Leadership Team

Kevin Bryenton

General President

Kevin Bryenton is a second-generation member of Local 721 (Toronto, Ontario), which he joined in 1987. He completed his apprenticeship as an ironworker generalist and was named the outstanding apprentice of the year. He has worked across all facets of the trade in multiple local jurisdictions, spending most of his time on the tools in the industrial and ornamental sectors. Bryenton was hired by Local 721 as an instructor in 1999; appointed apprenticeship coordinator in 2000; and elected to several local union offices through 2009, including vice president, examining committee, president and business agent. Bryenton was appointed general organizer in April 2009 and, in May, was appointed president of the Ontario Iron Workers District Council. On July 1, 2015, he was appointed general vice president. On July 1, 2019, he was appointed executive director of Canadian affairs. General Vice President Kevin Bryenton was appointed general secretary, effective Jan. 1, 2024. General Secretary Kevin Bryenton was unanimously elected general president, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

James Mahoney

General Secretary

James Mahoney of Local 580 (New York) became an ironworker in 1982 and worked at all phases of the ornamental and architectural industry. As a journeyman, foreman and steward, he was known as a hard worker. Mahoney attended the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, completing the two-year certificate program from 1991 to 1993. He was elected recording secretary in 1993, elected business agent in 1996, and appointed business manager in 2009. Mahoney served as chair of the Local 580 joint funds, delegate to the New York State District Council of Iron Workers and treasurer of the district. Effective May 1, 2015, James Mahoney was appointed general organizer. Effective Oct. 1, 2015, General Organizer James Mahoney was appointed ninth general vice president by General President Eric Dean. General Vice President James Mahoney was appointed general treasurer, effective Nov. 1, 2023. General Secretary James Mahoney was appointed general secretary, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

David Beard

General Treasurer

David Beard began working as an ironworker in 1979, entered the Local 392 (East St. Louis, Ill.) apprenticeship in 1982, and graduated in 1985. He worked in the field for 25 years and served as a steward, foreman, general foreman and superintendent. Since being elected trustee in 1991, he has served as executive board member, recording secretary, vice president and business manager/financial secretary of Local 392. Beard was appointed as a general organizer, effective June 17, 2013. General Organizer David Beard promoted to general vice president, effective Feb. 3, 2020. General Vice President David Beard was appointed general treasurer, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Michael Baker

President, North Central States District Council

Mike Baker was accepted into the Local 21 apprenticeship program in 1989 and graduated in 1993. He served as sergeant-at-arms, vice president, executive board member and examining committee member before being elected to business manager/FST in 2005. Baker was appointed to the executive committee of the Nebraska AFL-CIO Council, president of the Nebraska Southwest Iowa Building Trades Committee and vice president of the Omaha Federation of Labor AFL-CIO. Effective April 1, 2015, FST-BM Mike Baker of Local 21 (Omaha, Neb.) was appointed general organizer. General Organizer Mike Baker promoted to general vice president, effective March 2, 2020.

Kendall Martin

President, Mid-Atlantic States District Council

Kendall Martin was initiated into Local 5 (Washington, D.C.) in May 1994 and served the apprenticeship from 1994 through 1998. Kendall worked his way up in the field as a journeyman, foreman, general foreman and superintendent. In 2008, he was elected business manager/FST, serving for seven years. Additionally, Martin also served on the Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO Executive Board and the Maryland State and Washington, D.C. AFL-CIO Executive Board. Effective January 11, 2016, Kendall Martin was appointed general organizer. Kendall Martin, general organizer, promoted to general vice president effective July 13, 2020.

Gregory "Jack" Jarrell

President, Southeastern States District Council

Jack Jarrell joined Local 397 (Tampa, Fla.) in 1994, gained journeyman status in 1997 and was the outstanding apprentice of North America in 1998. Jarrell has held various positions and seats within the local union, as well as with the Florida AFL-CIO, state building trades, workforce and development boards. In August 2010, he was appointed to Local 397 financial secretary-treasurer/business manager. Jack Jarrell was appointed general organizer effective June 3, 2019. Jack Jarrell, general organizer, was promoted to general vice president effective July 1, 2021.

