Tag: leadership

Home>News>leadership

On June 30, 2026, SMART Southwest Gulf Coast Regional Council President and Fourth General Vice President Billy Kenyon retired, bringing an end to a decades-long career spent serving fellow members.

Kenyon began his career doing a six-month pre-apprenticeship, prior to serving a four-year apprenticeship at SMART Local 54 in Houston, Texas. In a harbinger of things to come, he was awarded the outstanding apprentice award when he completed the program in 1996.

At the start of his journey in the trade, he was employed by various contractors, starting at an HVAC shop, then working at a spiral pipe shop, before finally moving to a heavy industrial shop where he continued working as a journeyperson.

In 2000, Local 54 was accepting applications for an organizing/marketing representative, so Kenyon applied and was appointed to the position. He served the local as an organizer for the next nine years. In June 2009, Brother Kenyon was elected by the Local 54 membership to the position of business representative. He also served on the Harris County AFL-CIO Executive Board from 2012 to 2019.

In 2012, he was elected to serve as Local 54’s business manager/financial secretary-treasurer and continued in that position until 2018. During that time, he was elected president of the Southwest District Council, where he served until the formation of the Southwest Gulf Coast Regional Council in 2016. Kenyon was appointed to the SMART General Executive Council on February 1, 2021, advancing to fourth general vice presi­dent before retiring.

“Since the first day I started working with Billy, he would always say, ‘Eddie, I just want to leave everything better than how I got it,’” said new Southwest Gulf Coast Regional Council President Eddie Gonzalez. “Well, my friend: Congrats! Mission accomplished!”

SMART-TD Vice Presidents David B. Wier, Jr. and Jamie C. Modesitt report that SMART-TD has received numerous favorable decisions from cases arbitrated at the First Division of the National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB).

In NRAB First Division Award No. 32203 (Parmelee, 2026), the Board adjudicated a case where Union Pacific terminated the employment of a yardman for alleg­edly refusing to submit to a reasonable cause drug and alcohol test. At the time of the incident, the claimant arrived at the carrier’s property in South Holland, Illinois, to retrieve his personal vehicle that he had previ­ously left on the carrier’s property due to mechanical defects. A manager observed the claimant in the parking lot attempting to start his vehicle and offered to provide him with transportation to his residence. At that point, the claimant and the manager departed the carrier’s property in the manager’s vehicle.

After vacating the carrier’s property, the claimant and manager stopped to purchase food from a takeout restaurant. While purchasing food from the restaurant, the manager received a call from another manager requesting him to return the claimant to the carrier’s property for a reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test. After the manager returned the claimant to the carrier’s property, he informed him that he was required to submit to a reasonable cause drug and alcohol screen.

Because he believed that he was not subject to a drug and alcohol test due to the fact that he was not on duty at the time, the claimant refused to submit to the drug and alcohol test. Although the Board found that the claimant should have submitted to the drug and alcohol test, it determined that the carrier’s handling of the case, particularly its decision to transport him towards his home and then return him to the carrier’s property, miti­gated the degree of discipline assessed to the claimant. Based on its findings and conclusions, the Board rein­stated the claimant to service and directed the carrier to provide him with compensation for time lost after his initial nine months withheld from service.

GO-953 General Chairperson Luke Edington, GO-953 Senior Vice General Chairperson Kurt Christensen, GO-953 Senior Vice General Chairperson Ian Reynolds, GO-953 Senior Vice General Chairperson Mike Moore and GO-953 Senior Vice General Chairperson Zach Nagy progressed this case to the NRAB First Division.

In NRAB First Division Award Nos. 32225, 32226 and 32227 (Lamboley, 2026), the Board arbitrated disputes that pertained to the Iowa Interstate Railroad termi­nating three employees for allegedly misusing their company-issued iPad devices to access confidential information related to other employees. In rendering findings on these three cases, the Board determined that the claimants were not afforded fair and impartial inves­tigations due to the improper, prejudicial conduct of the hearing officer, Larry Hicks.

