People

Fourteen years ago, Heather Conroy was waiting tables in Northwest Portland. On Nov. 12, she’ll take the reins of Oregon’s second-largest union. Conroy won election in a three-way race, and will succeed Leslie Frane as executive director of 45,000-member SEIU Local 503.

Bob Shiprack, an icon of Oregon construction unions, retired Oct. 1 as executive secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council. Shiprack said he likely will do consulting work, primarily on clean energy and solar, but has no plans to run for elected office or to lobby.

Bonnie Kelsch, a member of Communications Workers of America Local 7901, retired Sept. 16 after 44 years in the printing trades. Her retirement was celebrated with a reception at Oregon Catholic Press, where she has worked the last 21 years.

In suburban South Salem, career union electrician Claudia Kyle is making an energetic run for state representative. Kyle, a Democrat, is challenging two-term incumbent Republican Kevin Cameron, owner of a 12-location restaurant chain, Cafe Today. Kyle is a licensed electrician and a 31-year member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Over the last 110 years the Labor Press has had many staffers.