New Executive Board Members

Milton Davis
Secretary-Treasurer
Local 132

Milton Davis has been a Utility Worker for 36 years with Local 132, located in sunny California. For 16 of those he held various positions, first as a Shop Steward, then as a Trustee. He went on to become Regional Officer, served two terms as Business Agent and he is currently the Secretary-Treasurer for Local 132. “I was just elected to serve on the National Executive Board, which is an absolute honor,” he says.

Robert Hoffman
President
Local 132

Robert Hoffman started working for SoCal Gas in 2002 as part-time meter reader. After 8 months, he became a full time Field Technician. During that time, he also became a Local 132 Shop Steward. He was promoted to Energy Technician Residential. In 2007, he transferred to Corona Base within SoCal Gas, where he became a Unit Officer for the Inland Region. In 2012, he was elected as a Regional Officer of the Inland Region. In April 2013, Hoffman was elected President of Local 132.

Cindy McCormick
President
Local 205

Cindy McCormick started at California Water Service in 1998 and became a UWUA member of Local 205. She was a Customer Service Representative until 2002 and then became a Certified Pump Operator, a job she does 40 hours a week. In 2008, she was elected Vice President and then President in 2009. There are six UWUA locals at California Water Service; from each of those locals there are two Delegates that serve on the California Water Utility Council. The CWUC is the body that negotiates and works with Cal Water for UWUA members. She was elected Vice President of the council in 2011 and became the President in 2012. “This kind of work is challenging, I am lucky to have a very supportive and understanding family and members that are absolutely worth working for,” she says.

Anthony Pedagna
Senior Business Agent
Local 1-2

Anthony Pedagna joined Local 1-2 while working for Con Ed in 1974 as a High Voltage Substation Operator. He held that position for 33 years, until 2007, when he was appointed to full time position as a Business Agent. He is an officer of the Contract Negotiation team, negotiating contracts with the local’s 10 employers. He has held the elected positions of Shop Steward, Chairman of the Shop Stewards, and Executive Board member of Local 1-2. He is also a member of the Military Veterans Committee with Con Edison, which reaches out to local veteran committees to hire veterans into the workforce. He attended Cornell University, studying labor relations. “I am grateful to my coworkers and membership for their support throughout my career and to have this opportunity to represent them as a member of the UWUA National Executive Board,” he says.

Craig Pinkham
President
Local 369

Craig Pinkham is a graduate of Suffolk University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration. After graduating, he began his career working at NSTAR Electric (now Eversource Energy) located in Boston. He was elected Local 369 Secretary-Treasurer in 2011 and assumed the presidency in September of this year. Prior to his election, he served in various positions at Eversource Energy with job titles including: Distribution Dispatcher in the Control Center, Overhead line worker, Underground line worker, Customer Service Associate, and Customer Service Representative. He also serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Members Plus Credit Union. In May 2013, he was inducted into the Suffolk University Hall of Fame alongside his 2000 baseball team.

James Shillitto
Vice President
Local 1-2

James Shillitto has been a Local 1-2 member for 37 years. He is the son of a 41-year utility worker and Shop Steward. Starting out as a meter reader, Shillitto worked for 20 years as a High Voltage Lineman/Troubleshooter. He served as a Shop Steward, Executive Board Member, Systems of Safety Trainer for the National Union, Business Agent, Senior Business Agent, and currently Vice President. He is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Industrial Labor Relations. He is also active in coaching local youth sports.

Mike Smith
President
Local 223

Mike Smith joined the National Executive Board in 2012 and was reelected at this year’s Constitutional Convention. He has been employed at DTE Energy since 1986, starting at the Monroe Power plant as an Assistant Power Plant Operator and serving there as a Steward and Committee person. In 2003, he was elected to Chief Steward and went on to serve as Vice Chair and then Chair of the Power Generation Division of Local 223. In 2012, he was elected President of Local 223, when Jim Harrison joined the UWUA National Staff, and was re-elected in 2015. He has been involved in contract negotiations with a number of companies including Peoples Community Hospital Authority, DTE, DTE Energy Services, Hamtramck Energy Services, Detroit Renewable Power, and the City of Port Huron.

Robert Stahl
Senior Business Agent
Local 1-2

Robert Stahl attended La Salle Academy High School in New York City and went to college at the New York Institute of Technology. He joined Con Ed in 1973 as a General Utility Worker. He worked as an Underground Splicer and then became an Underground Troubleshooter in the Emergency Dept. In 1986 he became a Shop Steward and was then elected to union office as a Business Agent in 2005. In 2010, Bob was elected Senior Business Agent.

Joseph Swenglish
President
Local 433

Joseph Swenglish was employed at Allegheny County Sanitary Authority for 21 plus years as a Stationary Engineer in the Energy Recovery Facility. He has served as President of Local 433 for 15 years. And, he was on the Apprenticeship Committee for 6 years. He currently administers four contracts in his local that include road, borough and wastewater employees. Two new groups were recently organized into the local with the help of National staff. He is an active member and Trustee of the Allegheny County Labor Council.

Lisa Vella
Senior Business Agent
Local 1-2

Lisa Vella has been a member of Local 1-2 since 1972. She worked at Con Ed and held various union positions, including Shop Steward. She was elected Business Agent in 2005. She comes from a union family. Her dad is a retired New York Police Dept. officer, her brother is retired from the Fire Department of New York, and her youngest brother is with the NY Dept. of Sanitation. At 62 years old, when most people are looking forward to retirement, Lisa is looking forward to the challenges of being a newly-elected National E-Board member.

Craig Wright
Executive Vice President
MSUWC

Craig Wright is a member of Lansing, Michigan Local 123, and the Executive Vice President of the Michigan State Utility Workers Council (MSUWC). He is a Gas Service Utility Worker “A” with Consumers Energy. Beginning his career in 1992, Wright has held positions in meter reading, tree trimming, and gas distribution before completing his training as a Gas Service Worker “A.” He began attending local union meetings as a new hire Meter Reader, becoming Department Steward shortly thereafter, and has held positions as MSUWC Vice President, as well as Local 123 President, Vice President, and Trustee. As Executive Vice President of the MSUWC, representing over 3700 members under seven contracts with five employers working in gas, electric, generation, and customer service call centers, Wright brings experience from multiple areas of the industry.