Page 2 - Work Force December_2019

Photo of the Month
Mary E. Sullivan takes the lead as CSEA’s 24th President
“I’m proud to be leading our great union forward as president. Under
my leadership, we
will build on our many accomplishments, be even more inclusive, and even more engaged with our members.”
Ontario County Local President Midge Guererri shows off her temporary Forever Union tattoo at our Annual Delegates Meeting. Photo by Nicholas Newcomb. See more ADM coverage, pages 9-12.
ALBANY — For the first time in more than 25 years, CSEA has a new President at our helm.
Following the retirement
of longtime CSEA President Danny Donohue on October 31, former Executive Vice President Mary E. Sullivan was sworn in as president on November 1 at our union’s Albany Headquarters,
to serve out the remainder of Donohue’s seventh elected term, which expires
on Feb. 29, 2020.
Sullivan has
been a union
activist for
more than 35
years, starting
her career as
an employee of
the Herkimer
County
Department of
Social Services,
and advancing
through our union ranks, serving in many roles at the local, regional, and statewide levels.
Sullivan first held statewide office when she was chosen in 1986 by CSEA’s statewide Board of Directors to fill a vacancy as treasurer of
our union. Sullivan was elected executive vice president in 1994, serving in that role for the past 25 years.
Making union history with her
ascension to president, Sullivan becomes the first CSEA activist from a local government entity to become our union’s statewide president. All CSEA’s previous presidents began their union careers working in state government. She is also only the second woman to fill our union’s top spot.
Sullivan has also served as a founding trustee of CSEA’s Political Action Fund since its inception,
and previously served as both Vice Chair and Chair of CSEA’s Local Government Executive Committee. She has been a driving force behind CSEA’s Labor Education and Development (LEAD) program, helping to mold
and mentor the next generation of union leaders.
“I’m proud to be leading our great union forward as president,” Sullivan said. “Under my leadership, we will build on our many accomplishments, be even more inclusive, and even more engaged with our members.”
Visit cseany.org to read President Sullivan’s full biography.
— Mark M. Kotzin
“To my CSEA family:
I would like to thank you all for the wonderful sendoff you provided upon my retirement and for everyone’s kind well-wishes for me and my family. It has been mypleasureto”know and serve you.
— Danny Donohue, former CSEA president
AFSCME International President Lee Saunders, left, greets Danny Donohue at his retirement party.
cseany.org
December 2019 • Vol. 22, No. 11
CSEA’s 24th President:
See pages 2, 4
Mary E. Sullivan
Photo by Mark M. Kotzin
CSEA President Mary
E. Sullivan, left, takes
her oath of office
on November 1, administered by CSEA Capital Region Treasurer Shana Davis, right. (Photo by Mark M. Kotzin)
2 The Work Force
December 2019