ABOUT ME

My name is Stephen Gonzales, and I am proud to serve as your current Business Manager and Financial Secretary for Local 716. 

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After taking a vocational class with Mr. Greg Clark at MacArthur High School, I knew I wanted to be an electrician. After graduating high school in June, I applied to the JATC but was told I missed the application date by one month. Obviously, I was disappointed, but I knew this was where I wanted to be. So, I waited and applied the following year. I got accepted to the program as an un-indentured apprentice in May, 1996. To this date, it has been one of the best decisions of my life.

 

Like many of you, I had to wait another year to become a member and was sworn into the Brotherhood in 1997. I took my Oath of Obligation at the Union Meeting, not knowing where it would take me. I never in a million years dreamed that my journey would end up here, but for the last 28 years, I have upheld that Oath, always agreeing to abide by our constitution and laws, bearing true allegiance to it and not sacrificing its interest in any manner.

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In June, 2001, I graduated from the Apprenticeship Program and headed to the Hall to flip my ticket to Journeyman Wireman. With that yellow ticket in my hand, I knew that the sky was the limit. I poured myself into the Brotherhood and have been actively involved every day since then.

 

Throughout my career in Local 716, I have been honored to serve the membership in a variety of roles: 

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2022: Elected as your Business Manager/Financial Secretary

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2021: Appointed to be one of your HJATC Trustees

 

2019: Appointed to the Union Fidelity Federal Credit Union Board of Directors

 

2018 - 2022: Served as an Assistant Business Manager in the Financial/Dues Department

 

Elected as a delegate to two (2) International Conventions in 2016 and 2021

 

2016: Appointed as a Trustee to your Local 716 Pension Board

 

2015 – 2018: Served as Assistant Business Manager in the Construction Department

 

2010 - 2015: Worked as a Local 716 Organizer

 

2008: Appointed as a Trustee to the Electrical Medical Trust

 

In addition to the duties above, I was asked to participate in (2) Negotiation Committees for our Collective Bargaining Agreement, and as your current Business Manager/Financial Secretary, I served as your Lead Negotiator for your present Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

 

Serving as your Business Manager/ Financial Secretary has been one of the biggest honors of my lifetime. Even though it has been challenging from time to time, and I am sporting more gray hair than ever, I am proud of the progress we have made together, but I firmly believe we are just getting started. Click here to see some of the biggest accomplishments we have made together in the last 2.5 years. 

 

​​When I am not working for you, the membership, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Mandy Gonzales, and our (5) five children. As you can imagine, they keep us extra busy with all their activities. However, when we aren't sitting on the sidelines watching our youngest play basketball and soccer or in the audience watching one of middle daughters play the violin in her High School Orchestra, you can catch us hanging out with our family at home, barbecuing and playing cards and dominoes. 

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