About Frank Jacobs

Business Manager Frank Jacobs has spent the last 35 of his 44-year career in service to our Brotherhood. Beginning as a COMET instructor in 1991, he joined the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee in 1993. While serving on the Committee, he was recommended for the Office of Recording Secretary and sworn in on September 25, 1998. During his ten years as Recording Secretary, Brother Jacobs worked closely with two Financial Secretaries and four Treasurers.

A fifth-generation member whose IBEW roots reach back to a charter member of Local 1, Brother Jacobs now holds the same office once held by his grandfather, Frank W. Jacobs, who served as the 11th District's first International Vice President. That legacy continued with his father, former Local 1 President Jack Jacobs.

Assuming office during unprecedented unemployment levels, Brother Jacobs hit the ground running, focused on easing the economic strain felt by unemployed and underemployed members. The unique market conditions during the Great Recession required adjustments to ensure that members who had been on the list for years were not devastated by short calls that lasted less than eight weeks. Business Manager Jacobs called for a committee and worked with the late Brother Tim Murray on the Committee's recommendation to implement the "40 Day Rule," an effective temporary solution to those market conditions. He has continually encouraged members who walked away during the Great Recession to return to the fold.

As lead negotiator on all IBEW/NECA Agreements, Business Manager Jacobs has successfully negotiated contracts with percentages above the area and industry three-year average. The currently-active Inside Agreement includes the highest annual economic increases of any Building Trades union and the highest for Local 1 in its history.

One of the hallmarks of a great labor leader is the willingness and ability to cross any bridge on behalf of their members or to achieve labor harmony. Brother Jacobs's consistent efforts to reunite the organized labor community in St. Louis started his first day as Business Manager. Those efforts were recently acknowledged by members of the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, who unanimously elected him President of the Council. Business Manager Jacobs was also appointed to the Governance Board of the St. Louis Construction Cooperative, the new name for the former PRIDE Saint Louis, a 50-year-old Labor-Management Cooperative established to mediate jurisdictional disputes during the construction of the Gateway Arch.

After the dissolution of the St. Louis-Kansas City Regional Council of Carpenters, Business Manager Jacobs met with Mid-America Regional Council EST Gary Perinar to discuss eliminating their electrical division and is overseeing an ongoing organizing effort to liberate the electrical workers trapped under a substandard agreement.

His work to restore and rebuild relationships within the community is aided by the addition of former State Senator Timothy Green to the Electrical Connection. As Senator Green's final term came to an end, Business Manager Jacobs set his sights on bringing his political acumen to the industry's benefit. Working with NECA, he created the position of Director of Political and Legislative Affairs, which the former Senator now holds. Brother Green's addition has been invaluable in fending off the relentless tide of anti-labor legislation in Missouri.

As Business Manager, he recently signed an agreement with the St. Louis Community College District granting graduating apprentices an associate degree upon completion of just nine additional college credit hours. The original 15-credit requirement was reduced to 9 after Brother Tim Green's American Government class was accredited by the College. Business Manager Jacobs has also worked to increase funding for the training center. The added funding paid for a new phone system and network, plus a state-of-the-art computer lab designed to integrate the National Training Institute's blended learning options. Planning has begun for a new state-of-the-art training center.

Honored to lead Local 1 during its historic 125th Birthday, Business Manager Jacobs worked to make the 39th Convention one to remember. He led the effort to save the Civil War-era boarding house that hosted the IBEW's first Convention. That work preserved what has become a lasting tribute to the Founding Fathers and the entire IBEW. Alongside that, he successfully campaigned the International Officers to form a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, the Electrical Workers Historical Society, whose governing Board will always include the Business Manager of Local 1. International President Lonnie Stephenson recognized Brother Jacobs's work to save the historic site by selecting him as Secretary of the Law Committee for the 39th Convention. Thanks to Business Manager Jacobs, Henry Miller now has a museum that bears his name. A Henry Miller statue, voted on and sponsored by the membership, hangs from the first utility pole in Founders Plaza and bears the name LOCAL 1. Members from across the U.S. and Canada make the trip to stand where the Founding Fathers once stood.

