Labor and Leadership
Meet the individuals making an impact across South Jersey Biz’s inaugural Who’s Who in Unions and Labor Organizations, highlighting the people and organizations shaping the region’s labor landscape.
Labor is a cornerstone of South Jersey’s economy, and behind the region’s workforce are leaders who advocate for employees, strengthen organizations and help shape the future of work.
For South Jersey Biz’s inaugural Who’s Who in Unions and Labor Organizations, we’re spotlighting the individuals making an impact across the region’s labor community. These leaders represent a diverse range of industries and organizations, united by a commitment to their members, their workplaces and the communities they serve.
Deborah White, RN, BSN
President of Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE); National Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers
As a registered nurse at Virtua Memorial Hospital for 27 years and a long-term med-surg nurse, White was involved in the initial organizing at her worksite in 1996. She became grievance chair in 2007 and was eventually elected president of Local 5105 in 2010, serving in that role for eight years. As HPAE president, White has brought her fierce advocacy for health care workers to many critical issues at the state and national levels. On safe staffing, while HPAE has found success through collective bargaining, White continues to fight for enforceable staffing regulations at both levels. She has also become an expert in addressing workplace violence, filing multiple OSHA complaints after staff members were injured by violent patients and pursuing a national OSHA standard for workplace violence.
White also serves on the board of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. Representing 15,000 health care workers across New Jersey and Philadelphia, she is dedicated to advancing health care workers’ rights, workplace safety and quality patient care.
Greg Lalevee
Business Manager, IUOE Local 825
Lalevee rose through the ranks of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 825, and was elected business manager in 2010, representing more than 7,000 men and women throughout New Jersey and New York’s lower Hudson Valley. A second-generation operating engineer, he worked as a crane operator from 1984 to 2000, when he became Local 825’s first organizer. In his role as business manager, he champions opportunities for members through direct advocacy and maintains a strong focus on regional economic development.
While union membership has been declining nationally, Lalevee has seen ongoing growth in membership during his tenure. Local 825 has become a source of qualified, productive operating engineers. In return for their expertise and hard work, members receive better wages, benefits and working conditions.
Lalevee also serves as a vice president on the International Union of Operating Engineers’ General Executive Board.
Michael Laughlin
Assistant Business Manager, IUPAT District Council 21
In addition to his role with District Council 21, Laughlin is president of the Atlantic Cape Building Trades Council and vice president of the New Jersey State Building Trades Council.
Laughlin began his career as an apprentice glazier for Local Union 252 in Atlantic City and helped build many of the casino projects there, including Harrah’s, Tropicana and Borgata. He held many positions during his time in Atlantic City, including journeyperson, shop steward, foreman, general foreman, project manager and estimator. Later in his career, Laughlin was hired as an organizer with Glaziers Local 252 and then elected a business representative, where he currently serves union members and the signatory glazing contractor community through offices in Atlantic City and Philadelphia.
In addition to his leadership roles in the building trades, Laughlin serves as a board member of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) and the Architectural Glass and Metal Certification Council (AGMCC).
Jack Kocsis Jr.
CEO, ACCNJ
Kocsis is chief executive officer of the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACCNJ). ACCNJ represents contractor members engaged in commercial, institutional and industrial building construction, as well as heavy, highway, marine, site development and utility construction.
For more than 35 years, Kocsis has led the association and has been directly involved in labor negotiations and jurisdiction settlement proceedings statewide with the general construction trades. He serves on a variety of labor-management boards and committees, including the New Jersey Laborers’-Employers’ Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET), the Carpenter Contractor Trust (CCT), the Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative (ELEC) and the Bricklayers Labor Management Fund.
Kocsis is co-chair of the New Jersey Building Laborers Statewide Benefit Funds and the Construction Craft Laborers Training and Apprenticeship Fund of New Jersey and Delaware; co-chair of the benefit funds of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters; co-chair of the Ironworkers District Council (Philadelphia & Vicinity); and co-chair of the Heavy and General Laborers. He also serves as a management trustee on numerous union fringe benefit funds.
Amy Hennessy
Executive Director, Employing Bricklayers Association
For the past nine years, Hennessey has worked with the Employing Bricklayers Association (EBA)—which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary—and says she truly loves her work and the people she works alongside.
But Hennessey’s involvement extends well beyond EBA, as she serves on the Region One Committee for Beauty of Block, the Construction Management Advisory Council at Drexel University, the ACE Mentor Program Associate Board and the Mid-Atlantic Region LECET Board. She also supports Philadelphia’s vocational students exploring careers in commercial construction and serves as a board trustee for BAC Local 1 and the LDC.
As president of the Philadelphia Fire Department Foundation, she is especially passionate about giving back. Across all her roles, Hennessey’s focus is simple: helping people succeed. She credits her ability to connect people, organizations and opportunities to help turn goals into reality as one of her greatest strengths.
Kurt Pechmann
President, Carpenters Local 255
Kurt Pechmann
President, Carpenters Local 255
Pechmann leads one of the largest carpenters’ organizations in the Eastern Atlantic States with Local 255 represents union carpenters across eight counties in South Jersey, the entire state of Delaware, Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
The local specializes in commercial construction, with members contributing to projects ranging from structural work to detailed interior finishes. Its workforce supports multiple phases of construction, from foundations to final finishes.
