CLEVELAND, July 10 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce today announced a number of changes to the BLET National Division staff.
Megan C. Mead is the BLET’s new Director of the Compliance Department effective July 7, 2015. She takes the position formerly held by Dr. Elaine Reese, who retired on July 6, 2015. Dr. Reese began working for the Brotherhood in 1989. Mead is a member of BLET Division 197 (San Antonio, Texas). Sister Mead hired out as a brakeman with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1990 and earned promotion to locomotive engineer in July of 1993. She first joined the BLET on November 1, 1994 and has held continuous membership ever since. She was elected to serve her Division as Secretary-Treasurer, and was serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the Union Pacific-Southern Region General Committee of Adjustment at the time National President Dennis R. Pierce appointed her to the position of Special Representative and BLET Short Term Disability Liaison, effective July 1, 2013. She was the first female Special Representative in the 152-year history of the BLET. In her new role, Sister Mead is responsible for coordinating tax-related activities between the BLET, its subordinate bodies and the various government agencies.
David B. Ditzel, Special Representative, will assume the additional assignment of BLET Short Term Disability Liaison. He will handle the day-to-day administration of the BLET’s Short Term Disability Trust Plan. A member of BLET Division 232 (Laurel, Mont.), Brother Ditzel has been an employee of the BLET National Division for many years, beginning in the mid-1980s, and then full-time in 1991. Brother Ditzel began his railroad career on Burlington Northern Railway in 1977. He was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1978 and joined BLET Division 195 in 1980. He has held several elected offices with the BLET, including Division Secretary-Treasurer, Legislative Representative and Chairman of the Montana State Legislative Board.
Matthew C. Kronyak is now Special Representative and Director of Mobilization – Eastern Region. President Pierce appointed Kronyak to a full-time Special Representative position effective November 1, 2014, and his duties as Director of Mobilization – Eastern Region, became effective July 7, 2015. Brother Kronyak hired out on Conrail as a trainman on February 23, 1993, and earned promotion to locomotive engineer on May 26, 1995. He first joined the BLET on December 1, 1995, and has held continuous membership ever since. In addition to serving as Local Chairman of BLET Division 235 (Union City, N.J.) for 14 years, Brother Kronyak also served as Chairman of the New Jersey State Legislative Board and as Vice Chairman of the Conrail (SAA-CSX Northern District) General Committee of Adjustment. As Director of Mobilization – Eastern Region, Brother Kronyak is responsible for coordinating all BLET mobilization efforts east of the Mississippi River and will continue to handle other duties as assigned by the National President.
After more than three decades of service to the Brotherhood, Frank Dengler has left his position as Director of the Supply Department and File Manager. Jeremy Broka is now Director of the Supply Department and Mail Manager. Broka has worked for the Brotherhood since April of 2001 as Manager of the Supply Department and Mail Manager. His Supply Department duties will include handling of office supplies and Brotherhood logo merchandise, under the direction of First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt. Broka’s Mail duties will include serving as a liaison between the BLET and the U.S. Postal Service, handling daily mail and the various mailing permits (bulk mail and business reply, etc.) required for Brotherhood mailings. He will also work with UPS for express shipments via Next Day Air and Ground.
President Pierce also announced that James Grdina is the new Director of the File Department. Grdina worked for the BLET Building Association for three years (2011-2014) and then with Collier’s Management (2014-2015) prior to his employment with the BLET. Grdina assumes the file management duties formerly assigned to Frank Dengler.
“Please join me in thanking Dr. Elaine Reese and Big Frank for their years of dedicated service to the Brotherhood,” President Pierce said. “Our Organization lost many years of knowledge and experience following their departures. However, I have every confidence in Megan Mead, Dave Ditzel, Matt Kronyak, Jeremy Broka and James Grdina. I know they will rise to meet the challenges that lie ahead and will do an excellent job on behalf of our BLET Brothers and Sisters.”