Accomplishments in Office

• Adjusted Health & Welfare qualification requirements to enable more members to access medical coverage for their families.
• Modified the Temporary Extended Unemployment (TES) triggers to enable more members to access funds while unemployed.
• Chartered a commercial bus for a book-signing tour to Kansas City to spare members travel expense and create employment opportunities on two large industrial projects.
• Signed a reciprocity agreement with IBEW Local 309 Business Manager Tim Evans to benefit Local 1 members working in Local 309.
• Instituted and then streamlined Iowa licensing procedures for members working in IBEW Locals 13 and 22.
• Discreetly coordinated and funded a foreclosure prevention specialist for members in danger of losing their homes.
• Doubled the number of Reciprocal Book 2 Registration agreements originally established by Business Manager Greg Booth.
• Established a bid referral system to alleviate member travel cost and employment delays.
• Managed what is widely recognized as the most impactful effort to defeat Right-to-Work (Prop A) in 2018.
• Managed the addition of a member-area website and companion smartphone application.
• Integrated an aggressive business development plan designed to secure future work for Local 1 members.
• Established two real-estate investment funds, ECAP (Electrical Capital Partners) and the M.O.R.E. program (Bank of Labor), both designed to secure work for members.
• Managed the renovation of the historic union hall, placing the building on the National Register of Historic Places, while also working with Financial Secretary Dave Roth to grow the treasury.
• During the COVID pandemic, negotiated an emergency agreement with NECA to give members access to unemployment relief funds.
• Established the first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for an IBEW/NECA Labor-Management Cooperative Corporation (LMCC) in the country.

A Letter to Local 1

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I'm asking for your continued support of this administration. Together we have battled through the most difficult times ever seen in our great Brotherhood. With your support, I pledge to continue the work to restore and keep the IBEW in Saint Louis in its rightful place. Our work to end the carpenters' upstart union continues, and we will use every means necessary. We will continue the fight.

I am very proud of my staff of Representatives and their devotion to you and our collective goals. Every single one of them has a reputation from their time in the field as a member that you want to work with you, for you, or in their crew. I assure you that they work just as hard every day to represent you.

Thank you for your support.

In Unity,
Frank Jacobs
Business Manager · IBEW Local 1

Brother Jacobs's passion and dreams for the IBEW motivated him to begin planning and preparing to lead our great Brotherhood long ago. He is humbled and honored by the support he has received from the membership. With your continued support and your vote on June 6th, together we can continue the progress started by Business Manager Frank Jacobs and the Unity Club.

About Steve Muehling

Brother Muehling's path into the IBEW began while working for the City of Florissant, where he crossed paths with two KayBee Electric electricians who encouraged him to apply for the apprenticeship. He took their advice, and as he puts it, the rest is history. Initiated into IBEW Local 1 on March 18, 1987, Steve topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on January 25, 1991. He has built a 39-year career defined by hands-on craft work, leadership, and a deep commitment to the membership.

During his time in the field, Brother Muehling took on his first steward role in 1992 on a Target remodel at Stiarwalt Electric. Over the decades he worked landmark jobs across the region with GECO, including a 13-story high-rise in Clayton, a large data center core-and-shell at Missouri Research Park, Mills Mall, and two plant shutdowns at General Motors' Wentzville facility.

His transition into full-time leadership came in 2011, when he was appointed Business Representative, a role he held for nearly 15 years. During that time he served as a Trustee of the Apprenticeship & Training, Holiday & Vacation, and Health & Welfare funds, and represented Local 1 as a Delegate to both the St. Louis Building Trades and North American Building Trades. He was sworn in as Financial Secretary in February 2026.