In this regard, the hearing officer unilaterally decided which rules to charge the claimants with violating after the charging officer and other carrier witnesses concluded their testimony at the formal investigation. Based on its findings, the Board deter­mined that the hearing officer’s conduct compromised the claimants’ ability to receive fair and impartial investigations. Accordingly, the Board ruled to rein­state the claimants to service with compensation for their lost earnings. GO-IIR General Chairperson Tim Kilbride progressed these cases to the NRAB First Division.

In NRAB First Division Award No. 32293 (Tener, 2026), Union Pacific terminated the employment of a conductor for allegedly going in between equipment with insufficient separation. In reviewing the instant case, the Board determined that the record did not adequately establish that the claimant was in violation of the rule that the carrier cited as its basis for terminating his employment. Arriving at that conclusion, the Board ruled to reinstate the claimant to service with back pay for all lost time.

GO-953 General Chairperson Luke Edington, GO-953 Senior Vice General Chairperson Kurt Christensen, GO-953 Senior Vice General Chairperson Ian Reynolds, GO-953 Senior Vice General Chairperson Mike Moore and GO-953 Senior Vice General Chairperson Zach Nagy progressed this case to the NRAB First Division.

When Joseph Powell first began working as SMART general secretary-treasurer following his election in 2019, our union – and our two nations – was in a vastly different position. Nationally, both the United States and Canada were in the midst of tenuous and chaotic political climates that tested working families across states, provinces and territories. And SMART faced a variety of challenges, including a pension that was still considered “endangered,” the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) scheme from the Trump administration, attacks on two-person crews and much more.

Today, we have met those challenges, with the Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund certified in the Green Zone, IRAPs soundly defeated, a federal two-person crew regulation and pro-union legislation at the federal and state levels. And on June 4, 2024, Powell informed the General Executive Council that he would not seek re-election for the office of general secretary-treasurer at the 3rd SMART General Convention in August.  

“After 10 years of dedicated service, I have decided to step down as of June 30, 2024,” Powell said. “I will continue in my commitment to SMART and our members in a director capacity.”

“Joe has been a steadfast leader from day one; someone sheet metal and transportation workers know they can count on, from his days at Local 206 in San Diego, to his years serving our members across North America at the International,” added SMART General President Michael Coleman. “I have no doubt that he will continue that service as a director.”

GST John Daniel
Former GST Joseph Powell

Daniel to bring decades of experience to Washington, DC

Following Powell’s announcement on June 4, the SMART General Executive Council appointed John Daniel, outgoing president and business manager of Local 265 (Carol Stream, Ill.) and current SMART general vice president, to assume the remainder of the general secretary-treasurer’s term. Powell worked closely with Daniel during the changeover to ensure a smooth transition.

“I know our union will be in good hands with John as general secretary-treasurer,” Coleman said. “Congratulations to him on this achievement.”

Daniel has loyally served SMART members for more than 30 years. Since entering the industry in 1991, he has been a sheet metal fabricator and installer, an instructor, organizer, business representative, financial secretary-treasurer and most recently the president/business manager for Local 265.

Daniel said his career path has provided him with a well-rounded perspective of the sheet metal industry and the challenges facing the unionized sector. Having an open mind and being an active listener, leveraging assets both financial and relational, employing technology to not only capture more work opportunities but to attract the next generation of tradesmen and women — these are only a few of his priorities.

“I have some big shoes to fill, but I’m excited to serve the members of our great union, in every craft, every trade and every industry, from Canada to the United States,” Daniel said. “This is a crucial time for our organization, and I’m ready to do the work.”

When Joseph Powell first began working as SMART general secretary-treasurer following his election in 2019, our union – and our two nations – was in a vastly different position. Nationally, both the United States and Canada were in the midst of tenuous and chaotic political climates that tested working families across states, provinces and territories. And SMART faced a variety of challenges, including a pension that was still considered “endangered,” the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) scheme from the Trump administration, attacks on two-person crews and much more.

