MEET THE STAFF

Joe Gruber has been a part of the labor movement for 20-plus years as a member of the UFCW; the Carpenter’s Union in both Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri; and of IAM Local Lodge 387 (District 837, aerospace) as of 2008. During brother Gruber’s time at LL 387 he served as the education chair and as a delegate to the Missouri Legislative Conference. In 2016, he became an educator for District 837 and in 2017 was appointed Educational Representative for the Midwest Territory. In 2020 he took a position with IAM CREST at Headquarters as a project coordinator/instructor and in January of 2021 came on staff of the Winpisinger Center as an Educational Representative. Joe became Assistant Director of the Winpisinger Center in July 2022. He is currently working on a degree in business with a focus in labor studies.

Matt Pyne joined District Lodge 140, Local Lodge 1763 in 2009 and has served as shop steward, a national contract negotiation team member for collective bargaining, a contract researcher and presenter, and a 10-year health and safety representative in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. As a young Machinists leader at his local, Matt participated as an organizer, presenter, and mentor. He was elected president of Local Lodge 1763 for two consecutive terms representing workers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. Matt holds a Master’s of Science in Labor Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a specialization in Union Leadership and Administration.

Anne Wiberg IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed Anne Wiberg as Education Representative at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, Md., effective Dec. 1, 2024.This appointment marks Wiberg’s return to the Winpisinger Center. She previously worked at the Center as an Education Representative from 2007-2011: in this role she reviewed and updated curricula;  coordinated Spanish Leadership, Federal, and Women’s Leadership programs; and facilitated the Spanish Leadership Working Group. Prior to that, Wiberg was an Apprentice Organizer and Special Representative for the Organizing Department. Having departed the Center in 2011, she has since worked as a District 10 Organizer, leading strategic external and internal organizing campaigns in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. She also served as the Assistant Field Coordinator for the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO during 2020, a difficult year for unions and organizing.In addition to her union experience, Wiberg’s educational background includes organizing, communications, economics, and political science. She has remained active with the Spanish Language Working Group since her departure in 2011 and will continue to do so upon her return.

Pamela Evans IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed Local 2003’s Pamela Evans as an Educational Representative at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, Md., effective March 1, 2025. Evans is familiar with the mission of the Winpisinger Center as she attend Leadership I, II, Advanced, and Train-the-Trainer. She has also participated in the Basic and Advanced Women’s Leadership Programs and the Veteran’s Services Program. Part of the first LEADS (Leadership Excellence Assembly of Dedicated Sisters) cohort, Evans completed the program in September 2023. Evans comes to the Center from Alabama, where she joined Local 2003 in 2002. She has held material specialist, production control clerk, and quality deficiency report technician positions for DynCorp and M1. In 2017, Evans retired from the United States Army National Guard after 24 years, where she worked as a heavy motor vehicle operator, supply specialist, and administrative specialist. Evans holds an associate’s of arts and a bachelor’s of arts in business administration from Purdue Global University and will graduate from there in June 2025 with a master’s of business administration.

Richard Dees International President Brian Bryant has appointed Richard Dees from District 725 as an Educational Representative at the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD, effective June 1, 2025. Since 2009, Dees has held positions of increasing responsibility within the union, including Chief Steward, Negotiating Committeeman, and Vice-President for Local 25. In 2014 he was appointed Business Representative for District 725 and in 2016 as its Area Director. In his capacity as a Business Representative, Dees played an active role in numerous organizing campaigns, contributing to the growth of Local 25 from 5 bargaining units to 20. He has successfully negotiated numerous first contracts under the Service Contract Act and led negotiations for two separate Master Agreements: one that consolidated five bargaining units under a single employer, and another that unified five different companies under one collective bargaining agreement. He has represented a wide range of workers, from janitors to drone pilots.