David Osborne

President, California & Vicinity District Council

David Osborne, a fourth-generation ironworker from Local 433 (Los Angeles), joined the apprenticeship in 2002, after his service in the United States Marine Corps. He worked at Local 433 as an apprentice, journeyman, foreman and general foreman. In addition to working in the field, he also was elected to vice president and business agent. In 2017, he was hired by the District Council of California and Vicinity to serve as a district council organizer/representative. David Osborne was appointed general organizer effective April 19, 2018. On September 1, 2022, General Organizer Osborne was appointed ninth general vice president.

James Gardiner

President, Chicago & Vicinity District Council

Following in his father's footsteps, James Gardiner became an ironworker in 1985, serving his apprenticeship in Local 1 (Chicago). Gardiner is a proud member of Local 1, working in many facets of the trade. He was elected to serve as sergeant-at-arms and vice president. He served as FS/T for Local 1 for 19 years; he was elected trustee to the pension fund in 2002 and the apprenticeship fund in 2005. James Gardiner was appointed general organizer, effective January 1, 2020. General Organizer James Gardiner was appointed general vice president, effective March 1, 2023.

Colin Daniels

Executive Director, Canadian Affairs

Colin Daniels was indentured as an apprentice in Local 771 in 1998 and completed his apprenticeship in 2002. Daniels has worked on various construction jobs across western Canada as a connector, rigger, job steward and supervisor. Throughout his career with Local 771, Daniels has served the local in various capacities: executive board member, dispatcher, business agent, president and financial secretary/treasurer/business manager. He was also elected president of the Saskatchewan Provincial Building Trades Council in 2018. Colin Daniels of Local 771 (Regina, Saskatchewan) was appointed general organizer, effective May 20, 2019. On January 1, 2024, General Organizer Daniels was appointed general vice president and executive director in charge of Canadian affairs.

Michael Relyin

Director, Department of Reinforcing

Mike Relyin was indentured as an apprentice in Local 426 (Detroit) in 1988, completing a two-year apprenticeship and becoming a journeyman in 1990. He later became a member of Local 25 (Detroit) following the 1993 merger. Relyin worked in the reinforcing industry as a journeyman, foreman, general foreman and welder. In 1999, he was hired as a full-time instructor for teaching reinforcing, post tensioning, welding and safety. In 2002, he became the training coordinator, a position he held until he became a general organizer. While working as an instructor, he completed an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He has been an AWS-certified welding inspector since 2000 and an AWS-accredited test facility assessor since 2008, when he began performing audits for the Ironworkers Welding Certification Program. The National Training Fund hired Mike Relyin as a general organizer, effective March 12, 2012. General Organizer Relyin became the director of the department of reinforcing ironworkers, effective Jan. 1, 2019. General Organizer/Director of the Department of Reinforcing Ironworkers, Mike Relyin, was appointed as the general vice president, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Peter Myers

President, New York State District Council

Brother Peter Myers' ironworking career began in 1985, when he entered Local 580's apprenticeship program and graduated in 1988. He held several positions in Local 580, including sergeant-at-arms in 1993, recording secretary in 1999, fund administrator in 2001, and business agent in 2009. In 2015, Myers was appointed Local 580 business manager. Peter Myers was appointed general organizer, effective Oct. 23, 2023. General Organizer Myers also serves as president of the New York State Iron Workers District Council and the financial secretary/treasurer to the NYC Building and Construction Trades Council. General Organizer Peter Myers was appointed as the general vice president, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Jerry Wilson

President, Texas & Mid-South States District Council

Jerry Wilson comes from an ironworking family, a third-generation union ironworker. His first job was a summer position at a steel fabrication shop while in high school. Later, he studied construction management at Northeast Louisiana University. After a four-year tour of duty with the U.S. Air Force, he returned home and started working out of Local 710 (Monroe, La.), working on projects throughout the South and Midwest. He was elected FST/BA in 1995 and held that position until 2008. He was hired in 2008 as a district council representative working for the Texas and the Mid-South States District Council. Jerry Wilson was appointed general organizer effective Oct. 1, 2019. General Organizer Jerry Wilson was appointed the general vice president, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Jimmy Buisson

President, Eastern Canada District Council

Jimmy Buisson became an apprentice ironworker in 2008 for Local 711 (Montreal, QC) and then a journeyman ironworker in 2009. In 2012, Buisson took an interest in his Local 711 and became involved as a trustee. He worked for various projects and contractors throughout Canada, such as the Quebec mine, Champlain Bridge and the Alberta oil sands. In 2013, Buisson was appointed president of Local 711 and elected in 2014. Jimmy Buisson was appointed general organizer of the Iron Workers International Union, effective April 9, 2018 and currently serves as the Eastern Canada District Council President.