Accomplishments in Office

• Part of the IBEW Local 1 Labor Management Committee for four consecutive Inside Agreement negotiations, restoring lost wages and benefits each cycle. The most recent contract delivered the highest wage increases in Local 1 history.
• Invited by the Missouri Works Initiative Program to participate in new class orientations, answering questions and guiding potential apprenticeship candidates toward a career in the IBEW.

Service Record

• Appointed Election Teller — IBEW Local 1 (2002)
• Appointed to the IBEW Joint Apprenticeship Committee — IBEW Local 1 (2003–2007)
• Elected Delegate to the 2006 IBEW International Convention — IBEW Local 1 (2005)
• Examining Board — IBEW Local 1 (August 2007–April 2010)
• Executive Board — IBEW Local 1 (April 2010–December 2016)
• Appointed Business Representative — IBEW Local 1 (July 2011–February 2026)
• Sworn in as Financial Secretary — IBEW Local 1 (February 2026–Present)
• Trustee, Apprenticeship & Training Trust Fund — IBEW Local 1 (2011–2024)
• Trustee, Holiday & Vacation Trust Fund — IBEW Local 1 (2011–2025)
• Trustee, Health & Welfare Trust Fund — IBEW Local 1 (January 2025–Present)
• Trustee, Pension Trust Fund — IBEW Local 1 (Present)
• Advisor, Missouri Works Initiative Program (August 2024–Present)
• Delegate to St. Louis Building Trades (2011–Present)
• Delegate to North American Building Trades (2011–Present)
• Executive Board, North County Labor Council (2011–April 2026)
• Executive Board, Tri-County Labor Council (2011–Present)

Steward appointments: 18 times on various job sites throughout his career.

Certifications & Training

• COMET Train the Trainer — Certified
• Local 1 Stewards Training — Instructor
• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Conference — 2012, 2015, 2018, 2025
• IBEW International Benefits Conference — 2026
• NJATC NTI Conference — 2003–2007

In His Own Words

"I was always told that being a part of IBEW Local One and its membership is not a 'Right' but an 'Honor.' And part of that honor is helping others succeed where others helped you succeed. No truer words have ever been said than — we should all strive to leave Local One in a better position than when we got here."

About Mike Sabath

Brother Sabath came to the IBEW from CWA, where he had been working as a technician. Recognizing that the IBEW offered better opportunities and a better way of life, he made the move and was initiated into IBEW Local 1 on April 7, 1999. In the 27 years since, he has built an impressive record both on the job and in service to the membership.

During his time in the field, Mike has worked his way through every level of field leadership, from lead man to foreman to general foreman, while also serving as steward and shop steward on dozens of job sites. His resume includes some of the most recognizable projects in the St. Louis region: the TWA Dome, St. Louis Public Schools, Busch Stadium 3, Enterprise Center smoke control and fire alarm installations, the Saint Louis Aquarium, and Parkview Tower at BJC. He currently works as a foreman and general foreman at Archkey/Sachs.

Since 2005, Brother Sabath has also served as an instructor at the NECA EJATC for IBEW Local 1, attending NTI twice in that capacity and earning certifications in structured cabling and access control. He has been a member of the Communications Negotiating Committee since 2017 and joined the Bylaws Committee in 2025.

Why He's Running

Brother Sabath sees the Executive Board as a direct extension of the advocacy he has practiced throughout his career. Through his years as a negotiator, shop steward, steward, foreman, and instructor, he has developed a close connection with the membership across the communications division, and he wants to put that experience to work at the board level.

"I believe that our Local is a family. As a family we should take care of each other the best we can. Local 1 always takes the lead, whether on the job site or in the community, when tasks need to be accomplished. That makes me very proud to be a member of IBEW Local 1."

Service Record

• Instructor — NECA EJATC, IBEW Local 1 (2005–Present)
• Shop Steward — Data First Communications (1999–2001)
• Shop Steward — Premise Communications (2005–2008)
• Shop Steward — Bell Communications (2017–2019)
• Executive Board — IBEW Local 1 (2026–Present)
• Communications Negotiating Committee — IBEW Local 1 (2017–Present)
• Bylaws Committee — IBEW Local 1 (2025–Present)

Steward appointments: Job steward 11 times on various job sites · Shop steward 3 times.

