The United Association’s chief officer is General President Mark McManus. In August 2016, Mark McManus was unanimously elected as General President 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.
The General President 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 supervises the development and implementation of all major policies and programs of the United Association.
He represents the face of the United Association in dealings with high-level government officials, contractors, contractor associations, project owner organizations, fellow labor unions and the general public. Given his stature in the industry, the General President serves on various important boards, councils and committees, including the following:
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Plumbers and Pipefitters National Pension Fund
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Local Union Officers and Employees Pension Fund
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UA General Officers and Employees Pension Fund
- AFL-CIO Executive Committee Member & Executive Council Member
- Vice-President of North America’s Building Trades Unions
- Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Metal Trades Department
- Board of Directors of Veterans in Piping (VIP) Program
- Board of Directors of Helmets to Hardhats
Jimmy Williams Jr. took office as General President of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades on September 1, 2021, ushering in a new generation of leadership and a reinvigorated vision for the IUPAT.
Williams is a fourth-generation glazier from District Council 21/Local Union 252 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). He began his career with the IUPAT in 1998, was appointed Assistant to the General President in 2002, and served as the Regional Organizing Coordinator for the IUPAT Eastern Region. In 2011, he was appointed to the position of Organizing Director and remained in that role after being elected as General Vice President At Large in 2014.
A decade spent in the field meeting workers at their homes, in union halls, and on job sites helped shape his belief that a more diverse and engaged membership will strengthen the IUPAT at all levels. He has also taken that approach to the International, putting together a General Executive Board and senior staff team that is the most diverse in IUPAT history.
Under Williams’ leadership, the IUPAT is tackling issues that exploit workers and undermine our industry, like wage theft and worker misclassification. He is a powerful voice within the labor movement about the right to organize and, in particular, the need to protect undocumented workers who speak out against bad employers. At its core, General President Williams’ vision for the IUPAT is as a union where workers of all races, genders, homelands, and economic backgrounds can come together to support one another and fight for the well-being of themselves, their coworkers, and their communities.
Williams is Co-Chair of the U.S. Industry Pension Fund (IPF), Labor Management Cooperation Initiative (LMCI), and International Finishing Trades Institute (iFTI). In addition, he is a member of the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Governing Board of Presidents and a member of the Executive Council and the General Board of the AFL-CIO.
He splits his time between Maryland and Pennsylvania and is the proud father of three sons.
For over 50 years Terrence “Terry” Larkin has been gathering experience and absorbing
knowledge as a member of Insulators Local 2 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1973, Terry worked
as a permit helper for 4 years for Local 2 Pittsburgh, PA before his acceptance as an apprentice.
The procedure then were a lot different than today. He became respected within the rank and
file of Local 2 that led him to many positions that recognized him as a person that can solve
problems with a pragmatic philosophy. He earned the position as the Apprentice Coordinator,
then became Local 2’s Business Manager for 12 years. His leaderships skills then propelled
him to become the International Vice President of the Middle Atlantic States Conference for 19
years. His unique ability to advocate for the “little guy” as well as demonstrating his ability to
lead in the political and business larger platforms were recognized by the delegation of the 28th
Quincentennial Insulators Convention in August of 2022. The convention’s delegation
demanded change, and change is what they got. In a historical convention, Terry received the
confidence of the delegation to lead the International in these challenging times. Terry Larkin
became the General President of International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and
Allied Workers. Once again, Terry was able to prove the ability of democracy, by answering
the call of a delegation that demanded change, and that anything is possible if we unite and
work together.
Kenneth Cooper was appointed IBEW International President in 2023.
Cooper 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, Nev., 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 Fourth District of the IBEW, which covers Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
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 to the role 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.
In 2017, through his persistence and leadership, the IBEW celebrated one of the biggest organizing wins in its 125-year history when 1,418 Baltimore Gas and Electric Employees voted to be represented by our great brotherhood.
In May 2017, then-International President Lonnie R. Stephenson asked Kenny to join him as International Secretary-Treasurer and serve the IBEW as his partner. Delegates to the 40th International Convention overwhelmingly elected him to a full term in 2022.
Kenneth W. Cooper resides in Clarksburg, Maryland with his wife, Gina. Together they have raised 3 beautiful daughters and 2 amazing sons.
