newspaper pressman. He was active in his union and served as Nassau County, New York Local 406 Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer.
In 1972 he became President of Local 406 and served in that office until he was elected President of the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) effective June 2000. He was re-elected President of the GCIU in 2004. The GCIU merged with the I.B.T. in 2005, forming the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Mr. Tedeschi has remained the new entity’s President. As International President, he serves as a trustee on two Conference pension funds.
Mr. Tedeschi also held the position of President of the Newspaper Conference for 20 years as well as the Secretary-Treasurer and Secretary of the Eastern Conference for 10 years until his elevation to International President of the then GCIU.
Additionally, he has also been Vice President and Executive Board Member of the regional Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
An active member of his local community, he has served on the community boards as both a member and Corporate Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Long Island United Way.
Mr. Tedeschi is the father of three children, all of whom work in the newspaper industry.
President, AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka has a record of innovation and assertion through his rise to leadership of the country’s largest union federation. His many successes as a labor leader are driven by his deep knowledge of solidarity’s significance, his need to challenge corporate indifference and his strong commitment to a number of different causes, including education and racial equality.
Mr. Trumka was elected President of the AFL-CIO in September 2009. He previously served as the AFL-CIO’s Secretary-Treasurer for 15 years. Joining the organization as the youngest secretary-treasurer in its history, Mr. Trumka carved out a unique and innovative leadership role, creating investment programs for the pension and benefit funds of the labor movement as well as fighting excessive corporate profits. He urged the creation of, and chairs, the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council, a consortium of manufacturing unions that focus on key issues in trade, healthcare and labor law reform.
A member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council since 1989, Mr. Trumka is Chairman of the Strategic Approaches Committee, assisting affiliated unions that want to achieve their goals through collective bargaining. He also chairs the AFL-CIO Finance Committee and the AFL-CIO Capital Stewardship Committee, which seeks to provide the best long-term benefits for America’s working families. He has also served on the executive boards of the International Miners’ Federation and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions as well as played a key role in organizing a new global coalition of coal miners’ unions in five countries.
A third-generation coal miner from Nemacolin, Pennsylvania, Mr. Trumka began working in the mines when he was 19 years old. After college, he worked on the legal staff of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) for four years before returning to mine work in 1979, while doing pro bono legal work for local Nemacolin families during his hours away from the mine. Mr. Trumka rose quickly through the ranks of the mining community, first serving as UMWA Local 6290’s Chairman of the Safety Committee and later on the union’s International Executive Board. In 1982, he was elected the UMWA’s youngest president and has been serving as President Emeritus of the UMWA since 1995. His three-term UMWA presidency led to many accomplishments, including the passage of the federal COAL Act, the UMWA joining the AFL-CIO and two major strikes against the nation’s coal companies, which resulted in significant advances in mine workers’ benefits.
Mr. Trumka has been awarded with many honors, including the Gompers-Murray-Meany Award from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award and the Labor Responsibility Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in 1990. He also received the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award in 1996 and the Sons of Italy Foundation’s Humanitarian Award in 2003.
Mr. Trumka earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University and his Juris Doctor from Villanova University.
Ullico's strength and success are a result of the vision, planning, business acumen and discipline of our Management Team and Board of Directors.
Ullico Inc. is governed by a dedicated group of board members, many of whom are either current or retired labor leaders. Our distinguished Board is a "Who's Who" of the American labor movement. Additionally, we have members who represent specific industry expertise in real estate, infrastructure, banking, insurance and investments. Each director brings an invaluable wealth of knowledge and experience which guides the company and its strategic priorities.
Joseph J. Hunt
Chairman of the Board, Ullico Inc. President Emeritus, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
Kinsey M. Robinson
International President, United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers
George Tedeschi
President, Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Board of Directors