Editor’s note: The following is reprinted from the February issue of “The Pipeline,” a publication offering news and Information about the Eastern Massachusetts Plumbing Industry
Jeremy Ryan
Even before he arrived to assume his new leadership position as the incoming executive director for the Greater Boston Plumbing and Contractors Association, Jeremy Ryan knew that one of his top priorities would be to preserve and nurture the positive working relationship that the contractors’ group has with Plumbers Local 12. That’s because while he was living in New York, a Boston-based colleague told him about the harmonious labor-management rapport between the organizations.
For the past few years, he has worked with the National Electrical Contractors Association.
After earning his degree in public policy and studying non-profit administration at the University of Delaware, Ryan participated in a management training program at NECA’s national office. Subsequently, he took a position with NECA’s Cleveland chapter and worked with its three affiliated Electrical Workers locals. Among his responsibilities, Ryan was involved with the joint apprenticeship and labor-management committees as well as the health and welfare funds and programs. “Before I worked with NECA, I didn’t really know all that much about unions or trade associations,” he says. But Ryan learned on the job and quickly grew to appreciate the work that they do and the interdependent roles that they play.
He then moved to New York City to work with NECA’s chapter there. Ryan says Electrical Workers Local 3, based in the city, impressed him. “They really embody the union philosophy,” he notes pointing to, among other initiatives, the scholarship and housing programs the local runs.
Since coming on board, he says that the GBPCA’s board and the plumbing contractors he has met have impressed him. “They are all classy individuals, and they are fair, pragmatic, intelligent, and a great group to work for and with.” Ryan has praise for everyone at Local 12 also, noting that they are “highly regarded and passionate, knowledgeable, innovative about what they do.”
Ryan will take over GBPCA’s executive director role in late 2017 when Hugh Kelleher, who has held the position since 1998, retires. He credits Kelleher with doing an outstanding job leading the organization and figures that he’ll never be able to fill his shoes. “I’ll just have to go down a parallel path.”
He’s been enjoying living in and getting to know Boston and the surrounding area. With all of the construction going on, Ryan says it’s an exciting time to be here and working in the industry.
