Chicago, IL— Nearly 2,000 IBEW delegates gathered in Chicago at the end of summer for the 2025 Membership Development Conference, and IBEW 1245 was there in force. The week combined intensive pre-conference trainings, workshops, keynote addresses, and strategy sessions with union leaders from across the country.
IBEW 1245 stood out among the locals in attendance, receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award for achie
ving 98% Outside Construction Market Share (meaning nearly all outside line construction in our jurisdiction is done union).
That level of market share protects the wages, benefits, and safety standards of our members and the broader community, while also ensuring steady work and opportunity for the future.
The achievement reflects the extraordinary organizing success of Local 1245’s members, staff, and organizing stewards in holding the line against non-union encroachment.
“With 1245 members performing 98% of outside construction work in our jurisdiction, we’re protecting our members, creating steady work and training opportunities while delivering safe, reliable proj
ects that benefit the entire community,” said Bob Dean, IBEW 1245 Business Manager.
“This award is a testament to the solidarity, skill and discipline of our membership in Outside Line and to our dedicated staff who work tirelessly to grow and defend our industry,” said Senior Assistant Business Manager Al Fortier, who attended alongside ABMs Rene Cruz Martinez and Ethan Stonecipher, Organizers Charlotte Stevens, Melissa Echeverria, and Rick Thompson, and Organizing Stewards Kimberly Kendrick, Manuel Garcia, Gabrielle Butler, and Britney Morris, who is also IBEW 1245 Treasurer.
For many 1245 Organizing Stewards, the conference was both a learning experience and an inspiration.
Kimberly Kendrick, Organizing Steward from Fresno: “The CORE Organizing Communication class gave me valuable tools I can bring back to my unit meetings. My biggest takeaway was to really meet people where they are—listen first, understand what barriers might exist, and don’t create new ones. That approach makes it easier to connect with both current and future members and ultimately helps us achieve our organizing goals.”
Britney Morris, IBEW 1245 Treasurer and Organizing Steward from Reno, Nevada: “The conference theme, Stand Up, Stand Together, really resonated with me. Hearing from leaders like AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler reminded us that the state of the unions is under attack but also energized us to keep fighting. The workshops and trainings gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges ahead and the tools we need to face them. What stayed with me most were President Kenneth Cooper’s words: ‘You never really lose an organizing campaign—you’ve educated a worker and shown them the power of standing together.’ That message brought it all home: when we fight, we win.”
Manuel Garcia, Organizing Steward from Fresno: “The organizer training was the most impactful part of the conference. It gave me practical tools I can use right away to spark interest, encourage participation, and strengthen leadership in my unit. The experience broadened my understanding of organizing and gave me new strategies to support our union’s growth.”
“Our members are the best organizers,” said Assistant Business Manager Rene Cruz Martinez. “Their commitment to building solidarity and expanding union strength is why 1245 continues to lead the way nationally.”