Bakers 114 rep Gene Beaudoin to retire; Shad Clark hired

Gene Beaudoin, a union representative of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 114 in Portland, is retiring after 17 years at the union.

His last day will be Sept. 30.

His successor is Shad Clark, a former president of the local and a 16-year member employed at Franz Bakery in Portland.

Beaudoin, 55, started his baking career in 1976 as a helper at Franz Bakery. He was working as a relief foreman at the bakery in 1992 when he was brought in as Local 114’s wholesale bakery business agent. He was re-elected to that post every three years since.

Prior to becoming a full-time business agent, Beaudoin served the union as a shop steward, Executive Board member, and as its president. He was a trustee to the Oregon Bakers Union Trust and to the BCTGM Pacific Northwest Joint Board, and was chairperson of the BCTGM Western Conference Strike and Boycott Committees.

During his career at Local 114 he worked with four secretary-treasurers, including Alex Edenhofer, Noel Johnson, Laurel Koch, and Terry Lansing.

“Gene has been unselfish with his compassion and dedication to serving our members,” said Lansing, the current secretary-treasurer. “Gene has the unique talent of understanding each and every bakery production line and every bakery crew throughout our industry in our area. That ability made him and our local successful in enforcing and maintaining our labor agreements.”

Beaudoin, who at one time had thought of becoming a teacher, says he liked being able to help members. “If I had any one goal as a business rep, it was to give members the ability to go to work in peace, go home in peace, and earn a good living,” he said.

In retirement, Beaudoin and his wife, Denise, will be looking after their two grandchildren while their daughter attends college. Denise works part time.

Clark, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., has served as Local 114’s president since 2008.

Beaudoin got Clark his first job at Franz Bakery 16 years ago, and encouraged him to run for the union’s Executive Board. Clark was working in the receiving department at Franz when he was elected business agent. He had to resign as president to take the job, and succeeding him as president is Georgine Barragan.

“I’m from a union family, so I guess you could say it’s in my blood,” Clark said.

His father, Pat, was secretary-treasurer of Bakers Local 364 in Vancouver, Wash. Pat passed away in 1993 while in office.

Clark’s mother is a retired administrative assistant from the Oregon Nurses Association.

Clark said he intends to maintain the relationships that Beaudoin has worked so hard to develop over nearly two decades.

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