Endorsements by: (use links to jump to endorsement
letter)
Derek Knapp, SEA -NW Mountain Reloaded Rep
Dominic Prestia - ZHU Staff Rep.
Doug Laughter - Salt Lake Center, National
Information Technology Committee
Garth Koleszar- President, Chad
Geyer- Vice President, Dan Murdy- Secretary, David Tuminaro- Treasurer,
Jim Barnett- Area A, Mark Nullman- Area B, Rick Palmer-Area C, Nate
Pair- Area D
Mike Manners- Area E, Lisa McCurdy- Area F, Bruce Frappied- Staff
Specialist Rep
Grant Anderson, SGF and CE Region NLC member
Kelvin Hale, Region X Engineer,
local EAC
Jerry Nash - NLC, Southern Region Chairman
John K. Fitzgerald, ZBW (Former NE NLC member)
John Vogelsang, Pensacola TRACON
Meredith Johnson - ZNY Legislative
Mike MacDonald, Vice President NATCA Region X
Mike Matherne - ZHU ATCC, CISM team
Mike Hull - Southern California TRACON
Paul Cox - Seattle ARTCC
Phil Barbarello - Eastern Region Vice President
Robby Kiser - Vice President &
Legislative Rep, DeKalb Peachtree (PDK)
Scott Farrow - Northwest Mountain Vice President
Steve Weidner - Great Lakes Region Legislative
Chairman
Tomaso DiPaolo - NATCA Aircraft Certification
National Representative
Troy Swanberg -EGL Facrep
Victor Santore - Southern Region Vice President
Submit an Endorsement
As the members of the Executive Board of NATCA
Local ZHU, we offer our full and unwavering support for Trish Gilbert in
her candidacy for Executive Vice President of our Union.
Each and every day we bear witness to Trish’s dedication and
commitment to NATCA. From
the moment she stepped into the facility to the present day, Trish has
lived, breathed, and fought for NATCA members.
Trish spends countless hours each week engaged in
NATCA issues, all while continuing to work traffic on a bid schedule and
juggle her personal obligations. She spends every break in the NATCA
office – either working on legislative issues or discussing ongoing
local issues. We have
watched her burn every hour of annual leave in her pursuit of Union
matters. Trish takes the time to attend our general membership meetings,
and is primarily responsible for providing the Local with updates
regarding legislative initiatives.
Trish’s constant presence in NATCA ZHU’s forums , and her
insightful and articulate commentary and strategic analyses,
have earned her the utmost respect from our Local.
There are many dedicated activists in NATCA.
There are many talented NATCA representatives across a varied
spectrum of Union functions.
There are very, very few NATCA representatives who can reflect the
complete combination of knowledge, understanding, forethought, and
communicative abilities that Trish presents to our Union.
We strongly encourage you to join us in supporting
Trish for Executive Vice President.
The NATCA Local ZHU Executive Board
Andrew LeBovidge, FacRep
Chris Parris, VP
James Tlapak, Treasurer
Shawn Smith, Secretary
Matt Conley, Area Rep
Rob Warren, Area Rep
Eric Labardini, Area Rep
Chris Witze, Area Rep
Jonathan Hensley, Area Rep
Mike Davis, Area Rep
Bill Smayda, TMU Rep
Dominic Prestia, Staff Rep
I have had the distinct honor of
serving on the National Legislative Committee with Trish Gilbert for
past two and a half years and I cannot imagine anyone better to be
NATCA’s next Executive Vice-President.
I have been impressed with Trish from day one. Her work ethic and
talents are second to none. She has incredible judgment, sound
reasoning, and the skills to multi-task while always keeping the big
picture firmly in view.
Trish has the unique ability to get the most out of everyone around her.
Her hard work and commitment to our Union inspires everyone to work
harder and achieve greater things.