Certifications: NTI-certified instructor in structured cabling and access control.

Community Involvement

• Founding Member & Volunteer Coach — Maplewood Youth Sports (2006–2023)
• Prop Y / Prop S school bond volunteer
• Rebuilding Together volunteer
• Founding member — Maplewood–Richmond Heights High School Booster Club
• President — Emmanuel Church Preschool
• Emmanuel Church Facilities Committee

About Bill Clements

Bill Clements was initiated into IBEW Local 1 on June 27, 2017, a second-generation electrician following in the footsteps of his father, godfather, and older brothers. He topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on August 24, 2022. Their commitment to organized labor gave Bill both a model and a mission, and he arrived carrying a strong family tradition rooted in quality craftsmanship, solidarity, and service.

His early involvement was shaped by the fight against Right-to-Work, which sparked a lasting commitment to union engagement and advocacy. As a young apprentice, Bill was elected President of the Social Club, and he put that platform to work right away. With the guidance of Business Manager Frank Jacobs, he helped launch the inaugural RENEW Trivia Night in 2020. That first event raised $27,000 for the Relief Committee. Now in its seventh consecutive year, the event consistently raises over $20,000 annually for the membership, with Bill serving as one of the two MCs. He has also volunteered his time for RENEW events at IBEW Local 309 and benefit trivia nights held to support members' families in need.

Beyond the trivia night, Bill has taken on a steady stream of leadership roles throughout the union and community. He serves on the St. Louis County Electrical Code Review Panel, acts as Secretary of the IBEW Local 1 Voluntary Fund, and holds the position of Sergeant-at-Arms at the union hall. In the field, he has served as a Foreman, Steward, and Shop Steward, consistently standing up for his fellow members no matter how difficult the situation.

Community & Political Involvement

• Member — South County Labor Club
• Dedicated multiple days per week to the fight against Right-to-Work
• Rebuilding Together volunteer
• Phone banking, literature drops, and canvassing for Local 1 and labor-endorsed candidates
• Promotes and encourages apprentice engagement at every RENEW Trivia Night

In His Own Words

"The IBEW is more than a career to me. It is a family tradition, a source of pride, and a lifelong commitment to solidarity and service. Everything my family and I have is owed to the IBEW and the opportunities it has created. My goal is to leave this membership stronger than when I arrived and to encourage others to do the same. The IBEW is only as strong as its membership and it would be a great honor to be an officer of this great membership to help strengthen from within."

About Leslie Lorenzini

Sister Lorenzini was initiated into IBEW Local 1 on October 30, 1993, and topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on March 7, 1997. She came to the trade through a chance conversation: while working at Ralston Purina, she crossed paths with a maintenance electrician who told her about the apprenticeship. She applied, was accepted, and never looked back.

In the months following her graduation, Sister Lorenzini served as an election teller, was appointed steward of record for a large Anheuser-Busch project, attended the inaugural IBEW Women's Conference as a Delegate, and joined the JATC teaching staff as a night school instructor, all in a single year. For Sister Lorenzini, teaching has always been a labor of love. She donated her evenings over the next six years instructing members in welding and conduit-bending before stepping away to spend more time with her family. After earning her OSHA 500 certification, she rejoined the night school staff in 2022 as an OSHA instructor and remains on that staff today.

Throughout her career, Sister Lorenzini has served as a steward, foreman, and general foreman on job sites across the region, logging more than 10 steward appointments. Notable stints included Anheuser-Busch in 1998 and Merchandise Mart apartments in 2002. She served on the Examining Board from 2023 to 2024, was sworn in as Treasurer of IBEW Local 1 in January 2024, and has since been active as a delegate at national conferences representing women and minority workers in the electrical industry.