On February 1, 2023, Kevin Sexton became the General President of the Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA).Kevin Sexton entered the ranks of the OPCMIA in 1985 when he entered OPCMIA Local 518’s apprenticeship, after completing his service in the United States Army. Kevin then completed the apprenticeship program and went to work in the field as a journeyperson Cement Mason. He worked for various signatory contractors on construction projects throughout Local 518’s jurisdiction. During his time in the field, Kevin worked hard and earned the respect of all his co-workers and employers.
His dedication to Local 518’s members led Kevin to seek office within the Local Union. He was elected to serve on the Executive Board in 1993 and he was elected to serve as Local 518 President in 1996. He went on to be hired by then Business Manager Milton Warriner to serve as a Business Agent; and, upon Business Manager Warriner’s retirement, Kevin was appointed to serve as Business Manager by then General President John J. Dougherty. The membership elected and re-elected Kevin as the Business Manager. Kevin served his membership by negotiating and enforcing strong contracts with signatory employers, as well as serving as a trustee on the numerous ERISA trust funds that provide benefits to the membership. Kevin was also appointed to serve as a Deputy International Representative by General President John Dougherty in 2002.
Kevin has also represented his members by seeking positions in the state and local building trades. He has served as an elected Vice President of the Kansas City Building Trades Council and then as an appointed President of the council. Kevin has also served as an elected Treasurer of the Missouri State Building Trades in 2011. His work in the state and local building trades ensured that the interests of every Plasterer, Cement Mason and Shop Hand would be advanced through the work of the building trades.
Kevin’s hard work and commitment to the members caught the attention of the International Association. Then-General President Patrick D. Finley appointed Kevin to serve on the Finance Committee in 2011 and hire Kevin as an International Representative in July 2015. General President Finley’s successor, Daniel E. Stepano, appointed Kevin to serve as a Vice President in April 2016 and then as a member of the General Executive Board in February 2017.
On April 18, 2018, General President Stepano appointed Kevin Sexton to serve as the General Secretary-Treasurer of the OPCMIA. The delegates to the OPCMIA’s 52nd Convention elected Kevin to continue to serve in that office. During his tenure as General Secretary-Treasurer, Kevin oversaw the strengthening and growth of the OPCMIA’s finances.
When General President Stepano announced his retirement, he chose Kevin Sexton as his successor and the General Executive Board unanimously confirmed Kevin to serve as the General President of the OPCMIA effective February 1, 2023.
Kevin is married to Angela Sexton and together they have seven children, seven grandsons and two granddaughters.
Brent Booker became the 11th General President of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) on May 1, 2023. A proud University of Virginia graduate, and a third-generation member of Laborers’ Local 795 in New Albany, Indiana, he has devoted his career to creating job opportunities for working men and women. The son and grandson of LIUNA leaders, growing up he saw the difference that union membership made in people’s lives, often lifting entire families out of poverty and into the middle class.
As Secretary-Treasurer of North America’s Building Trades Unions from 2012 to 2022, Booker helped strengthen and modernize this broad federation of 14 building trades unions in the United States and Canada. He negotiated labor agreements that generated hundreds of thousands of workhours for building tradesmen and women on a wide range of construction projects, including offshore wind farms, microchip and semiconductor manufacturing plants, railroads, heavy industrial, and major civil infrastructure.
Brent Booker served as Secretary-Treasurer of Helmets to Hardhats, an organization dedicated to helping military veterans transition to construction careers. A passionate proponent of the ability of training and apprenticeship programs to transform both workers and communities, he served on the board of directors of TradesFutures, which works to bring historically underrepresented workers into the construction industry. Booker also served on the board of the Center for Construction Research and Training, and on several labor-management cooperation boards.
Prior to his appointment as General President, Brent Booker served as LIUNA Vice President and Special Assistant to the General President. Before moving to NABTU, he had been Director of LIUNA’s Construction Department from 2007 to 2012, having worked there from 2001 to 2007.
Michael Coleman, a longtime SMART member with decades of leadership experience at the local and international level, assumed the position of SMART general president on June 1, 2023, following the retirement of Joseph Sellers on May 31. Coleman was elected general president by the SMART General Executive Council, which in turn was elected by delegates to the 2019 SMART General Convention.