More than anything I am impressed with Trish’s caring for and dedication
to our members. She never loses sight of the fact that our success and
our strength are derived from the membership. Whether she is working
with the NATCA Charitable Foundation, leading the National Legislative
Committee, taking care of details so our legislative activists can
accomplish greater things, or reaching out to an individual member in
need, her commitment to the membership is unparalleled.
Our Union is at a critical juncture. We are on the verge of putting our
darkest period behind us and poised to move toward a bright future.
Moments like this require tested, experienced, visionary leadership.
Trish has been a leader in NATCA for nearly 20 years. She has led in
good times and in bad. The combination of skill, passion, vision and
experience that Trish brings to the position of Executive Vice-President
is unmatched.
I cannot imagine, or accept, any less than the best to lead our great
Union and for that reason I whole-heartedly endorse Trish Gilbert to be
NATCA’s next Executive Vice-President.
Steve Weidner, ZMP
Great Lakes Legislative Chair
To The Top
Mid 2006 it became abundantly apparent that the FAA and NATCA would
need to leap chasms to agree to new terms on a collective bargaining
agreement. It was then that we glimpsed the agency's intentions of
throwing our contract squarely in the lap of Congress. NATCA had been a
driving force in safety and technology and we fought a majority of our
battles on the labor relation's field.
However, now the focus shifted to Capitol Hill. It was an eye opening
experience for a large part of our membership to realize that our pay,
benefits and working conditions are dependent on Congress. Not Trish.
She realized early on that the Hill directed our profession.
By this time, Trish Gilbert had 10 years of experience on Capitol Hill.
She had already spent many years on the National Legislative Committee
and established relationships that are so essential to NATCA's contract
battle. Trish understands that as long as air traffic control remains an
inherently government function that we are all employees of the United
States Congress, not the FAA. Trish has testified in hearings and fought
in the halls of Congress time and time again for NATCA. She has the
skills to maneuver Washington DC for NATCA. She has the experience to
guide important legislation for NATCA.
It has been my pleasure to work with Trish on the NLC and during this
time I have been able to attend numerous meetings with her. Local
meetings, regional meetings, national meetings, PAC meetings, fac rep
training classes…; the one thing that I most admire about Trish and the
one thing that stands out more than any of her qualities is her deep
found belief in the purpose of Unions and the need to build up and
protect working men and women. I have been fortunate at many of these
meetings to introduce Trish. At a meeting in Jacksonville, Florida I
first introduced her as "the chair of the NLC and my friend and mentor."
That introduction was extemporaneous and heartfelt. Trish has been a
mentor to not just me but to so many NATCA members, whether on a
committee that she served or a facility that she represented. There is
no doubt that Trish Gilbert will be a great Executive Vice president.
Jerry Nash
Southern Region Legislative Committee
To The Top
NATCA Brothers and Sisters,
It is with great pride that I am formally endorsing Trish Gilbert for
NATCA EVP in the upcoming national elections. I have known Trish for
many years and had the pleasure of working alongside her during my time
on NATCA's National Legislative Committee. I can tell you from personal
experience that Trish is a tireless advocate for NATCA's membership. I
have worked with many activists over the years and Trish stands out as
one of the best. I know that she will help guide NATCA in the right
direction as our next EVP. Please join me in putting us on the right
track by supporting Trish.
John Vogelsang
Pensacola Tracon
Former National Legislative Committee Member
To The Top
I hereby formally endorse Trish Gilbert for
NATCA EVP. Trish has been a coworker of mine for her entire career at
Houston Center and I have worked closely with her for many of those
years as a NATCA representative. Trish rose quickly to the position of
Facility representative and did an outstanding job in the Labor
Relations side of NATCA's mission. Through her leadership, NATCA ZHU
evolved into an extremely effective and tight knit family, and there is
no doubt that her LR leadership laid the foundation for its strength and
unity. Trish's skills and experience are an invaluable asset to this
organization and should absolutely be tapped for the EVP position! I
know she would do an outstanding job as her track record shows.
