Mark Grasseschi 708-269-1543 [email protected]
Directing Business Representative – Mark Grasseschi
Mark has been a member of Local 701 since 1987. He worked in the Automotive industry throughout his career and served as a shop Steward at Phillips Chevrolet. While serving as shop steward he was also appointed to the Board as a Trustee in 2014. In July 2015 Mark was then appointed as a Business Representative where he services various specialty shops including automotive dealerships, bakery, trucking, machine shops, MARBA, Villages and the forklift industry. Mark also is the editor for the Local 701 Newsletter, assists in the local’s Website, Facebook page and was appointed in 2019 to be a Trustee on the Will/Grundy County Trades Association Board. Mark was also part of the extended bargaining committee for the 2013 SAA CBA. Mark serves as a Trustee on the Local 701 Health and Welfare and Pension Funds. He also serves as a Trustee on the Local 701 401(k) Defined Contribution Plan. SEE MORE
Assistant Directing Business Representative – Ryan Haehnlein
Ryan has been a member of Local 701 since 2011. He worked in the Heavy-Duty industry at M&K Truck Centers where he served as Shop Steward, winning multiple labor disputes and grievances against his employer. Ryan was appointed to the position of Organizer in 2021 and as a Business Representative later in that year. He services the Freight industry, Heavy-Duty and Automotive dealerships, Equipment industry, along with several various independent industries. He is the editor of the Local 701 newsletter, assists on the website and Local app design, and takes part in several Local 701 functions and committees. He is a delegate and COPE Representative to the Chicago Federation of Labor, as well as the Secretary-Treasurer to The Illinois State Council of Machinists. Ryan also serves as a Trustee on the Local 701 Training Fund, and a Trustee in Training on the Local 701 Health, Welfare, and Pension Fund. He has attended classes at the Winpisinger Training Center in Maryland, including Foundational Skills, Collective Bargaining, Arbitration, Negotiation Prep, Negotiating Healthcare, and Local Lodge History.
Ryan Haehnlein 708-738-1620
Walter Emerson 815-219-0438 [email protected]
Business Representative/701 Coordinator – Walter Emerson
Walter has been a member of Local 701 since 2000. He worked in the Automotive industry throughout his career and served as a shop Steward at Pugi of Downers Grove starting in 2013. He was elected to the Local’s Executive Board as a Trustee in 2015 where he served until he was appointed to the position Business Representative/Organizer in October of 2017. Wally also serves as the 701 Communicator and maintains the Website, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Walter services Automotive dealerships, Equipment companies, Ready-Mix industry, Machine shops and Trucking industries. He is a delegate to The Illinois State Council of Machinists, as well as the 2nd Vice President for the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO. Wally also serves as a Trustee on the Local 701 Training Fund, and a Trustee in Training on the Local 701 Health, Welfare, and Pension Fund. He has also attended several classes at the Winpisinger Training Center in Maryland.
Business Representative – Ronnie Gonzalez
Ronnie Gonzalez has been a member of Local 701 since 1994. He spent the first 25 years in the Automotive Industry working at Mt. Prospect Cadillac, Williams Cadillac and worked 19 years at Cadillac of Naperville. During the 2017 Standard Automotive Agreement Strike, Ronnie served as Strike Captain in one of our more turbulent picket lines in recent history. After being recalled following a contract ratification, Ronnie served as Shop Steward and was instrumental in winning multiple labor grievances, arbitrations and NLRB charges that all stemmed from employer retaliations related to the Strike. Ronnie has spent the last year and a half at Equipment Depot as a Field Service Technician in the Forklift Industry, before being appointed to serve as Business Representative for Local 701.
Ronnie Gonzalez 708-728-5708
[email protected]
Business Representative-Chris Becktel
Chris has been a member of Local 701 since 2007. He worked throughout his career in the car industry. Before his move to the Organizing Department at Local 701 he worked at Toyota of Naperville. Chris has worked on many organizing drives over the years. During the 2017 Standard Automotive negotiations, Chris was on the extended Bargaining Committee. He’s also been involved in the Local 701 Community Outreach Committee. Chris has attended classes at the Winpisinger Center in Maryland. These include Organizing Prep, Organizing 1, Leadership 1, Political Training and Education, Negotiation Prep.
Chris Becktel 708-542-0852
Business Representative – Mike Burtner Jr.
Mike has been a member of Local 701 since 1996. He has worked in the Diesel Industry throughout his career and most recently served as shop Steward for First Student for 8 years. During that time, Mike participated in multiple successful contract negotiations with the Company. Mike is a 2nd generation local 701 member with his father and uncle both retired members. In 2022 Mike was appointed to the position of Business Representative/Organizer.
Mike Burtner Jr. 708-240-1388
Business Representative-Carl Cassata
Carl has been a member of Local 701 since 1995. He has previously worked at various dealerships since 1990. In 2015 he joined Elgin Toyota and has been a shop Steward since 2021. Carl also was on the 2021 SAA negotiations committee. In 2022 Carl was appointed to the position of Organizer. In June of 2022 Carl was appointed to the position of Business Representative.
Carl Cassata 708-334-2372
Business Representative-Joe Scheer
Joe Scheer has been a member of Local 701 since 2001. During this time, he has worked in the commercial trucking repair industry at Rendels in Joliet where he served as the shop steward and shop foreman. During his time at there, he was instrumental in leading several successful contract negotiations, and enforcing the terms of the contract. He has volunteered on the Organizing and Political committees and has attended classes at the Winpisinger Center in Maryland. Joe was appointed to the position of Business Representative in January of 2023.
Joe Scheer 815-685-9423
Business Representative – Chad Gallois
Chad Gallois has been a member of Local 701 since 2000. He has worked in the automotive industry throughout his career, and during the last six years he has served as the shop steward at Lexus of Naperville. The past several years he has served as an Election Official, Strike Captain in both 2017 and 2021, a member of the 2021 SAA Negotiation Committee, supported multiple strikes lines, attended classes at the Winpisinger Center in Maryland, and attended various Political and Organizing meetings. Chad was appointed to the position of Business Representative in March of 2023.
Chad Gallois 708-846-0880