Today, we have met those challenges, with the Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund certified in the Green Zone, IRAPs soundly defeated, a federal two-person crew regulation and pro-union legislation at the federal and state levels. And on June 4, 2024, Powell informed the General Executive Council that he would not seek re-election for the office of general secretary-treasurer at the 3rd SMART General Convention in August.  

“After 10 years of dedicated service, I have decided to step down as of June 30, 2024,” Powell said. “I will continue in my commitment to SMART and our members in a director capacity.”

“Joe has been a steadfast leader from day one; someone sheet metal and transportation workers know they can count on, from his days at Local 206 in San Diego, to his years serving our members across North America at the International,” added SMART General President Michael Coleman. “I have no doubt that he will continue that service as a director.”

Incoming GST John Daniel
Outgoing GST Joseph Powell

Daniel to bring decades of experience to Washington, DC

Following Powell’s announcement on June 4, the SMART General Executive Council appointed John Daniel, outgoing president and business manager of Local 265 (Carol Stream, Ill.) and current SMART general vice president, to assume the remainder of the general secretary-treasurer’s term. Powell is working closely with Daniel during the changeover to ensure a smooth transition.

“I know our union will be in good hands with John as general secretary-treasurer,” Coleman said. “Congratulations to him on this achievement.”

Daniel has loyally served SMART members for more than 30 years. Since entering the industry in 1991, he has been a sheet metal fabricator and installer, an instructor, organizer, business representative, financial secretary-treasurer and most recently the president/business manager for Local 265.

Daniel said his career path has provided him with a well-rounded perspective of the sheet metal industry and the challenges facing the unionized sector. Having an open mind and being an active listener, leveraging assets both financial and relational, employing technology to not only capture more work opportunities but to attract the next generation of tradesmen and women — these are only a few of his priorities.

“I have some big shoes to fill, but I’m excited to serve the members of our great union, in every craft, every trade and every industry, from Canada to the United States,” Daniel said. “This is a crucial time for our organization, and I’m ready to do the work.”

Ray D. Reasons II was appointed SMART 11th General Vice President on August 1, 2023, following the retirement of Tim Carter.

Reasons began his career as an apprentice with Local 36 (St. Louis, Mo.) in 1994 and was initiated as a journeyperson in January of 2000. Throughout his career, Reasons has held various positions in the field and ran a sheet metal shop. During those years, he was also appointed to serve as a trustee of the general fund, a trustee of the JATC, as well as trustee of the local’s Health & Welfare, Pension, 401(k) and Vacation funds.

Starting in 2006, Reasons was elected to three consecutive terms as recording secretary for the executive board, and in 2015 he successfully ran for business representative. In 2018, he was elected president and business manager, and he serves as chair of the JATC and all benefit funds of Local 36.

Reasons has been married to his wife, Rebecca, for 24 years; they have two sons. His oldest son started his apprenticeship with Local 36 in November of 2022.

SMART Sixth General Vice President and Northwest Regional Council President Tim Carter retired on July 31, at the conclusion of the 2023 SMART Leadership Conference’s first day. He retires with a legacy of trailblazing success, having overseen extraordinary growth and progress in the Northwest: from welcoming the formation of women’s committees to new organizing across the region.

Carter started his apprenticeship in 1980 with Seattle Local 99 (which later merged to become Local 66). After his four-year schooling, he became a field foreperson for MacDonald Miller Facility Solutions, working on several major projects in the Puget Sound area.

With nearly two decades in leadership positions at Local 66, Carter was at the forefront of efforts to provide services and support for a diversifying sheet metal membership. Carter served as Local 66 business agent from 2002–2015, when he was elected by the Local 66 membership to serve as business manager.

From 2020 until his retirement, he served as the head of the Northwest Regional Council. Carter also served as secretary on the Northwest Sheet Metal Workers Pension, secretary on the Northwest Sheet Metal Workers Healthcare Trust, and chair of the Western Washington Sheet Metal Training & Apprenticeship Program.