Michael Matherne, NATCA CISM Team National Coordinator
To The Top
When I think about the NATCA
activists I have known for the past 20 years it is difficult to find
many equals to Trish Gilbert. Her dedication and great work ethic make
her a person I want to work with. Having the support of your family is
key to being successful as a NATCA rep at the national level, and I know
that Trish has the support of her husband as John also gave so much of
his time to NATCA. Trish has tremendous experience in nearly every facet
of our organization, and experience is what you need to bring to DC as
our EVP.
When our employer went insane a few years back, our organizational focus
shifted heavily to our legislative activists. Trish more than stepped
up; she stepped up with a vengeance and proved herself to be a superb
leader as national legislative chair. When nearly every avenue for
relief turned out to be a dead end due to political appointees, Trish
drove our legislative machine skillfully. Through successes and setbacks
she worked hard, lead the committee, and like any professional made it
look easy. Trish never complained about how difficult it was and often
reassured me when I got frustrated.
Trish has earned my respect, has my confidence, and will have my vote
for EVP in the next election. I'm asking each member to give her your
vote also.
Victor Santore, NATCA Southern Region Vice President
To The Top
I first met Trish when we were in the same class
at the George Meany Labor College in 1994. This helped form her strong
foundation in union fundamentals and activism that has been an obvious
attribute since. Trish built on this foundation with her activism at ZHU
and being involved in the legislative affairs of NATCA for the past nine
years, first becoming Regional Chair of the Legislative Committee in
2001 and then the National Chair in 2005. During this time, her activism
and accomplishments have stunned the membership.
The leadership that Trish displays is very apparent in the incredible
accomplishments that both the Legislative Committee and NATCA’s entire
legislative strategy and outreach has achieved. She is everywhere. Trish
constantly educates the membership by making the effort to attend
regional meetings, local meetings and many other events throughout the
organization in addition to the higher profile legislative events such
as NATCA in Washington, where she has done a fantastic job involving
many important figures in the political arena to our issues. Her
commitment to teach and inform the membership of legislative affairs is
staggering and her knowledge in this area is even more impressive.
Trish’s experience continues to thrive with appearances and testimonies
on the Hill before the Aviation subcommittee and having professional
relationships with many members of the Congress and Senate who play a
vital role in shaping the current affairs and interests of NATCA.
Because NATCA’s immediate path is through legislation, the timing for
Trish to occupy a national office position couldn’t be better. It is
with great enthusiasm that I endorse Trish Gilbert for the office of
Executive Vice President.
Doug Laughter, NATCA Information Technology Committee
To The Top
My NATCA brothers and sisters, I
am asking you to join me in supporting Trish Gilbert for the office of
Executive Vice President. Trish has exemplified what it means to be a
NATCA activist. Her work as the National Legislative Chair has been
incredible. Her knowledge of the issues and where Members of Congress
stand on those issues is amazing. Trish leads by example and is not
afraid to jump in with both feet and do whatever is necessary to get the
job done. I have had the pleasure of walking door to door in Colorado to
educate Union members prior to the elections and I have most recently
walked the picket lines with her in Orlando Florida exposing the FAA’s
short sighted actions there. Please vote Trish Gilbert for Executive
Vice President.
Scott Farrow, NATCA Northwest Mountain Region
Vice President
To The Top
Sisters and Brothers;
It is with great exuberance that I endorse and support Trish
Gilbert for the position of Executive Vice President of our great
organization. In the several years in which I have known Trish, she has
always demonstrated devotion, loyalty and dedication to our causes.
Trish possesses the communication and organizational skills that are
absolutely required for the position of EVP.
With extensive experience in the legislative arena, communication
and coordination with our legislators has become second nature to Trish.
This fact, combined with Trish’s keen ability to ensure our legislators
know and understand our position and needs on our issues, make Trish a
perfect fit as our next EVP. Trish has clearly fostered the necessary
legislative relationships to place NATCA in position for the best
possible outcome for our organization.
