Our Team
WHO WE ARE
Meet the officers and staff on Michigan AFL-CIO’s team. The Michigan AFL-CIO is staffed by a team of folks dedicated to improving the lives of working families, bringing economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our state and the nation.
Ron Bieber
PRESIDENT
Daryl Newman
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Derek Dobies
CHIEF OF STAFF
Stephanie Brown
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Zinnia Kallabat
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF
Ryan Sebolt
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Conner Wood
CAMPAIGNS DIRECTOR

Joey Andrews
POLICY ANALYST
Gwen Jordan
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

Veronica Martinez
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Payton Ferris
DIGITAL DIRECTOR
Carly Rose
ORGANIZING DIRECTOR

Chris Palette
NATIONAL AFL-CIO SENIOR STRATEGIST & DATA TEAM LEAD

Luke Canfora
NATIONAL AFL-CIO SENIOR FIELD REPRESENTATIVE

Cajsa Maki
REGIONAL FIELD COORDINATOR (UPRLF)

John Taylor
REGIONAL FIELD DIRECTOR (WESTERN)

Joe Bellgowan
REGIONAL FIELD DIRECTOR (EASTERN)

Jamiel Martin
POLITICAL DIRECTOR (METRO DETROIT)

Trent Varva
REGIONAL FIELD COORDINATOR (HURON VALLEY & MONROE-LENAWEE)

Max Lewis
REGIONAL FIELD COORDINATOR (METRO)

Bill Elliot
FACILITIES MANAGER
Advocates
Michigan AFL-CIO Advocates is our public advocacy nonprofit organization. Our mission is to unite labor leaders, policy makers, and the general public to educate and advocate around policies, programs and projects that can bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to communities across Michigan.

Jasmine Kaltenbach
Executive Director
Jasmine Kaltenbach was born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan where she comes from a family of union members. While attending the University of Michigan, Jasmine participated in student activist movements on campus, in College Democrats, and wrote for the MichiganEnsian yearbook. She graduated from the Ford School with a BA in Public Policy, focus in the Economics of Poverty and Inequality.
She ran a competitive mayoral race in Jackson, Michigan and has experience in sales, field organizing, event planning, and fundraising. She continues to consult campaigns on field, finance, and communications. Jasmine is also a presenter at Great Lakes Political academy on Coalition Building, Coordinating, and Outreach to Partner Organizations and Progressive Internship Programs: Best Practices.
She is excited to work at the Michigan AFL-CIO advancing pro-labor municipal policies that will help Michigan’s working families. Jasmine is a member of UAW Local 1981.

Labor Foundation
The Michigan AFL-CIO Labor Foundation is our affiliated charitable nonprofit organization. Our mission is to curtail generational economic and social injustice through long-term investment in the memorialization, education, and association of the Michigan labor movement within our communities.

Elizabeth Gotham
Executive Director
Elizabeth (Elle) Gotham is a licensed attorney in Michigan with expertise in labor and employment law. Prior to joining the Federation, Elle owned a law practice where she fought to protect workers’ rights under the Civil Rights Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act and corresponding state laws.
Elle hails from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where she grew up on the shores of Lake Superior. After attending Michigan State University, she moved to the City of Detroit where she still resides today. Elle worked for Congressman John Dingell for three years before attending Wayne State University Law School. There she served as Managing Editor of the Wayne Law Review and graduated first in her class. As someone who has advised and represented employees across various industries in court, and as a working mom herself, Elle is acutely aware of the challenges facing Michigan workers and their families. She is dedicated to advancing the mission of the Michigan AFL-CIO’s Labor Foundation so that all Michiganders can feel the power and benefits of collective action.


Workforce Development Institute
The Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute is our affiliated nonprofit developing the next generation of Michigan workers. Our mission is to combat economic and environmental injustice by connecting the unemployed or underemployed with the training and resources necessary to find gainful employment and transition to a cleaner, greener economy.

Cheryl Sanford
Chief Executive Officer
As the Chief Executive Officer for the Workforce Development Institute, Cheryl Sanford has over 30 years of experience as a workforce development professional providing services for job seekers and employers. Her areas of expertise include program development, grant writing
business services, and project management. She works with local and state economic developers to provide assistance for businesses ranging from self-employed entrepreneurs to large corporations.
Raised in Highland Park, MI, Cheryl is committed to serving her community. She was elected to the Highland Park School Board in 2018 and serves on several other boards including The Highland Park Business Association, Solidarity, and the United Community Housing Coalition. She is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Journalism.

Cheryl Sanford
CEO

Missy Guth-Beach
COO

Annette Donnelly
FISCAL / CONTRACT MANAGER

Walter R. Lodes
DIRECTOR APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING

Colleen Sullivan
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Southwest
Coldwater, Calhoon, and Battle Creek

Sam Dougherty
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Blaine Farr
WIOA COORDINATOR / BUSINESS SERVICES / CAREER COACH

Julie L. Gregory
Program Tech III

Theresa Olvera
CAREER COACH

Megan Tappenden
CAREER COACH
SEMCA – Highland Park Office, Detroit

Kevin Weeks
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FROM SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN

Kiah O. Esaw
ACCESS FOR ALL COORDINATOR

Beverly A. Hogan
CASE MANAGER

Bethany Smith
PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Ron Merritt
LEAD ACCESS FOR ALL CASE MANAGER

Saher Abdulmalek
BUSINESS SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE

Kimberly Allen-Bradfield
BUSINESS SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE

Ken Miller
BUSINESS SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE

Sherry White
WIOA COORDINATOR
Access for All

JoAnn Bailey
DIRECTOR OF APPRENTICESHIP READINESS PROGRAM

David Gregory
INSTRUCTOR

Kaelyn Lewis
CASE MANAGER – JACKSON

Annette Avery
INSTRUCTOR

Malik Rollins
INSTRUCTOR

Tyrese West
INSTRUCTOR

LaTasha Smith
SKILLED TRADES INSTRUCTOR

Zachary El Amin
SKILLED TRADES INSTRUCTOR

Theodore Spencer
SKILLED TRADES INSTRUCTOR

John Perkins
SKILLED TRADES INSTRUCTOR

Larry Tolbert
SKILLED TRADES INSTRUCTOR

Shandra Dunn
RECRUITER
Community Services
The Michigan AFL-CIO Community Services Department represents the partnership between the Michigan AFL-CIO and the Michigan Association of United Ways. The convening provides education, training, and service opportunities for union members to join with local United Ways in developing powerful responses to challenges faced in communities across Michigan.

Michele Basemore
METRO-DETROIT AFL-CIO
Tiffany Bush
UW SOUTHEASTERN MI
Jesse Cloman Sr.
UW GENESEE COUNTY
Alicia Dennis
UW SOUTHEASTERN MI
Richard Franz
TRI-COUNTY LABOR AGENCY
Tanise Hill
SE MICHIGAN UW
Steve Lamb
UW SAGINAW COUNTY
Teresa McGinnis
UW GENESEE COUNTY
Rella Bittner
UW WASHTENAW COUNTY
David Pawloski
UW BATTLE CREEK/KALAMAZOO
Dan TenHoopen
HEART OF WEST MI UW
Nikkia Hurlbert
UW JACKSON COUNTY
Robert Cramer
MI ASSOCIATION UW
Janavive Routt
UW LAKESHORE