Sister Lorenzini has stepped up whenever the IBEW has needed her. She understands that representation matters, both for her fellow women in the trades and for every member she serves, and she brings that same commitment to the Treasurer's office.

Accomplishments in Office

Sister Lorenzini was sworn in as Treasurer of IBEW Local 1 in January 2024. She has served the membership with the same dedication she has brought to every role throughout her 32-year career, from steward to instructor to examining board officer, and now as a principal officer of the Local.

In Her Own Words

"As a first generation electrician I quickly found out it is not just a profession. It is also a family. It is my honor to represent every member of our great local to the best of my abilities."

About Scott Burns

Scott Burns was born and raised in North St. Louis County. Before entering the electrical trade, he served his country as an Electrician aboard U.S. Navy Submarines, a discipline that demands precision, accountability, and absolute trust in the crew around you.

A proud third-generation member, Scott has been part of the IBEW Local 1 Brotherhood for 30 years. During his time in the field he has served as Steward, Foreman, and General Foreman, roles that reflect both deep technical experience and a lasting commitment to the members beside him on the job.

Representing Local 1 as a Convention Delegate to the 41st IBEW Convention, Scott brings a lifetime of union values passed down through family, sharpened by military service, and proven across three decades in the trade.

About Bill Egan

Bill Egan first applied to the IBEW apprenticeship in 1992, right out of high school. He had to wait. His interview didn't come until December 1995, so in the meantime he earned a Business Administration degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. When the call finally came, he answered it. Bill began the Inside Apprenticeship on January 15, 1996, and was initiated into IBEW Local 1 in September 1996 as a third-generation member of the Brotherhood. He topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on February 18, 2000.

During his time in the field, Bill built a career as a Foreman, General Foreman, and Steward across some of the most demanding job sites in the region. He served as Steward on major NMA projects for GM, Chrysler, Ford, Anheuser-Busch, and Ameren, on and off, for more than two decades. A standout job early in his career was being part of the crew that built the Mr. Freeze roller coaster at Six Flags as an apprentice. For the past 25 years, he has concentrated on the new construction and remodeling of data centers across the area.

Bill has logged more than 20 steward appointments over his 30-year career and served as an Election Teller for IBEW Local 1 elections in 2005 and 2008. He is a current member of the Tri-County Labor Club and a former member of the North County Labor Club, and he has been an active voice for labor on ballot initiatives. Most recently he helped collect signatures to defeat Prop A and the Respect MO Voters initiative.

In His Own Words

"I'm a 3rd generation IBEW Local 1 member. Having the next generation of my family, step-daughter and cousins, entering this Brother and Sisterhood is important for them and myself. Going to the Convention is one step in helping ensure our future as a Local, and Organization of where we are heading for the rest of the 21st century and beyond!!"

About Bobby Schneider

Bobby Schneider grew up in a family of IBEW members spanning three generations. Joining the Brotherhood was a goal from early on, and on March 3, 1992, he was initiated into IBEW Local 1. He topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on November 3, 1995. Today, more than three decades into his career, he describes the union as a family and living out this career as his dream job.

During his time in the field, Bobby built his career working commercial projects and a wide range of industrial jobs, primarily serving as Job Steward and Assistant Job Steward. He has held steward responsibilities on 20 different projects and holds certifications in COMET training and the Steward class. In 2025 he was appointed to the Examining Board, where he now serves as an incumbent candidate.

Bobby finds particular satisfaction in administering exams to members and watching them succeed. His passion for mentorship, teaching younger members the right way to do their job and standing up for all members on the job, has been a constant throughout his career.

In His Own Words

"I have truly enjoyed my 35 years and getting to know our brothers and sisters. It is like a family to me. My favorite thing to do in the trade is to teach younger members the right way to do our job. I believe in standing up for all members on the job."

About Kenny Edgar III

Kenny Edgar III is a 4th-generation IBEW member who started his career as a Communications trainee on November 20, 1989. He worked in that classification until April 1, 1991, when he began the Inside Apprenticeship. That move set him on a journey through the union that has now spanned more than three and a half decades.