Trish Gilbert is a passionate, devoted, and caring activist with
the vision necessary to be our second in command. She is extremely
knowledgeable, not only in the legislative arena, but in many other
aspects of NATCA and Unionism in general. Trish has worked tirelessly
and selflessly on behalf of our membership. Whenever Trish has been
called upon to serve in any capacity, she gladly accepted without
hesitation, and with the passion, skill and professionalism necessary to
represent our organization at all levels.
It is because of her great qualities, dedication and sound
judgment to our cause that I ask you to join me in supporting and voting
for Trish Gilbert as our next Executive Vice President.
Fraternally and in Solidarity,
Mike Hull
Southern California TRACON
To The Top
Brothers and Sisters
Leadership, Integrity and dedication are qualities and skill sets only a
select few people develop and then master. For Trish Gilbert these
traits are a way of life from which she does not waiver. I have worked
closely with Trish for nearly two decades and can tell you with
certainty that her vision, judgment and foresight have served this Union
well.
Trish has an incredible track record working on NATCA's most important
legislative and labor relations initiatives. She consistently
demonstrated her strengths when dealing with our law makers and as
chairman of NATCA’S legislative committee. Trish’s ability to bring
people together and develop relationships to find common ground on a
wide range of interests is unmatched within NATCA.
As Executive Vice President of NATCA Trish will use her tremendous
skills and uncompromising loyalty to improve the working lives of NATCA
members and restore pride to our profession. Please join me in voting
for Trish Gilbert as NATCA’s next Executive Vice President.
Phil Barbarello, Vice President NATCA Eastern Region
To The Top
I strongly endorse Trish Gilbert for NATCA
Executive Vice President! I believe that there are few positions better
to train our national leaders than serving on the National Legislative
Committee, and Trish has done an excellent job on the NLC during the
most trying time in NATCA's history.
Trish has the experience needed to serve our union as an effective,
smart advocate and voice in Washington DC.
Our union is blessed with many great candidates this time around, but
when it comes to EVP, I'm voting for Trish.
Paul Cox, Seattle ARTCC
To The Top
It is with great enthusiasm that I
give my support to Trish Gilbert for Vice President. Trish's constant
dedication and tireless legislative activism, has prepared her to help
lead this union into the future. A good leader must be a good example,
and Trish has these characteristics and more. Teamed with Paul will make
a strong and committed National Board that will protect and guide our
great union.
Derek Knapp, SEA -NW Mountain Reloaded Rep
To The Top
It is my heartfelt pleasure to endorse Trish
Gilbert as our next EVP! Seldom does a candidate come along who is so
uniquely qualified to hold a position; this is one of those times.
Trish's activism, passion, and commitment is well known throughout NATCA
and with good reason. Trish has served in almost every leadership
position available with distinction. Her current leadership of the
National Legislative Committee has been no less than inspiring. Trish
will bring the same leadership to the EVP position. For these reasons I
enthusiastically endorse Trish Gilbert, NATCA EVP.
Mike MacDonald
Vice President, NATCA Region X
To The Top
I am very excited to fully endorse
Trish Gilbert for Executive Vice President of NATCA.
Trish has shown outstanding leadership, dedication, and passion in all
of her roles within NATCA including her most recent responsibility as
legislative chair. Her outstanding performance in this extremely
important role demonstrates her preparedness for success as NATCA
Executive Vice President.
I personally have appreciated Trish's attention to detail and
willingness to listen to and evaluate different opinions and
perspectives.
I truly believe that Trish has an interest in supporting all of NATCA
and encourage all members to vote for Trish as our Union's next EVP.
Troy Swanberg, EGL FacRep
To The Top
It is a pleasure to endorse Trish Gilbert for
NATCA Executive Vice President (EVP). I cannot imagine a better
candidate. Trish will continue to work to keep NATCA one of the very
best organizations serving working men and women in the world. It has
been an honor working with Trish. Trish Gilbert will make an outstanding
EVP.
