BAC Journal > New Leaders Hone Their Organizing Skills

New Leaders Hone Their Organizing Skills

2022 Issue 2
News in Brief
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The 2022 class of BAC New Leaders Program. From left, Dan Kuczkowski and Ernesto Garcia of ADC 1 of IL, BAC Executive Vice President Jerry Sullivan, Jordan Mondragon of Local 3 CA, Angela Henderson of Local 1 WA/AK, Jeremy Zackula of Local 15 MO/KS/NE, Paul Mooneyham of Local 5 OK/AR/TX, BAC President Tim Driscoll, David Calderon of Local 3 CA, Anthony Bobo of Eastern MO ADC, Dean Gottschalk of ADC 1 of IL, Esteban Carrion of Local 1 NY, Andy Jorgensen of ADC of WI, Allen Pennypacker of Local 5 PA, Sean Griffin of Local 2 MI, Adalberto Villalpando of ADC 1 of IL, Scott Wooldridge and Jeff Hays of Local 4 IN/ KY, Andrew Gerber of Local 4 CA, Jhon Sanchez of Local 8 Southeast, Jeremiah Hutson of Local 5 PA, Lowell Glodowski of Local 1 WA/AK, Manny Enriquez of Local 3 CA, William Becker of Local 5 PA, and BAC Secretary-Treasurer Bob Arnold.

After two years of meeting virtually, the International Union’s New Leaders Program was relaunched at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Linthicum Heights, Maryland on May 1–5. As one of the IU’s keystone educational programs, the meeting serves as a comprehensive orientation for newly appointed or elected Local/ADC officers and staff.

Twenty-two new leaders from across the country spent the five-day intensive training sessions learning the union’s core functions, our organizing plans and strategies, and hands-on skills to tackle their daily tasks. The program’s more than 20 sessions are designed to familiarize participants with the IU programs, resources, and personnel. Organizing was the week's main focus.

“I’m really honored to be a part of this tradition,” said BAC Interim Organizing Director Luciano Padilla, who was the lead instructor. “This was a great opportunity for the new leaders to learn from one another, share experiences and successes, and develop relationships they will utilize throughout their careers.”

BAC Local 4 California Secretary-Treasurer Andy Gerber agreed, saying the program was “informative, productive, and fun…It provided a chance for new leaders throughout the different regions of the country to get to know each other and bond.”

“We were able to share ideas and relate to one another,” he continued.“I got a lot out of it and will use the experience to help me in this journey moving forward.”

“After gaining experience, all of the new leaders will mentor future new organizers at some point. This is the key to keeping our union strong,” Padilla concluded.