During his time in the field, Brother Edgar built his career across Local 1's industrial backbone: power plants, automotive plants, chemical, food, and manufacturing facilities. He has served as Job Steward, Foreman, and General Foreman, and was appointed Steward 16 times across some of the area's largest industrial sites, including Monsanto, Mallinckrodt, GM, Ameren power plants, Sigma Chemical, Bayer, Pfizer, Anheuser-Busch, and Boeing. That service ran from 1997 through 2025. He holds certifications in rigging, crane signaling, first aid, electric vehicle training, OSHA 30, and welding.

His union service has steadily expanded with the same intent. He served on the Examining Board from 2018–2020, where he and his fellow board members updated the qualification tests to reflect what members were actually experiencing on the job. He served as Treasurer from 2020–2023 and has served as Vice President from 2023 to the present. He has also served as Voluntary PAC Fund Treasurer since 2018.

Outside the hall, Kenny serves on the Executive Board of the South County Labor Club and is in his third term as Director on the Affton School Board (2018–Present). He ran for a Missouri State House seat in District 92 to support union work and public education, and he canvassed alongside Local 1 members to defeat Right-to-Work in 2018.

In His Own Words

"Being an IBEW member is a way of life. Growing up in an IBEW family, I knew the importance of Unions, buying Union, and supporting unions. The biggest draw for me starting out was the feeling of Brotherhood and standing together for the greater good."

About Steve Dussold

Steve Dussold credits his trade union values to his father Henry, who joined the IBEW in 1946 after serving as an Electrician in World War II. "My father was always the steward on the job. When the job was over he went back to the hall." Henry Dussold received his 65-year pin and lived to see his son Rob elected to the Executive Board before passing in 2011. Initiated into IBEW Local 1 on March 30, 1988, Steve topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on October 21, 1991. He is now in his 38th year of membership and a 2nd-generation IBEW member.

Steve is a charter member of the Tri-County Labor Club, founded alongside his brother Rob and the late Business Manager Greg Booth. The three spent their evenings and weekends volunteering on behalf of pro-labor candidates, and worked alongside other building trades volunteers to transform Local 1's #10 Droste Plaza into a meeting place for what is now one of the area's largest and most successful Labor Clubs.

Like many members hit hard by the Great Recession, Steve was forced to travel for more than four years to feed his family. "I am very proud of my time on the road. I did what I had to do to feed my family and it made me stronger. I understand what those members on the road are going through." When Local 124 in Kansas City put out an open call for two upcoming shutdowns and many Local 1 members couldn't afford to travel, Business Manager Frank Jacobs chartered a round-trip bus, Local 1's first-ever Book-Signing Tour, to carry members up to sign Book 2. The experience prompted Steve and his traveling partner, Jim Reinheimer Jr., to push for the implementation of a Hiring Hall bid system at Local 1.

Today, Steve serves as Shop Steward for Vision Electric. He has served Local 1 as General Foreman, Foreman, Steward, and Shop Steward, and has completed both the International Office and IBEW Local 1 Construction steward training programs. He has served on the Executive Board since 2016 and as its Secretary since 2018. He is on the Executive Board of the Tri-County Labor Club and is Vice President of the Warren County Labor Club. Steve worked tirelessly to defeat Right-to-Work in 2018 and continues to walk door-to-door for labor-friendly candidates.

Business Manager Frank Jacobs has called Steve forward and recommended him for re-election to the Executive Board because of his unwavering commitment to the cause.

In His Own Words

"The IBEW means a lot to me. It has provided me a great living now, and for when I retire. I believe we should leave this Local better than it was when we started, and I try to do that all the time."

About Daniil Scott

Daniil Scott is a 4th-generation IBEW member who joined the apprenticeship program after seeing the opportunities the Brotherhood holds and after watching three generations of his family build careers within Local 1. He was initiated into IBEW Local 1 on July 20, 2018, and topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on February 17, 2023.

