FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 - Today, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram was elected as Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) General Board Chair, Jennifer Dorning was re-elected as DPE President, Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) National Executive Director David White was re-elected as DPE First Vice President, and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley was elected as DPE Treasurer. The officers were voted on by the DPE General Board, which includes representatives from DPE’s 24 affiliated unions, at today’s DPE Quadrennial General Board meeting. The officer positions are for four year terms, which end in 2025.  

Each of the elected officers will serve an important role in the governance and operations of DPE. The general board chair heads DPE’s governing body, serves as a member of the DPE Executive Committee, presides over board meetings, is a fiduciary trustee, assists in the appointment of committees, and helps fill leadership vacancies. DPE’s president, as the only full-time officer, supervises the affairs and leads the day-to-day activities of the organization.  The first vice president presides over meetings in the president's absence and the treasurer serves as the financial officer of the department.

Also elected as general vice presidents were Matt Biggs (International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)), Jay Blumenthal (American Federation of Musicians (AFM)), Roxanne Brown (United Steelworkers (USW)), Pamela Greenwalt (SAG-AFTRA), Phil Kugler (AFT), Mary Mahoney (Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)), Mary McColl (Actors' Equity Association (AEA)), Tyler McIntosh (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employee (IATSE)), and James Slevin (Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA)).

“I’m honored to be elected Chair of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO General Board,” said Ingram. “I know from my experience as a union leader, teacher, and musician the gains professionals can achieve by joining together in union. DPE provides its affiliated unions with a forum to share experiences and expertise, allowing us to strengthen our unions of professionals. I am excited to chair this forward-looking coalition at such a critical time, and help build even better unions and a stronger labor movement.”

After being elected AFT Secretary-Treasurer in September 2020, Ingram began serving as DPE Treasurer. Previously, Ingram was a music teacher and band director in the Miami-Dade public schools and the president of the Florida Education Association. He has also toured the country as a saxophone soloist and conductor.

Dorning’s re-election as DPE President comes after she was elected by the DPE Executive Committee in 2018 to fill the remaining term of DPE’s past president who retired after 17 years of service to the department. She is the third president in DPE’s 40-plus year history. Additionally, as the first female president of DPE, Dorning is the only woman to lead an AFL-CIO trade department.

“I’m proud to be able to continue serving DPE’s 24 affiliates and I’m grateful for the support of DPE’s general board,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “I also want to congratulate Chair Ingram, First Vice President White, and Treasurer Kelley. I’m excited to work with this dynamic group of union leaders. 

During my time as president, DPE has remained a vital resource for unions representing and organizing professionals. We’ve developed new ways to reach professionals, facilitated collaboration among affiliates, and improved the lives of working people. I look forward to continuing to find innovative ways to connect with professionals about the benefits of joining together in union.”

About DPE

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.