Twenty-one year IBEW member Mark Maumau has joined the IBEW 1245 staff as an Assistant Business Manager. He will be working with Local 1245 ‘s vegetation management/ line clearance tree trimmer group.
Brother Maumau started his career right after high school when vhe enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He served in the Infantry Reserves from 1991-99, when he was honorably discharged as a Platoon Sargeant. He was also attending college and working various construction jobs at the time, but decided to take a two-year sabbatical from 94-96 to serve an LDS Service Mission, connecting with the Tongan, Samoan and Spanish-speaking communities throughout the greater San Jose area.
Maumau worked at various non-union civil contractors (running mostly small and heavy equipment) until one day he met an IBEW Local 57 Union Rep on a project he was working in Salt Lake City, Utah. That rep encouraged Maumau to apply for the line apprenticeship program. On June 2001, Maumau started as a Groundman and then in 2003, he was indentured as an apprentice lineman in the Mountain States JATC Program. After journeying out, Maumau worked all over the the country for various line contractors, including Wasatch Electric and Sturgeon Electric. He held Foreman positions for most of his career in the field, and he also served the IBEW as a Shop Steward, Construction Unit Recorder, and part-time JATC Instructor (his personal favorite role). Additionally, he sat on various committees aimed at bettering members’ lives.
In June of 2010, the same Local 57 Union Rep came calling again, this time inviting Maumau to serve as his replacement as the new Local 57 Assistant Business Manager representing Outside Line Construction and Tree Clearance in the tri-state area of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. This role gave Maumau the opportunity to wear many different hats. He served on the JATC Sub-Committee and Board of Trustees as Delegate, LINECO Trustee, Secretary & Chairman, Local and JATC Programs Development Committee Chair, Shop & Safety Stewards Training Committee, Co-Chair of the Utah Lineman’s Rodeo Committee, 57 Lead Organizer & Campaign Strategist, Labor Committee Chief Negotiator, 8th District Construction Lineman’s Test Committee Chair, Utah AFL/CIO Labor Council, IBEW International Convention Delegate, and Veterans Labor Committee Secretary.
“The IBEW gave me, an immigrant of Tongan/Hawaiian descent who came from poverty, a chance to have a permanent seat securely in the middle class,” said Maumau. “I’ve graduated a daughter and son from college, retired my spouse eight years ago, and I’m virtually debt-free. I live a life that I could never have imagined, thanks to the American Dream and my union.”
“I came on board at IBEW 1245 because I was looking for a challenge and something that would give me purpose,” he added. “What’s happening here in 1245’s jurisdiction will be the example to the rest of the country that the Labor movement is alive and well – so I had to be part of this team, and I’m excited about this opportunity!”
In his free time, Maumau enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is passionate about music, sports, books, and the arts, as well as hiking, camping, and boating. He loves traveling to see different places and is a dedicated SF 49s fan.