Workforce development is an important part of Local 255’s operations. More than 500 apprentices are developing the skills needed for careers in commercial construction through hands-on experience and formal training focused on craftsmanship, safety and professionalism.
Under Pechmann’s leadership, Local 255 serves union carpenters, apprentices, contractors and project owners throughout its jurisdiction. The organization’s work includes apprenticeship training, jobsite safety and providing a skilled workforce for commercial construction projects.
Corey Gallman
President, ATU Local 880
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 880 is the second-largest ATU local in New Jersey, representing approximately 1,700 NJ Transit bus operations, maintenance and field salaried employees across South Jersey, including the Camden area. Local 880 defends its members through contract enforcement, grievances and arbitration. Gallman rose through the ranks from shop steward to financial secretary-treasurer, serving two terms in that role before becoming president and business agent. He now maintains a reinstatement and arbitration success rate of more than 90%.
Gallman also serves as an executive officer of the New Jersey State Joint Council, helping negotiate contracts that protect members’ wages, benefits and retirement security.
Cathy Murphy
Executive Director, SJMCA
Murphy brings more than 25 years of experience to the South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association (SJMCA), becoming executive director in 2019 after serving as its part-time financial analyst for 18 years. A dedicated advocate for New Jersey’s union mechanical industry, Murphy promotes the value of highly trained, skilled union labor and the brotherhood, pride and solidarity that define the union workforce.
Through SJMCA’s partnership with UA Local 322, she champions apprenticeship, continuing education and journeyperson training to strengthen the industry for generations to come. Murphy is equally committed to giving back, and her community service has earned her numerous honors.
Daniel Ross Jr.
President, UFCW Local 152
Ross leads UFCW Local 152, a 14,000-member union that represents workers in retail grocery, manufacturing, health care, cannabis and the public sector. Recently reelected to a second term, he is known for bringing a pragmatic, member-centered approach to union leadership.
An organizer at heart, Ross has spent his career fighting for working people. He has held positions as a union organizer, business representative, assistant bargaining director, bargaining director and executive assistant to the president before being elected president of Local 152.
Ross and his dedicated team fight for strong collective bargaining agreements, meaningful representation, legislative protections for the working class and strategic organizing efforts to grow the union’s membership and reach.
Laurel Brennan
Secretary-Treasurer, New Jersey State AFL-CIO
Brennan was elected secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO in 1997 and reelected to an eighth term in 2024. She is the first woman to hold the position in New Jersey and, at the time of her election, was the third woman in the nation to serve in the role. She oversees the organization’s budget and financial responsibilities.
Brennan began her labor career as an organizer with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (now Workers United) and later served as a business agent and assistant manager of the Philadelphia-South Jersey District Council. She was also the first woman elected secretary-treasurer of the Southern New Jersey Central Labor Council and helped establish its CLUW chapter.
Samantha Roman
President, Associated Builders and Contractors of New Jersey
Roman is the youngest president in the history of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ New Jersey chapter, leading one of the state’s largest and most influential construction trade associations, which represents more than 1,300 merit shop contractors and industry firms. A respected advocate for New Jersey’s construction industry, she leverages her extensive political and public affairs expertise to champion policies that promote economic growth, workforce development and free enterprise.
Under her leadership, ABC New Jersey has strengthened its voice in both Trenton and Washington, D.C., ensuring merit shop contractors have a powerful advocate at every level of government.
William C. Sproule
Executive Secretary-Treasurer, EASRCC
Sproule serves as executive secretary-treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC), leading more than 43,000 members across six states and Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, EASRCC has expanded work opportunities, strengthened apprenticeship programs and advanced labor standards. He has driven organizing efforts, secured key industry partnerships and advocated for pro-worker policies.
Sproule also oversees the council’s benefit funds as chairman and its workforce development initiatives and political engagement efforts to protect union jobs. He represents EASRCC on various boards, helping strengthen the union. His focus remains on creating opportunities and securing a strong future for union carpenters.
Adam Liebtag
President, CWA Local 1036
President, CWA Local 1036
Liebtag brings 25 years of service with CWA to his leadership of a union representing 9,000 members across New Jersey.
Liebtag is also president of the Burlington County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, where he represents more than 15,000 working families across a range of labor trades. He has been a leader in the fight for affordable health care through his role at CWA and his service as a member of the SHBP Plan Design Committee. He also advocates for protecting public services and advancing dignity and opportunity for working people throughout New Jersey.
Sam Ferraino
President, UFCW Local 360
Ferraino is committed to advancing fairness, dignity and respect in the workplace while advocating for strong wages, benefits, safety standards and job security. He works diligently to ensure that members have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their livelihoods and families. Throughout his career, he has supported workers, addressed workplace concerns and strengthened the union’s commitment to service and accountability. Ferraino began his career at Acme Markets as a union member and later became a shop steward. His dedication and leadership led him to serve as a business agent, servicing director and secretary-treasurer before being elected president.
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Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 16, Issue 10 (October 2026).
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