Our Statewide Union Leadership

CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan
CSEA Executive Vice President Richard Bebo
CSEA Statewide Secretary Stacey Baldwin-Deyo
CSEA Statewide Treasurer Nicole Meeks

President Mary E. Sullivan

For more than 35 years, Mary E. Sullivan has fought tirelessly for working people’s interests at the grassroots, statewide, and national levels. By mobilizing workers and encouraging internal communication, Sullivan has helped strengthen CSEA’s position as one of New York’s largest and most influential unions.

Sullivan began her professional career as an employee of the Herkimer County Department of Social Services. She advanced through the union ranks, serving first as president of the Herkimer County employees unit and then as president of Herkimer County Local 822. She also served as treasurer and 1st vice president of CSEA’s Central Region.

Sullivan was the first local government official to serve in CSEA statewide office when she was chosen in 1986 by the CSEA statewide Board of Directors to fill a vacancy as treasurer of the union. She went on to twice win overwhelming re-election. Sullivan was elected Executive Vice President in 1994. On November 1, 2019, she became the second woman president of CSEA, and the very first CSEA member from our Local Government Division to serve in the role of president. In February 2020, she was elected to her first full term as Statewide President.

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.

A key player in CSEA’s International Union, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), she was elected an AFSCME International Vice President (IVP) in 1996. In 2020, she was reelected to continue to serve as an AFSCME IVP, as well as being elected a Vice President of the New York State AFL-CIO.

Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY College at Potsdam and is a graduate of the Harvard Trade Union Program at Harvard University. She is a member of the Capital District Chapter of Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and Pride@Work (P@W).

An active community volunteer, Sullivan continues to serve on the United Way of New York State Board and currently is Board Treasurer of 211NY. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her service and achievement. Sullivan also served with distinction for many years as vice president and then president of the Capital District Area Labor Federation.

In 2012, Sullivan received the Frances Perkins Award from Eleanor’s Legacy, an organization named in honor of Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated to building a new generation of New York women leaders. The award recognizes the leadership of a New Yorker active in the organized labor movement who is dedicated to improving New Yorkers’ quality of life on and off the job.

Sullivan received the 2018 Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) New York Chapter’s ‘Woman of Valor’ award, which recognizes women in labor unions for outstanding service and leadership qualities. Again, that same year, Sullivan was honored for her ongoing work in urging women to become labor activists and for her own union leadership with the American Labor Studies Center’s Kate Mullany Medal, named for the 19th century Irish immigrant who organized and led the Collar Workers Union in Troy.

In 2020, Sullivan had the honor and privilege of serving as one of 29 members of New York’s Electoral College, casting their ballots on behalf of the majority of New York voters for Joe Biden for president and Kamala Harris for vice president.

In 2022, Sullivan received the Capital District Area Labor Federation’s President’s Award for her union leadership and dedication to the labor movement.

Executive Vice President Richard Bebo

Richard is a Troy native, who currently resides in Waterford, NY. He started with NYS Department of Transportation in 1999. His activism began in 2006 when he was appointed Vice President of his local.

Richard was elected as CSEA Executive Vice President in April 2025.

Prior to becoming Executive Vice President, Richard was serving his second term as Statewide Secretary. He was first elected to that office in February 2020.

Prior to that, he served in various roles including but not limited to Local Vice President, Local President, Capital Region 3^rd Vice President and Capital Region Executive Vice President.

In addition, he has served as a member on the region Membership Committee, PEOPLE Committee, Human Rights Committee and Statewide Minority Issues Committee. Currently, he serves as officer liaison for the Statewide Minority Issues Committee, Membership Committee, Resolutions Committee and Constitution and By-Laws Committee.

 In 2009, Richard completed CSEA’s third installment of the LEAD program that recruits and mentors members for future leadership roles in the union. In 2019, he was awarded the Capital Region President’s Award for his continued dedicated service to the members of Region 4 and recently, he was the recipient of the Jim Bell Award for his commitment to labor and community.

A father of 3 and grandfather of 2 granddaughters, Richard’s motivation is simple: “Fight so hopefully they won’t have to.”