James Hannah

President, Ontario Canada District Council

James Hannah is a second-generation ironworker who began his membership in August 1998 in Local 736 (Hamilton, ON). Hannah served his apprenticeship as an ironworker generalist and participated in the first ironworker apprentice class run through a local training centre in Ontario. Hannah was elected to the position of trustee in 2005, hired as dispatcher in 2009, appointed business agent in 2010 and served as business manager/financial secretary-treasurer from 2011 to April 2022. He was appointed general organizer, effective May 2022 and currently serves as the president of the Ontario District Council.

Ron Starkey

President, Southern Ohio & Vicinity District Council

Ron Starkey was initiated into Local 147 (Ft. Wayne, IN) apprenticeship in July 1989 and became a journeyman in December 1991, working in all phases of the trade. He served as Local 147's president for six years and Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer for 15 years. During that time, Starkey has been an instructor with the apprenticeship program, taught OSHA and MSHA classes, served as a trustee to the District Council of Southern Ohio & Vicinity trust funds and been a co-chair of the benefit fund. Ron Starkey was appointed General Organizer, effective June 2022 and currently serves as president of the Southern Ohio & Vicinity District Council.

Christopher McClain

President, Pacific Northwest District Council

Chris McClain has been a member of Local 86 since 1999 and graduated from the apprenticeship program in 2003. Since then, he worked as a JIW, Foreman and General Foreman. Chris volunteered for the Local as a Local Union Trustee from 2006 to 2009. In 2009 he came to work as the Dispatcher for Local 86 and was elected as a Business Agent in 2012 and in 2015 took on the additional role of Political Director. In 2018 Chris was elected as Business Manager of Local 86 Ironworkers and additionally, serves as 1st Vice President of the Pacific Northwest Ironworkers District Council.

Eric Kahle

President, Great Lakes District Council

Eric Kahle was organized by Local 55 (Toledo, OH) in 1999. In 2016, he was appointed business agent, which included the role of trustee on Local 55's Pension, Profit Sharing and Annuity Plan, and Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee. Kahle was then elected to serve as business manager of Local 55 in 2017. During his tenure as business manager, Kahle served as the financial secretary treasurer of the Ohio Iron Workers Association, an executive board member of the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, an ACT Ohio board member and a member of the Iron Workers Local Union/District Council Advisory Committee. Eric Kahle was appointed general organizer of the Iron Workers International Union, effective May 1, 2025 and currently serves as the Great Lakes District Council President.

Michael Heibeck

President, St. Louis & Vicinity District Council

Michael Heibeck is a third-generation ironworker, initiated into Local 396's (St. Louis) apprenticeship program in July 1997 and became a journeyman in 2000. He became trustee in 2008, executive board member in 2011, recording secretary in 2014, president/business agent in 2020, and business manager/financial secretary treasurer in 2021. He also served as an executive board member of the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council and the Greater St. Louis Labor Council. Michael was appointed general organizer, effective December 2025, and currently serves as president of the Great Lakes District Council.

Michael Hess

President, New England States District Council

Michael Hess was indentured into the Ironworkers Apprenticeship Training Program in 2000 at the age of 21 and served a three-year apprenticeship in Local 7 Boston. During his time in the field as an ironworker he worked in various facets of the trade, reinforcing, structural, miscellaneous metals and ornamental. Throughout his time in the field, he worked as a steward on various projects and worked as a foreman for several different signatories. In 2012 he was elected to the executive board for three years, following that term he was elected President of the local in 2015. During his time as President, he became appointed to the Business Agent Boston/West position in 2016. In March of 2020 he was appointed to the role of Business Manager. Throughout this time, he held several positions including Trustee to the Boston Building Trades Council, Vice President to the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Massachusetts Building Trades Council Executive Board Member and Board Member to the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health.

