The Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters (KMLRCC) announced changes in the leadership of the union’s Executive Officers that resulted from the retirement of General Vice President Douglas Banes and General Secretary-Treasurer Andris Silins from the General Executive Board of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC).

Following the retirement of Banes and Silins, current Second General Vice President Frank Spencer has been appointed to fill the position of General Vice President; David Tharp, former Midwestern Vice-President, will become the Second General Vice President; Michael Capelli, former Eastern District Vice President, will become the General Secretary-Treasurer,  and Mark McGriff, former Executive Secretary-Treasurer of Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council, will become the Midwestern District Vice President.

As a result of the changes at the international level, effective April 1, 2019, current KMLRCC Executive Secretary-Treasurer William R. Waterkotte has been appointed to serve as Eastern District Vice President, and current Assistant Executive Secretary-Treasurer William C. Sproule has been appointed to serve as Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters.

“Brothers Banes and Silins have dedicated their lives to our Brotherhood and are to be commended for their many years of leadership and vision in helping transform the UBC into the most proactive construction trades union in North America. We congratulate all the officers of the UBC on their new appointments and look forward to working with them as we continue building on the progress of the past,” Waterkotte said.

Commenting on his appointment to Eastern District Vice President, Waterkotte said, “These are exciting times for the UBC as we confront and overcome threats to unionization and continue fostering and promoting our union’s commitment to excellence in providing quality craftsmanship to our industry partners.”

Executive Secretary-Treasurer William C. Sproule said, “While we will miss William Waterkotte’s strong and visionary leadership at the council level, we wish him the best in his new role. We look forward to continuing to work as tirelessly as he has in the past, to expand our market share and generate more employment opportunities for our highly skilled workforce.”

 

About the KMLRCC

The Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters is part of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and is made up of over 42,000 highly skilled men and women living and working in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia and ten counties in North Carolina. Members are specialized as carpenters, floor coverers, pile drivers, dock builders, mill workers and cabinet makers, and framers.