Daniil's path through union service has been steady and intentional. He served as Teller in 2023 and Sergeant-At-Arms from 2024 through 2026. On the job, he served as Steward on BJC Phase 3 (2025–2026), and on February 25, 2026, he was sworn in to the Examining Board, where he now serves as an incumbent candidate. He holds certifications in COMET Training (Jefferson City) and IBEW Local 1's Steward training program.

Beyond his union office work, Daniil serves as Political Volunteer Coordinator for the Tri-County Labor Club. He canvassed to defeat Proposition A, the 2018 Right-to-Work measure, and continues to canvass for labor-friendly candidates across the region.

In His Own Words

"I have always had great passion for being involved in the IBEW. It's important to me to make this local the best it can be. I will continue to strive to make a positive impact on this local and its membership."

About Julie Fischer

Julie Fischer grew up in a multigenerational union family. As a child, she helped hand-bill against Right-to-Work and joined sit-ins at Denny's restaurants being built non-union. The values stuck.

Julie originally trained for a career in healthcare, working toward her R.N., before deciding it wasn't her path. She turned to the electrical trade and calls it the best decision she ever made. She was initiated into IBEW Local 1 in October 1997, and on April 27, 2001 topped out as a Journeyman Wireman.

Today Julie is a Foreman for Guarantee Electrical in the TEGG division, the company's testing, electrical preventive maintenance, and energy services arm. She has served the trade as both Steward and Foreman at Payne Crest across her career. She has served on Local 1's Safety Committee since 2024 and was an Election Teller in 2023. Her certifications include OSHA-30, NFPA 70E, Level 1 Thermographer, and Local 1 Steward Training.

Outside the hall, Julie collects signatures for labor-friendly petitions, canvasses for labor-friendly candidates, and volunteers with Rebuilding Together. She comes to Local 1 with a deep IBEW family lineage. Her great-uncles Angelo, John, and Frank Azzanni were all Local 1 Journeyman Wiremen, and her cousins George Azzanni, Tom Whalen, and Gavin McCombs followed in their footsteps as Journeyman Wiremen.

Julie believes that being an IBEW member doesn't stop when you leave the jobsite. It's a community of brothers and sisters built on giving back and showing up. She brings to her Examining Board candidacy a lifetime of union values, the perspective of a working Foreman, and the disposition of a listener and leader. Business Manager Frank Jacobs and the Unity Club recommend Sister Julie Fischer for Examining Board.

In Her Own Words

"I was fortunate to be a part of a multigenerational strong union family, and I understand the importance of being part of a union and all it has to offer. I will work hard to represent the great people of the IBEW and do it as best as I possibly can!"

About Tony Scarpace

Tony Scarpace is a 3rd-generation IBEW member, initiated into IBEW Local 1 on April 1, 2013. He topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on April 12, 2018. On April 11, 2026, his family marked 80 consecutive years of service in Local 1, a milestone he carries with pride.

During his time in the field, Tony has served as Steward and Foreman, and is currently the Shop Steward for Kaemmerlen Facility Solutions. He has been Local 1's steward on more than a dozen projects across the region, including General Motors, Washington University, Clarendale, Ballpark Village, Pennymac, Energizer Park – Parking Garage, Duckett Creek Waste Water Facility #7, and additional jobs for Bell Electric and Vision Electric. He is, in his own words, always eager to claim work for Local 1. He holds certifications in Steward Training and PAL Training.

Tony's union service has steadily grown alongside his career. He served as Sergeant-At-Arms from June 2021 through January 2024, and was sworn in to the Examining Board in January 2024, where he serves today. He is now seeking election to the Executive Board.

