Left to right are honorees at the July 26, 2024 Labor’s Educational and Political Club Independent Annual Dinner: Missouri State Reps. Maggie Nurrenbern, Ashley Aune, Crystal Quade, Emily Weber; LEPCI President Bobby Davidson, Missouri State Rep. Patty Lewis, LMC Executive Director Bob Jacobi, American Postal Workers Union President Sharon Al-Uqdah, IBEW Local 124 Business Representative Wade Kiefer, Nurrenbern for State Senate Campaign Manager Margaret Miles, retired Teamsters Local 955’s Jenny Agee, Teamsters Local 541 Business Manager Mike Keenan, and retired Fire Fighters Local 64 President Bob Wing.
The Labor’s Educational and Political Club Independent’s annual awards dinners have been a constant in the world of labor and politics for nearly three decades. On Friday, July 26th, that tradition continued with a number of deserving union members and union allies were recognized for their above-and-beyond work in service of the organized working-class.
Held in the Banquet Room at Harrah’s Casino & Hotel in North Kansas City, the LEPCI Awards Dinner saw hundreds gather to celebrate a number of exceptional pro-union members of our region.
Teamsters Local 541 President and Business Manager Mike Keeran and retired IAFF Local 64 member and Tri-County AFL-CIO leader Bob Wing each won a Labor Representative of the Year Award.
American Postal Workers Union’s Sharon Al-Uqdah and Labor Management Council’s Bob Jacobi Jr. were awarded the Seth Slocum Union Advocate of the Year Award.
Margaret Miles, a dedicated political operative in Clay County and strong ally to organized labor, and Democratic nominee for State Senate Maggie Nurrenbern won the Chere Chaney Excellence in Government Award, alongside IBEW Local 124’s Political Director Wade Kiefer. Also recieving the Chere Chaney Award was Missouri State Reps. Maggie Nurrenbern, Ashley Aune, Crystal Quade, Emily Weber.
IBEW Local 124’s Political Director Wade Kiefer won the Chere Chaney Excellence in Government Award. Kiefer is one of the most politically active union leaders in the region and goes above and beyond to understand the political landscape for members.
Crystal Quade, who is now the Democratic Party nominee for Missouri Governor, also delivered the keynote speech for the dinner.
The LEPCI Board is made up of retired Teamster Bobby Davidson, who serves as president, retired UAW member Donna Birks, who serves as vice president, and Tim Smith, Diana Arends, Joe Sutton, Jerald Johnson, who serves as treasurer, Robert Serra, Jenny Agee, Bill McNeal, Bill Finkel, and Bill Richardson, who is a memorial life member to the board.
Congratulations to all who won an award this year and thank you for your continued dedication to the organized labor community.
Tristin Amezcua-Hogan is the Editor of The Labor Beacon and a member of LIUNA Local 264. Tristin also serves as the Director of Communications for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and the Chair of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance.
Tristin grew up as the son of a UA Local 669 member in Tecumseh, KS and the great-nephew of George C. Amis, longtime leader of the United Rubberworkers (now USW Local 307) in Kansas. Growing up in rural Kansas as the child of teen parents, Tristin quickly came to appreciate the life-changing benefit of a union job.
Tristin and his partner, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are residents of the Westside, Kansas City, MO's historic Mexican neighborhood. They are proud members of Kansas City's New Reform Temple.