Kelvin Hale, Region X engineer, local EAC
To The Top
I've had the privilege to personally
work beside Trish over the past many years in the legislative arena and
it has been a joy for me to see the type of National Legislative
Chairperson she became. She has dedicated numerous hours of her own
personal time to give to the best union in the business. She is
knowledgeable, prepared and most of eager to jump in a fight to defend
our positions. As EVP, she will bring that same tenacity and vigor that
has made her what she is today and I feel confident that she has the
skills to lead our union as our Executive Vice President.
Robby Kiser
Vice President & Legislative Rep
DeKalb Peachtree (PDK) Air Traffic Control Tower Atlanta, GA
To The Top
In 1994/1995 I began to have medical problems
that made it very difficult to control traffic at the level that I knew
I should be able to handle. At the time, my area representative was John
Gilbert. I went to John and my FAC Rep, Trish Gilbert, to discuss some
of the options I had discussed with my doctors. John and Trish listened
and laid out my options with the agency. With many hours of John and
Trish's help I filed a CA-2, dealt with the Office of Worker's
Compensation Programs, the facility management team, the flight surgeons
office, and my doctors. At the time, Bruce Johnson was the facility
manager at Houston. Trish went to Bruce to see if it was possible for me
to be assigned to the missions desk since they were not required to have
medicals but they were still a good time position that I was qualified
for. Bruce immediately changed the requirements for the mission desk
personnel. They were all required to hold a class 2 medical. People that
hadn't held medicals in years were forced to get them. Bruce gave Trish
and I his reasoning by saying that he was not willing to do anything to
help me because he wasn't going to open an avenue for controllers that
no longer wanted to work traffic but still wanted to get paid. Even
after acknowledging that I had an excellent record he would not help.
Trish fought hard for my rights. She made sure I had all my paperwork
correct and going to the right people. Within months of filing the CA-2
I was informed that I was eligible for worker's compensation due to an
on the job disease. In the end I was put in a position I was qualified
for. My chances would have been slim, at the time, of securing a job if
it had not been for Trish and John. Trish continues, to this day, to
help me with issues that arise from the agencies decisions about staff
positions, which I have been in since 1996, and worker's compensation
issues.
Trish will work tirelessly to assure that we as members are taken
seriously and respected. For what she has done for me personally and my
family, I could never repay her. I believe she would do the same for any
member. Trish would do our Union proud as the EVP.
Dominic Prestia
ZHU Staff Rep.
To The Top
I endorse Trish Gilbert for NATCA
EVP because of her great leadership skills. As NLC Chairwoman, Trish
forged a great relationship between NATCA and the Hill. It is because of
these relationships that we are able to approach many members of
Congress with ease. She is extremely approachable and when asked a
question, she can get you the answer quickly or get you the name of
someone who will know. Because of her continued dedication to the NATCA
members, Trish should be our next EVP!
Meredith Johnson - ZNY Legislative
To The Top
Trish Gilbert is a candidate who has shown her
dedication to NATCA for many years. Her knowledge base and leadership on
behalf of NATCA as a Facility Rep and Legislative Chair have best
prepared her for the job of Executive Vice-President. Trish will bring a
concise and balanced ideology to what we hope is her new role as
Executive Vice-President. Trish will help lead this Union from her
position as EVP with dedication, skill and selflessness that will serve
us well.