Kerry Zettlemoyer

President, Philadelphia & Vicinity District Council

Kerry Zettlemoyer, a second-generation ironworker, was initiated into Local 404 (Harrisburg, PA) in 1988 and completed his apprenticeship in 1991. He has been involved in the local, serving in various positions and being elected vice president in 1993 and 1996. In 1999, he was elected president and appointed business agent, and in 2002, he was elected business manager. During his nearly 20-year tenure as business manager/financial secretary treasurer, Zettlemoyer also served the union construction industry as Pennsylvania State Building Trades vice president, Central Pennsylvania Building Trades vice president, joint apprenticeship and training committee trustee, and annuity, health, welfare, and pension trustee. Kerry Zettlemoyer was appointed general organizer assigned to the maintenance and jurisdiction department, effective November 2021 and was reassigned to the District Council of Philadelphia & Vicinity serving as president effective January 2026.

Aaron Bast

CEO, Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT)

Aaron Bast is a 26-year member of Ironworkers Local 5 in Washington, DC. The former business manager/financial secretary treasurer for the local, he joined the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT) in August 2025 as the executive assistant to the CEO. As of January 1, 2026, Aaron now serves as the CEO of IMPACT. Aaron was first indentured as an apprentice in Ironworkers Local 5 in 2000. He worked in the field as an apprentice, journey worker, foreman, general foreman, and superintendent. Bast served as vice president, organizer, business manager, and pension and health/welfare trustee for Ironworkers Local 5. He received his Trustees Masters Program certification from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans in 2019. During his time as business manager, Aaron was an executive board member for the Virginia State AFL-CIO, the Metro Washington DC Council AFL-CIO, the Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, the Virginia Building Trades, and the Baltimore/DC Buildings Trades. He was also appointed to the Maryland Subsequent Injury Fund Board by Governor Moore.

John Cangey

IMPACT Regional Director, California & Vicinity / Pacific NW Regions

John Cangey was indentured into the Ironworkers Apprenticeship Training Program in Los Angeles in 1996 at the age of 18. Throughout his 21 years in the field, he worked as an ironworker apprentice, journeyman, foreman, general foreman and superintendent for several signatory contractors throughout the Southern California and Las Vegas areas. John was appointed as Business Agent for Local 433 (Los Angeles / Las Vegas) in 2017. He excelled in the performance of his Business Agent responsibilities, from his appointment through re-elections in 2018 and 2021. He was able to organize several non-union projects, recruit hundreds of apprentices into the Ironworkers Apprenticeship and build and develop relationships with developers, local politicians and influential members of the community resulting in the coordination and negotiation of multiple Community Workforce Agreements (CWA's) and Project Labor Agreements (PLA's). In 2020, John was appointed as Planning Commissioner of his community of Buena Park and to the Citizens Oversight Committee for the Centralia School District's Bond Measure N. In 2021, John was hired by IMPACT as the Western Regional Director. He remains committed to promoting the Iron Workers and providing members with easily accessible quality training for all facets of the trade. He believes that a skilled and trained workforce is the cornerstone of growth for union market share.

Zach Gorman

IMPACT Regional Director, Midwest / Heartland Regions

Zachary was first indentured as an apprentice with Local 89 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1998. Over the years, he served the local as both an apprenticeship instructor and an organizer. He later became the Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer for Local 89 before moving on to serve as General Organizer, assigned to IMPACT as a Regional Director.

Harvey Swift

IMPACT Regional Director, Southeast / Southwest Regions

Harvey C. Swift, after serving four years in the United States Marine Corps, became a member of Iron Workers Local Union #584 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Harvey was indentured into the apprenticeship program, graduating in 1996. He worked his way up from Journeyman to Foreman, General Foreman, Superintendent, and eventually a Project Manager. Harvey was also an instructor at the apprenticeship training program and was an officer of Local Union #584 for more than 10 years where he served on several committees. In 2012, he became the Vice President of Operations for Bennett Steel, Inc., a signatory contractor based near Tulsa, OK. In this role, he managed the labor needs for the company and directly supervised all of the company's Field Supervisors, the Quality Department, and Safety Department, among other things. In 2017, Harvey was hired by the Iron Workers International as a General Organizer, assigned to work as a Regional Director for IMPACT (Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust), a labor-management partnership focused on improving safety and productivity in the industry. He continues in that labor-management role serving unions, union contractors, contractor associations, and union members.