“It is the honor of my lifetime to serve this great union – one that has given myself and my family everything we have,” said Coleman. “General President Sellers has worked tirelessly to position this union for success in the future, from winning pro-worker federal legislation to helping oversee the Green Zone certification of the Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund. I look forward to building on his legacy and working to advance SMART members’ priorities.”
Coleman began his career as a SMART sheet metal worker in 1985, when he joined what was then Local 65 in Cleveland, Ohio (Local 65 merged with Local 33 soon after). After graduating into journeyperson status and honing his craft for several years, he ran for election as a member of the local’s executive board. From there, he became business representative, then Local 33 president and business manager in 2012.
At Local 33, Coleman cultivated a reputation for pursuing innovative strategies in order to organize more members, effectively structure benefit and pension plans, provide greater flexibility to members and more. He worked tirelessly to boost the local’s profile throughout northern Ohio and West Virginia and demonstrated a willingness to think outside the box in taking on the challenges our union faces.
Seven years later, Coleman moved to Washington, DC to work as SMART’s director of business and management relations. Shortly after that, General President Sellers asked Coleman to become assistant to the general president, a position in which he served until May 31, 2023. In all, Coleman has more than 20 years of dedicated leadership at the local and international level. He played a crucial role during SMART’s second-ever General Convention in 2019, serving as secretary of the Constitution Committee and shepherding through 114 proposed amendments – helping to facilitate the democratic process of our union and positioning SMART for future success.
During the last decade, SMART members have mobilized to win transformational victories for working families across North America. SMART sheet metal workers are on the forefront of new and pending megaprojects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as partnering with the Biden administration to perform much-needed indoor air quality work. The union’s political advocacy has helped spark forward progress on regulation related to two-person freight train crews and rail safety, and SMART’s organizing activity led to groundbreaking wins in Alaska, California and beyond. Coleman, who plans to hit the road to meet with SMART members in his first months as general president, vowed to continue this forward progress.
“The members are the union – that was the core value of this union when I joined in 1985, and it remains the foundational principle of SMART to this day,” he said. “When we come together to fight for our jobs, our communities and our families, we cannot be stopped. This is our time, and I will work as hard as I can to help us seize this opportunity.”
Brian Bryant has been active in the labor movement for nearly 30 years, initiating into the IAM in 1989 when he joined Local Lodge S6 while employed at Bath Iron Works in Bath, ME. He became the IAM’s 15th International President on Jan. 1, 2024. Before becoming International President, Bryant served separate stints on the IAM Executive Council as Resident General Vice President, Eastern Territory General Vice President and General Vice President in the General Secretary-Treasurer’s Office. A Pipefitter by trade, Bryant became active in his Local Lodge serving on various committees, as well as being elected as a Shop Steward, Trustee, and President of Local Lodge S6. He also served on the Executive Board of the Maine AFL-CIO, and in 1998 was elected Directing Business Representative of District Lodge 4. In 2004, Bryant was appointed as a Special Representative in the Eastern Territory. He was appointed Grand Lodge Representative in 2006 assigned to the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts as well as shipbuilding and Repair in the Eastern Territory. In 2008, Bryant was reassigned to the Eastern Territory office in Cincinnati to handle all National Labor Relations Board activity for the territory. On July 1, 2009, he was appointed to the position of Chief of Staff of the Eastern Territory. Bryant served in that capacity until being appointed to the IAM Executive Council as General Vice President assigned to the Eastern Territory. On August 1, 2016, Bryant began as General Vice President serving in the General Secretary-Treasurer’s office at Headquarters in Upper Marlboro, Md.
Timothy Simmons began his Boilermaker career on a boiler outage in 1999, working out of Boilermakers Local 108, in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Alabama Power Miller Steam Plant. Brother Simmons considers it an honor to have been able to serve his Brothers and Sisters in many different roles, including as a Local 108 Business Agent/Secretary-Treasurer, District Lodge #3 Officer, Director of National Recruitment Services, Director of Construction Division Services and Assistant to the International President.
In October 2022, the International Executive Council voted unanimously to elect Brother Simmons to fill the IVP-Southeast Section vacancy, effective February 1, 2023, upon the retirement of Warren Fairley. Brother Fairley briefly came out of retirement to serve the union as International President during a time of transition. Upon his final retirement in August 2024, the International Executive Council elected Tim Simmons to serve as International President.
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