The SMART Recruitment and Retention Council’s purpose is to help create an action plan for locals to recruit, retain, and include diverse groups in our organization; to ensure workplace equality within our industries; and to promote respect, inclusion, and safe, non-hostile work environments at all levels within SMART.
MISSION STATEMENT:
To recruit, retain and promote diverse groups in our Organization and to ensure workplace equality within our Organization. To promote respect, inclusion and safe, non-hostile work environments at all levels within SMART.
The Council has the following Mission Statement Goals:
- Ensure that all members are treated equally and given equal opportunities to succeed.
- Break down gender, ethnicity, and other bias that divide us.
- To encourage, educate and support diverse members to participate in leadership roles.
- To encourage, educate and support diversity in the workplace.
- Identify reasons for low recruitment and retention of diverse groups and systematically address these issues.
- Identify reasons we have been successful in retaining diverse groups and build on that.
- To educate and inform our industries about issues related to equality.
VISION STATEMENT:
We envision a SMART union movement where all members are empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Charles Greer – President
Marketing Representative
SMART Local Union 12
Vanessa Carman – Treasurer
Chair, SMART Women’s Committee, Western Washington JATC Trustee
SMART Local Union 66
Jan Chappell – Recording Secretary
Journeyperson, BE4ALL Committee Member, Local President
SMART Local Union 85
Matthew Fairbanks – Building Trades Vice President
President/Business Manager
SMART Local Union 10
Isaiah Zemke – Building Trades Vice President
Business Manager
SMART Local Union 49
Ilir Asani – Production Vice President
Bargaining Unit Committee Member/Shop Steward
SMART Local Union 565
Stephanie Bottke – Production Vice President
Recording Secretary
SMART Local Union 480
Markeisha Haynes – Bus/Transit Vice President
General Chairperson
SMART-TD Local Union 1785
James Sandoval – Bus/Transit Vice President
International Vice President – Bus
SMART Transportation Division
John Pitts – Rail Vice President
GO-169 Vice General Chairperson and Local 1910 Local Chairperson
SMART Local Union 1910
Chad Yokoyama – Rail Vice President
SMART-TD Diversity and Inclusion Committee
SMART-TD Local Union 0113
Shannon Kilgar – Canada Vice President
Organizer
SMART Local Union 30
Natasha Caparelli – Canada Vice President
Vice Chair
SMART Local Union 30 Women’s Committee
Arturo Hurtado – At-Large Vice President
Executive Board/FST Local Charity Fund
SMART Local Union 73
Arthur Tolentino – At-Large Vice President
Business Manager/FST, 2nd General Vice President
SMART Local Union 293
Shamaiah Turner – Trustee
Business Development Representative
SMART Local Union 17 – NERC
Edward Gonzalez – Trustee
Financial Secretary-Treasurer
Southwest Gulf Coast Regional Council
Lorenzo Miles – Trustee
Apprentice Coordinator
SMART Local Union 206
McKenzie Quinn – Trustee
Journeyperson
SMART Local Union 24
Upcoming meetings
Mondays – Recruitment and Retention Council
Tuesdays – Roofing and Building Enclosure Council
Wednesday/
Thursday – Production Workers and Sign Council
Spring 2025:
Atlanta, GA
May 4th – May 9th, 2025
Winter 2025
Fort Lauderdale, FL
November 30th – December 5th, 2025
Spring 2026
Pittsburgh, PA
May 10th – 15th, 2026
This Council is an intermediate organization affiliated with the International Association. Council membership is open to all chartered SMART Local Unions and Regional Councils throughout Canada and the United States for both Sheet Metal and the Transportation Division, as well as State Legislative Boards in the United States. Affiliation fees are $35.00, and monthly dues are $35.00, payable quarterly in advance.
Download the affiliation form here.
Download the dues remittance form here.
Please submit the affiliation form, along with the $35 affiliation fee and required monthly dues, to:
Vanessa Carman
SMART Recruitment and Retention Council
P.O. BOX 1321 Renton, WA. 98057
This is a critical moment in the movement for equality, equity, and justice in both of our countries, and SMART can lead the way. When we welcome and support members from communities that are currently underrepresented in our membership, our union only becomes stronger. The Council provides us with an opportunity to come together as one organization, have these necessary conversations, and collectively work on these important issues. We hope you will take this opportunity and be part of this moment. We look forward to working closely with the Council and its esteemed leadership to promote and advance SMART’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of SMART.
If you need assistance, please contact Chuck Greer, Council President: cgreer@smlocal12.org.