Joe Sorensen

IMPACT Regional Director, New England / Great Lakes / New York Regions

Joseph Sorensen is the Eastern Regional Director at IMPACT. With 25 years of experience at Ironworkers Local 424 in New Haven CT, from being a Foreman/General Foreman at The Berlin Steel Construction Company for over a decade, to being an Instructor, Organizer, Apprenticeship Coordinator, President/Business Agent, and Business Manager/FS-T, he has focused on Safety, Mental Health and Awareness, Local Political and Business Plans, and overall development of the relationships between Local Unions and their Contractor base. Joe is a devoted husband and father of three who is committed to Integrity, Transparency, and a drive to help every Ironworker and Contractor achieve their personal and professional goals.

Bert Royer

IMPACT Regional Director, Canada

Bert Royer is a 51-year member of the Iron Workers Union and former financial secretary-treasurer/business manager of Local No. 771, Regina, Saskatchewan. He became IMPACT's Canadian Regional Director in April 2012. Mr. Royer was first indentured as an apprentice with Local 711, Montreal, Quebec, in 1974, where he served for four years. In 1979, Mr. Royer transferred his membership to Local No. 771, Regina, Saskatchewan, where he worked as a connector, foreman and general foreman on numerous industrial construction projects. Throughout his career, Mr. Royer has held several prominent industry positions, including labor co-chair of the Construction Opportunities Development Council of Saskatchewan and President of the Saskatchewan Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council (for which he served four terms). In addition, Mr. Royer served one term on the Canadian Board of International Foundation of Employee Benefits. In his free time, Mr. Royer enjoys golfing and riding his Harley Davidson.

Tom Baun

Mass Timber Director

Tom Baun serves as the Special Project Director for the Ironworkers, bringing extensive expertise from the timber and wood products sector to one of the nation's most innovative construction trades. With a strong foundation in the timber industry and long-standing relationships across design, engineering, and construction networks, Tom plays a pivotal role in advancing product strategy and cross-industry collaboration for Ironworker members. Tom built his career in the timber and wood building products industry, working with leading organizations focused on sustainable wood design, construction, and mass-timber advocacy. He has deep experience engaging industry stakeholders, developing strategic partnerships, and supporting technical education initiatives that bridge traditional wood building practices with modern structural solutions. Tom's leadership and industry insight support the Ironworkers' mission to champion advanced product capabilities, elevate workforce skills, and foster collaboration across the broad spectrum of modern construction disciplines—including the growing intersection of steel and engineered wood building systems.

Mike Smith

Contractor Representative

Since joining the Ironworkers Union in 2002, Mike has built a wide-ranging career that spans nearly every facet of the trade. His extensive field experience gave him a strong grounding in both the technical demands and the day-to-day realities of ironworking, shaping a practical, solutions-driven approach to every project. Mike's commitment to the union led him into leadership roles with Local 7 in Boston, where he first served as Trustee and later as Recording Secretary. In 2017, he was elected Business Agent, representing members and advocating for their interests during a period of significant growth and change. In 2021, Mike transitioned into business development with a focus on industrial work, expanding opportunities, and strengthening partnerships across the sector. By 2025, he shifted his attention to the rapidly emerging mass timber market, working to position ironworkers at the forefront of this evolving field and to ensure the trade plays a central role in its expansion.

Eddie Jezek

Compliance Officer

Eddie Jezek has been a proud Union Ironworker with Local 86 since 2007, building much of his career atop Seattle's skyline as a structural steel erector. His leadership abilities were recognized early; he advanced quickly in the field and went on to serve seven years on the Local 86 Executive Board before being elected Business Agent in 2021. In his current role, Eddie represents King County and oversees PLA/CWA projects across the Local's jurisdiction. His work centers on ensuring compliance, safeguarding historical craft jurisdiction, and preparing the membership for emerging innovations in the industry, including the rapid expansion of Mass Timber construction. Eddie also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for MASSTAC, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the Mass Timber industry in Washington. Drawing on his deep understanding of Mass Timber and his extensive compliance experience, he collaborates closely with IMPACT to help locals protect and capture work opportunities in this growing green sector, one that is poised to complement and, in some cases, replace traditional structural steel and concrete construction.