The following ZLA E-board members ask you to join us in voting for Trish
Gilbert for EVP:
Garth Koleszar- President
Chad Geyer- Vice President
Dan Murdy- Secretary
David Tuminaro- Treasurer
Area Representatives:
Jim Barnett- Area A
Mark Nullman- Area B
Rick Palmer-Area C
Nate Pair- Area D
Mike Manners- Area E
Lisa McCurdy- Area F
Bruce Frappied- Staff Specialist Rep
To The Top
For nearly seventeen years I had the
great good fortune to represent the New England Region as Legislative
Committee Chair. In that time, I met many smart, informed, motivated and
dedicated NATCA activists who were committed to defending their
professions and livelihoods from the mindless attacks of those who know
everything about cost and nothing about value. It is the member/activist
that is not only the backbone of this organization, but it's legs, eyes,
brain and heart. Without their selfless commitment and sacrifice, we
would be nothing. Having met and served with so many who have given so
much for so long it would be unfair of me to say one person is best of
all. To do so would be to disrespect men and women who, each day, give
of themselves for the betterment of my family and me. I won't do that.
But I will say this: In the near twenty years that i held elected
and appointed positions in NATCA I never met anyone MORE committed to
the cause of this organization than Trish Gilbert. No one has worked
HARDER or given MORE of themselves. No one feels MORE passionately about
our issues. I never worked with a BETTER leader. I never served with
anyone More candid and forthright. NO ONE's grasp of the issues has been
better and NO ONE's vision for the future has been clearer.
If you truly want an Executive Vice President that will put the
welfare of the membership before ALL other concerns, there is NO ONE
MORE qualified than Trish Gilbert.
John K. Fitzgerald, ZBW (Former NLC member)
To The Top
Brothers and Sisters,
Our Union's democratic policies and views are
outstanding. We have good Members running for various offices and I
would like to voice my support for Trish Gilbert. I have worked with
Trish for the last two years on the NLC. Her dedication to this Union
and hard work ethic are a model of why Union Leaders are now being
viewed in a positive light. She has been fully supportive of our Region
X Brothers and Sisters and has gone the extra mile to learn about our
issues. We have worked together to find ways ATC, E&A, Aircraft
Certification, and all the other NATCA Bargaining Units can grow as
supporters of aviation safety and a combined legislative force which
supports one another. I ask for your support and to join me in electing
Trish Gilbert as NATCA's next EVP.
In Solidarity,
Tomaso DiPaolo
NATCA Aircraft Certification National Representative
To The Top
In campaign endorsements, one often
reads a phrase like based on my experience, I wholeheartedly endorse
candidate X without reservation , but in reality there are usually at
least small reservations about some qualities of the candidate that the
endorser ultimately feels are outweighed by their positive aspects. In
the case of Trish Gilbert though, I believe she breaks the mold.
I have known Trish for many years now and witnessed her tireless
passion, outstanding organizational skills and extreme competency. I
have watched in awe as she worked as both a member, and later Chair of
the Legislative Committee. I've seen her do insane multitasking while
juggling the Committee leadership, budget, NATCA Charitable Foundation
and a whole host of other duties within the organization while somehow
running her own house and raising great kids. It's a running joke now,
but I often quip that she exists just to make my earnest efforts look
pale by comparison. I can at least take solace in the knowledge that I
don t believe there is anyone else in this Union who is her equal.
Something worth noting is that, aside from her three terms as
Houston Center FacRep, Trish has throughout her career accomplished all
of this on her own time. Many don't know it, probably because it seems
so amazing when you see the efforts of someone like her, but there is no
official time for either members or the Chairperson of the Legislative
Committee. Aside from an odd day donated here or there from an RVP or
her FacRep, Trish has been leading this charge while sacrificing most
every minute of her spare time and annual leave for this Union while
still working a full schedule on the boards at the Center.
I have been impressed to no end with Trish's leadership abilities
that include not only competent execution of all duties she has taken
on, but also in building personal relationships with our members and the
National Office staff,. And perhaps most usefully for the Union's future
and her role as NATCA EVP, earned the respect of most of the Members of
Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill.
Trish has Midas touched into gold everything I have seen her take
on. So in conclusion; I can truly say that based on my experience, I
wholeheartedly endorse Trish Gilbert for NATCA EVP without reservation.
Grant Anderson, SGF and CE Region NLC member
Submit an Endorsement