SHEET METAL WORKERS' NATIONAL PENSION FUND - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Director of Operations
• NPF Staff Member
• Department: Operations

Job Titles:

• Billing Manager

Job Titles:

• Business Manager of Local
• Labor Trustee

He took a leave of absence from his apprenticeship to finish his formal education at Northwest Missouri State University with a combined degree in Industrial Technology and Business in 1985. Upon his graduation from college, Greg restarted his apprentice training and became a journeyman in 1989. Greg immediately started giving back to the trade, teaching for the Local 2 JATC that fall. While still teaching, Greg was elected to the Local 2 Executive board in 1994. In 1999, when Local 2's apprentice program began day time training, Greg was chosen as a full-time instructor. While teaching at the JATC, Greg received a degree in Labor Education from the National Labor College in 2003. While still teaching, Greg was then elected as union President in 2000 later left the JATC when he was elected as Business Representative in 2003. Greg has been the Business Manager of Local 2 since 2014. Greg was appointed to the National Pension Fund board in August of 2018. Greg Chastain is the Business Manager of Local 2 in Missouri. Greg started his sheet metal career, following in his father's footsteps, becoming an apprentice in 1983 while still attending Maple Woods Community College.

Job Titles:

• Management Trustee
• Member of the SMACNA

Jack Knox is a past president of SMACNA national and also president of R.F. Knox Company, in Smyrna, Georgia. The fourth generation to run his family business, Jack grew up working in his father's sheet metal shop. He officially entered the industry as an estimator, two days after graduating from Auburn University. When his father... Read More Jack Knox is a past president of SMACNA national and also president of R.F. Knox Company, in Smyrna, Georgia. The fourth generation to run his family business, Jack grew up working in his father's sheet metal shop. He officially entered the industry as an estimator, two days after graduating from Auburn University. When his father Fred Knox retired in 2007, Jack became president of the 103-year-old firm. Jack served on SMACNA's Board of Directors from 2009 to 2014 and then moved on to the Executive Committee where he took office as SMACNA president in October 2017. An advocate for positive legislative change, Jack has been a longtime member of the SMACNA's legislative and political action committees and currently serves as co-chair of SMAC PAC's top donor club, the Political Pacesetters Council. He has been active in his local chapter in Georgia serving on the board of directors, and in the chairs leading to president. In addition, he participated on the joint labor/management committees and was a trustee on the local industry fund and local pension plan.

Job Titles:

• Management Trustee
• President of SMACNA National

Locally, he is a member of the Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Central Indiana where he served as the Chapter President and a member of the Board of Directors. Locally he is a trustee on the Pension, Health and Welfare, and the local Joint Apprentice Trust. In addition, Joseph is a member of the local JATC. After completion of his 5-year apprenticeship, he served as night instructor for Local 20. In addition to sheet metal specific organizations, Joseph serves the broader construction industry in Indiana as well. He served on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Construction Roundtable, served 6 years for the Coalition for Construction Safety finishing his term as the organizations Treasurer, and is an active member of the Mentor / Protégé program developing startup businesses in the area. In addition, he is the President of Center Grove Football. Joseph Lansdell serves as the 2017 President of SMACNA National. Joseph has been actively involved in SMACNA and the industry for more than 27 years, serving as a member of: SMACNA's Board of Directors, The Legislative Committee, SMAC PAC, SFUA Article 10 panelist, NEMI trustee, Project Management Task Force, Strategic Planning Task Force and The Budget and Finance Committee.

Job Titles:

• Labor Trustee

Joseph Powell began his career in the sheet metal industry in 1988 with his entrance into the four-year Apprenticeship Program in Sheet Metal Workers' Local 206, San Diego, California. He worked for University Mechanical and attended classes in the evenings, a dedication to advancement through education which he has remained true to throughout his career. In 1992 he turned out as a journeyman and worked as a foreman with University Mechanical until 2000. Along with his responsibilities as a foreman, he was also an instructor with the JATC. Powell began his union political service in 1994 when he was elected Conductor, a position he held until 1997. He was a Trustee from 1997 until June, 2000. In 2004, after serving as Business Representative for four years he became the Business Manager/Financial Secretary Treasurer of Local 206. In 2012, he was appointed 9th General Vice President on the International's General Executive Council. In January 2015 he became Assistant to the General President. Powell was elected to the position of General Secretary-Treasurer on August 14, 2019 at the 2nd SMART General Convention. He has served in numerous capacities with Local 206 affiliates. He was a Trustee for the Sheet Metal Workers' Trust Fund, Chairman of the San Diego Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC), Executive Board Member for the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, CoChairman for Local 206's 401(a) plan, and President of the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council. In addition to his four-year Apprenticeship schooling, Joe completed ITI Advanced Instructors Training Programs and attended the National Labor College at the George Meany Center, receiving a bachelor's degree in Labor Education in 2006. He has played a key role in leading and directing SMART's grassroots member engagement programs like the SMART Army and its organizing initiatives in the sheet metal industry. In January 2015 Joe became Assistant to the General President. Powell was elected to the position of General Secretary-Treasurer on August 14, 2019 at the 2nd SMART General Convention.

