AEE Candidate Info for 2023 Election

1st VP – Karen Scott

I’m Karen Scott and am running for the First Vice President position. I have been with ODOT for 25 years and an AEE member for all 25 years. For ODOT, I work in the Project Controls Office (PCO) as a specifications engineer and a PS&E reviewer. I became AEE Headquarters director in February 2019. I stepped up to the Second Vice President position after Pete Castro retired. AEE continues to need volunteers to step into director and executive board positions, so I’m stepping up. I have also taken on planning the 75th anniversary celebrations (if you come to one you will probably meet me) and presenting to new employees at the New Employee Orientations. I am on the current bargaining team for the 23-25 contract. I have enjoyed my time on the board and look forward to the 6 years of 1st VP / President / Director at Large. 

Region 1 Director – Jeff Hayes

 I joined ODOT on January 2nd 2008 as a temporary employee the year after I finished college. I have worked in ODOT Region 1 Traffic for 13 and half years with a stint in ODOT Salem Tech Services for 2 years. I was interested in serving as the Region 1 Director at the beginning of my career at ODOT but it didn’t work out at that time. I am excited to have another opportunity help coordinate, support, and share the voice of Region 1 members. I have always been a supporter of unions, having grown up in a family of professional and trade workers. Whether it is working in my professional career or in my person life being on a team has always led to better outcomes for the community than trying to do it all alone. I look forward to have the chance to work on the opportunities before us and hope to bring my experiences to help ensure the best outcome for the union at large.

Region 4 Director – Brian McNamara

I feel excited and privileged to represent AEE on behalf of ODOT Region 4. Although I am not a Region 4 employee, I have been working from Building L on the Region 4 campus for the last 4½ years. For the last 5½ years I have worked as an engineering geologist in the Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology (GEEG) Section of the Engineering and Technical Services Branch (ETSB). My primary role is to support the agency by providing assistance in the operation of the Unstable Slopes program, tunnel inspection, soil and rock characterization, slope stabilization and mitigation, and developing and operating a rock slope mitigation asset management system. Prior to joining GEEG/ETSB in 2017, I worked for nine years as a geologist in ODOT Region 1 where I assisted the geotechnical and hazmat units in project delivery, maintenance operations, and emergency response. Prior to joining ODOT in 2008, I worked as an environmental/geotechnical consultant and as a geologist for a tunneling construction company. I look forward to working with AEE and the Region 4 AEE members!

Headquarters Director – Shawn Rapp

I have been a member of AEE since joining ODOT in 2015 and was a member of AFSCME for almost 7 years at my previous agency job. I've always supported the Unions that represented me but have never really taken an active role. 

In Summer of 2022, I happened to catch one of the AEE Brown Bags. Cesar, the current President of AEE, was speaking out about the status of AEE, upcoming bargaining, issues around remote work, the engineer pay equity study, and the current active membership. 

With the 2018 Janus vs. AFSCME decision, AEE active membership has fallen while the needs of the represented staff have remained unchanged or increased with new challenges of the "modern work environment", payroll changes, and others.  It seemed like it was time to actually get involved and volunteered to be the new AEE Assistant Director for HQ/TLC in late 2022.  With a vacancy for TLC Director opening in July 2023, I decided to put my hat in the ring for consideration for the TLC Director Position.

Mill Creek Director – Zachary Horowitz

My fellow union members: I am running for the position of Mill Creek Director because you deserve to have a Director that will be engaged, supportive, and helpful. I’ve been with ODOT for just over five years and have been a paid member of AEE my entire time in state service. I strongly believe in our union, and in unions in general, and have seen firsthand the benefits of membership and solidarity. Now is the time for me to give back to AEE through volunteering my time to serve you as your Mill Creek Director.

My goals as Mill Creek Director are to support your workplace related union needs, to provide timely information on AEE activities, and to increase the number of paid members at our Mill Creek location. I am asking you to vote for me for Mill Creek Director because you can trust me to provide competent, caring leadership, and know that I will fight for your union rights.

OPRD Director is also up for election, but no one was nominated.