Statewide Secretary Stacey Baldwin-Deyo

Stacey Baldwin-Deyo was elected as CSEA Statewide Secretary by our union’s Board of Directors in April 2025.

Baldwin-Deyo is a proud graduate of our union’s Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program as part of the ‘LEAD 8’ class.

She is also a shining example of what it means to get active in our union and stay committed. A longtime public employee and union advocate, Baldwin-Deyo began her career as a Greene County Probation Assistant in 2005 and joined CSEA in 2007. As she advanced professionally, becoming a Probation Officer, then a Senior Probation Officer, and ultimately a Probation Supervisor and Warrant Officer in 2021, Baldwin-Deyo’s union involvement deepened alongside her career.

Baldwin-Deyo’s union leadership journey began in 2009 when she joined her unit’s negotiations team. In 2015, concerned her unit lacked a true voice in contract discussions, Baldwin-Deyo spearheaded an ambitious campaign with her 13-member department to separate from the existing Greene County Unit. .

After two years of determined effort, the newly formed CSEA Greene County Dispatch and Probation Unit was recognized in March 2017, more than doubling the original unit’s size.

As lead negotiator, Baldwin-Deyo secured critical gains for her co-workers, including a weapon stipend, uniform allowance, on-call pay and significant salary increases, bringing their compensation in line with comparable probation departments across New York State.

“I’m extremely proud that we fought so hard and were able to achieve this for the 28 of us,” said Baldwin-Deyo.

Her advocacy earned her the trust of fellow CSEA members. In 2017, she was elected Recording Secretary of the Greene County Local. The following year, she became Unit President, and by 2021, she was serving as Local Treasurer, Judicial Board Vice Chair and appointed Capital Region Treasurer, a role to which she was elected in 2024. Baldwin-Deyo held these posts until the Board of Directors elected her as Statewide Secretary in April after CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan nominated her for the office.

Over the years, Baldwin-Deyo has developed expertise in financial stewardship, contract negotiations and leadership training. She is a seasoned trainer, a two-term AFSCME delegate, and a former two-term member of the CSEA Executive Board.

Her contributions extend well beyond titles. Baldwin-Deyo has served on numerous committees, including Auditing, Budget, Constitution and By-Laws, Local Government Executive, and Education. She served as an officer liaison to many of the committees and as a Political Action Fund Trustee up until her most recent appointment.

Outside of union life, Baldwin-Deyo is a dedicated mother of four. Her children include a retired Army veteran and current soccer coach, a New York State Police (NYSP) employee, and twins aspiring to join the New York State Police Academy. She is also the proud grandmother of one “perfect” granddaughter.

“I absolutely love meeting and talking with members,” said Baldwin-Deyo. “I’m not afraid to work hard and will always do my best to support our union and make it stronger for all of us.”

Statewide Treasurer Nicole Meeks

Treasurer Nicole Meeks is serving her first term as Statewide Treasurer, having been elected to office in February of 2020. Prior to being elected, Nicole served as Central Region Treasurer for two years, having been appointed in September 2017. Prior to that, Nicole served two years as the Region 5 Budget Chair.

Nicole has been employed by the City of Syracuse since 1999 and is currently an Accountant II for the City of Syracuse at the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority. In addition to her duties as the Region 5 Treasurer, Nicole served as Unit President for the City of Syracuse. Previous roles have been Vice President for two years and Treasurer for six years for the City of Syracuse Unit.

Nicole also served four years as the Treasurer of CSEA Local 834, Onondaga County, from 2013-2017 where she oversaw twenty-two units. As Treasurer, she assisted these units when necessary to ensure that their financial commitments were met when reporting to the Local.

In addition, Nicole is a certified Union Steward and Grievance Representative. Over the years, she has served in many capacities, including as a member of the City of Syracuse Unit’s Negotiating Committee and as a Chairperson of the City of Syracuse Deferred Compensation Board.

In 2015, Nicole was selected to participate in the CSEA Leadership Education and Development Program. She completed the program in March 2017 and is a proud graduate of the sixth CSEA LEAD class. Nicole has also attended numerous conventions, conferences, training sessions and community events in order to assist our members and to help make our community stronger.