Job Titles:

• Chairman and Labor Trustee

Sellers started his apprenticeship in 1980 at Local 19 in Philadelphia and became a journeyman four years later. He was elected to the local's Executive Board in 1994 and was appointed to be Training Coordinator in 1996. In 2002, after serving as a Business Representative for two years, he became Local 19's President and Business Manager. In August 2009, Sellers was elected to the international leadership as 11th General Vice President. The General Executive Council elected him to serve as the union's General Secretary-Treasurer (GST) effective July 1, 2011, was unanimously re-elected as GST by delegates to the first SMART General Convention in August 2014. Sellers became SMART's General President May 1, 2015. During his tenure as an officer at Local 19, Joe also held a number of important union and industry posts. He was president of many groups, including the Pennsylvania State and New Jersey State Councils of Sheet Metal Workers; the Mechanical Trades District Council of Delaware Valley; the Metropolitan Association of Presidents and Business Representatives; and the board of directors for the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI). He also was Secretary/Treasurer of the Mechanical and Allied Crafts Council of New Jersey. As SMART General President and General Secretary-Treasurer, Sellers led special campaigns to increase outreach and awareness for pension and health care issues. He has held several positions with the AFL-CIO and North American Building and Construction Trades Department at the national, state, and local levels. Joseph Sellers, Jr., has risen steadily in his 36 years as an industry professional and union official. A second-generation sheet metal worker, his background includes managing the union and its affiliates at every level as well as many years as a leader in education.

Job Titles:

• Payroll Audit Manager

Job Titles:

• NPF Staff Member
• Executive Director / Operations

Job Titles:

• Labor Trustee
• Secretary / Treasurer for the Minneapolis Building Trades Council
• Worker from Local

Matt Fairbanks is a second-generation sheet metal worker from Local #10 representing Minnesota, North and South Dakota, who also has two brothers and three nephews in the trade. He began his career in the sheet metal industry in 1995 when he enrolled at St. Paul Technical College. After completing two years of full-time day school he entered the three year Local #10 Apprenticeship program. Matt worked at various shops throughout his apprenticeship eventually turning out as journeyman in 2000 while working for Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors where he became a foreman and worked for nine years until being elected as a Local #10 Business Representative. In 2006 Matt was elected to the Executive Board and later in that term became Vice President of the board. In 2009 he was elected Business Representative, which also included a specified appointment as the apprentice liaison. He has also served on numerous negotiating committees throughout the large three state local. Matt has also served as a trustee or chairman of the various trust funds affiliated with Local #10. In 2018 he was elected Business Manager/ President of local #10 and has of course continued serving on the negotiating committees, and as trustee or chairman of the various trust funds. Matt is also the current Secretary/ Treasurer for the Minneapolis Building Trades Council. He also sits on many different boards, including Trustee for Union Bank & Trust which is a union owned financial institution in Minneapolis; a work comp advisory committee; the labor users committee; and the St. Paul Building Trades. Matt Fairbanks is a second-generation sheet metal worker from Local #10 representing Minnesota, North and South Dakota, who also has two brothers and three nephews in the trade. He began his career in the sheet metal industry in 1995 when he enrolled at St. Paul Technical College. After completing two years of full-time day school... Read More

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board of Directors
• Co - Chair and Management Trustee
• Generation Sheet Metal Worker and Accountant

Currently, he is the co-chair of the National Pension Fund and vice chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee. He is a member of the Sheet Metal Industry Labor Management Cooperation Committee, the Political Pacesetters, Investment Committee and an IFUS Trustee. He was inducted into SMACNA's College of Fellows in 1999. In addition, he serves on the New Horizons Foundation Board of Directors. Locally, Ron is a member of the Board of Directors and the Negotiating Committee for SMACNA of New York City. As past president, he also serves on the Executive Committee. Previously, he served as a trustee of the Local Union No. 28 Funds and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Building Trades Employers Association. He is a partner of AABCO Sheet Metal Company in Ridgewood, N.Y. Ron Palmerick is a third-generation sheet metal worker and accountant. Ron is a recent past president of SMACNA and has served on the SMACNA Board of Directors from 1993 to 1997.

Job Titles:

• Management Trustee

He is now President of SSM Industries, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA where he has worked in various management roles for over 21 years. He has also served in various leadership capacities within SMACNA. Thomas Szymczak started his sheet metal career as an apprentice in the mid 1970's.

Job Titles:

• Chief Financial Officer
• Department: Accounting