40 apply for top job at SPEEA

EVERETT — Members of the union representing Boeing Co. engineers will have a fair number of candidates from which to choose a new leader.

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace received more than 40 applications for its executive director position. The group, which represents more than 20,000 engineers and technical workers in the Puget Sound region, intends to have a new director in place by the end of February, if not sooner.

Next year is a critical one for the union, which will negotiate new contracts on behalf of its members with the Boeing Co. and Spirit Aerosystems. After a tumultuous 2007, the union hopes to put on a united front when it sits down with Boeing.

SPEEA’s contract expires with Boeing on Dec. 1, 2008.

Over the coming weeks, union staff and board members will whittle down the list of candidates to about a dozen, who will be interviewed over the phone by the board, said Bill Dugovich, communications director.

Final candidates will be flown out to the Puget Sound region in mid-January for in-person interviews with the board. The finalists will address SPEEA’s Northwest Council when it meets Jan. 17. Although the board and staff may provide input on candidates, “the hiring will be done by the executive board,” Dugovich said.

The engineering group has undergone several leadership changes in 2007, including the July ousting of former executive director Charles Bofferding. In October, SPEEA members voted to recall the four executive board members who ended Bofferding’s contract.

In the wake of the recall, Bofferding submitted an application for the executive director position.

Dugovich could not release the names of other candidates for the executive director position. However, he did say that no current executive board members applied for the job.

In November, SPEEA named three new Northwest vice presidents to its board to fill spots created by the recalled members. The organization has said it will not fill the executive director position until all seven board members are in place. The Midwest Council will fill the final board vacancy Dec. 13.

Even once SPEEA has a full board and a new director, several key leadership positions are still up for grabs in 2008.

SPEEA’s president, treasurer and secretary — the three board members not affected by the recall — all face re-election next year. The election process for the two-year positions begins in January with ballots being counted mid-March.

Additionally, SPEEA will settle on contract negotiation teams in February. One of the four-member teams will represent engineers while the other represents technical workers. Both will work with the new executive director during contract negotiations.

Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

More in Herald Business Journal

Yansi De La Cruz molds a cheese mixture into bone shapes at Himalayan Dog Chew on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Give a dog a bone? How about a hard cheese chew from Arlington instead!

Launched from a kitchen table in 2003, Himalayan Pet Supply now employs 160 workers at its new Arlington factory.

Cash is used for a purchase at Molly Moon's Ice Cream in Edmonds, Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Washington minimum wage to top $16 an hour next year

Meanwhile, some salaried workers and rideshare drivers could see their earnings rise from other state-required adjustments.

Inside the new Boeing 737 simulator at Simulation Flight in Mukilteo, Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
New Boeing 737 simulator takes ‘flight’ in Mukilteo

Pilots can test their flying skills or up their game at Simulation Flight in Mukilteo.

An Amazon worker transfers and organizes items at the new PAE2 Amazon Fulfillment Center on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Amazon cuts ribbon on colossal $355M fulfillment center in Arlington

At 2.8 million square feet, the facility is the largest of its kind in Washington. It can hold 40 million “units” of inventory.

A computer rendering of the North Creek Commerce Center industrial park in development at 18712 Bothell-Everett Highway. (Kidder Mathews)
Developer breaks ground on new Bothell industrial park

The North Creek Commerce Center on Bothell Everett Highway will provide warehouse and office space in three buildings.

Dan Bates / The Herald
Funko president, Brian Mariotti is excited about the growth that has led his company to need a 62,000 square foot facility in Lynnwood.
Photo Taken: 102312
Former Funko CEO resigns from the Everett company

Brian Mariotti resigned Sept. 1, six weeks after announcing he was taking a six-month sabbatical from the company.

Cash is used for a purchase at Molly Moon's Ice Cream in Edmonds, Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Paper or plastic? Snohomish County may require businesses to take cash

County Council member Nate Nehring proposed an ordinance to ban cashless sales under $200. He hopes cities will follow suit.

Catherine Robinweiler leads the class during a lab session at Edmonds College on April 29, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Grant aids apprenticeship program in Mukilteo and elsewhere

A $5.6 million U.S. Department of Labor grant will boost apprenticeships for special education teachers and nurses.

Peoples Bank is placing piggy banks with $30 around Washington starting Aug. 1.
(Peoples Bank)
Peoples Bank grant program seeks proposals from nonprofits

Peoples Bank offers up to $35,000 in Impact Grants aimed at helping communities. Applications due Sept. 15.

Workers build the first all-electric commuter plane, the Eviation Alice, at Eviation's plant on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021 in Arlington, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Arlington’s Eviation selects Seattle firm to configure production plane

TLG Aerospace chosen to configure Eviation Aircraft’s all-electric commuter plane for mass production.

Orca Mobility designer Mike Lowell, left, and CEO Bill Messing at their office on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Could a Granite Falls startup’s three-wheeler revolutionize delivery?

Orca Mobility’s battery-powered, three-wheel truck is built on a motorcycle frame. Now, they aim to make it self-driving.

Members of Gravitics' team and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen stand in front of a mockup of a space module interior on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Gravitics' Marysville facility. Left to right: Mark Tiner, government affairs representative; Jiral Shah, business development; U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen; Mike DeRosa, marketing; Scott Macklin, lead engineer. (Gravitics.)
Marysville startup prepares for space — the financial frontier

Gravitics is building space station module prototypes to one day house space travelers and researchers.