40 apply for top job at SPEEA

  • By Michelle Dunlop Herald Writer
  • Monday, December 3, 2007 10:51pm
  • BusinessEverett

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

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

The livery on a Boeing plane. (Christopher Pike / Bloomberg)
Former Lockheed Martin CFO joins Boeing as top financial officer

Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer is being replaced by a former CFO at… Continue reading

Izaac Escalante-Alvarez unpacks a new milling machine at the new Boeing machinists union’s apprentice training center on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists union training center opens in Everett

The new center aims to give workers an inside track at Boeing jobs.

Some SnoCo stores see shortages after cyberattack on grocery supplier

Some stores, such as Whole Foods and US Foods CHEF’STORE, informed customers that some items may be temporarily unavailable.

People take photos and videos as the first Frontier Arlines flight arrives at Paine Field Airport under a water cannon salute on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Water cannons salute Frontier on its first day at Paine Field

Frontier Airlines joins Alaska Airlines in offering service Snohomish County passengers.

Amit B. Singh, president of Edmonds Community College. 201008
Edmonds College and schools continue diversity programs

Educational diversity programs are alive and well in Snohomish County.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a 50 percent SAF drop-in jet fuel, right, puts off less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost

A planned research and development center focused on sustainable aviation… Continue reading

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Pharmacist John Sontra and other employees work on calling customers to get their prescriptions transferred to other stores from the Bartell Drugs Pharmacy on Hoyt Avenue on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bartell Drugs location shutters doors in Everett

John Sontra, a pharmacist at the Hoyt Avenue address for 46 years, said Monday’s closure was emotional.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.