Outside the hall, Tony's commitment to the Brotherhood shows up everywhere. He is a member of the Tri-County Labor Club and served as Vice President and then President of the Apprentice Social Club (RENEW) from 2015–2018, where he helped raise over $15,000 in toys and cash donations for SSM Cardinal Glennon, Shriners, and Children's Hospital. He participates in the EWMC Mentor Program at the Division of Youth Services, Rebuilding Together, the EWMC Annual Coat Drive, and Wreaths Across America at Jefferson Barracks. He canvassed all across Missouri to defeat Right-to-Work in 2018 and has walked for labor-friendly candidates with the Tri-County Labor Club ever since.

In His Own Words

"Everything I have in my life, I owe to Local #1. I'm honored to be involved and to give back to this organization. I am here to further the labor movement and lead us into the future."

About James Jones Jr.

James Jones Jr. found his way to the IBEW while a student at St. Mary's High School. With a full baseball scholarship to Johnson & Wales University on the table and the military as another option, he chose the trade. He applied to the IBEW Apprenticeship Program and was accepted. He was initiated into IBEW Local 1 on August 1, 1998, and topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on December 13, 2001. Today he is a Foreman and Shop Steward with BRK Electric Construction Co.

During his time in the field, Brother Jones has served as Steward, General Foreman, Foreman, and Shop Steward, and was elected President of his Apprenticeship Class. He has held five steward appointments and one shop-steward appointment over his career, and holds certifications in CPR Training, Peer-to-Peer Training, Mentor Training, Effective Management Training, and Situational Management Training.

His union service tracks the same arc. He served on the Examining Board from 2023–2024 and was sworn in as Recording Secretary on January 31, 2024, a role he holds today. He now seeks election to the Executive Board, where he plans to continue maintaining the efficient status of business that has defined his service.

Outside the hall, James serves the broader community and labor movement. He is a member of the South County Labor Club and the St. Louis City Labor Club, and has served as Sergeant-at-Arms, Vice President, and President of the IBEW Bowling League. He is active with the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus on Historical Cemetery Preservation, DYS Programs, and the Coat Drive; with Gateway 180; with the Urban League's "Clean Up, Build Up" initiative, food distribution, and tornado cleanup; with Rebuilding Together, Habitat for Humanity, the South County Food Pantry, Wreaths Across America, and Flags at Jefferson Barracks. He served as Alderman of the City of Green Park for six years. As a fundraiser, he organized a "Nine Pin, No Tap" event that raised $4,000 for new bowling balls for disabled veterans.

In His Own Words

"The number one goal for me is to ensure IBEW will continue growing stronger and more inclusive. Together we can achieve this. This is our future."

About Josh Peniston

Brother Josh Peniston raised his right hand and promised to "further the purposes for which the IBEW is instituted" on February 8, 1997, the day he was initiated into IBEW Local 1, and his actions have spoken louder than his words ever since. He topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on March 1, 2002. Josh has volunteered to represent Local 1 on construction sites both large and small. It is a challenging appointment, vital to protecting the membership and Local 1's interests, but one that often results in unforeseen consequences. Josh's ability to navigate those waters and maintain equity has earned him high praise from site managers, members, and employers alike.

Josh's success as a union steward led Business Manager Frank Jacobs to enroll him in the Construction Organizing Membership Education Training (COMET) "Train-the-Trainer" class in Kansas City, Missouri. Since that time, Josh has joined Chris Clermont and Frankie Valleroy in teaching the COMET Certification class to Local 1's graduating apprentices.

That same mentorship of younger members led to a charitable effort that placed the IBEW in the limelight of every local media outlet. Teaming up with officers of the Apprenticeship Social Club, Josh spearheaded a fundraising campaign that raised over $5,000 to purchase toys for SSM Cardinal Glennon's Saint Louis Children's Hospital Child Life Services, aptly named the BJC Toy Drive.

A generational IBEW member whose great-grandfather was a lineman for the railroad, Josh continues a long Peniston family tradition of service to the IBEW in Saint Louis. He served as Teller in 2014, as Chairman of the Examining Board from 2016 through 2023, and currently serves as an Officer on the Executive Board, an appointment that began in 2023 to fill the unexpired term of Brother Greg Schwartz. He has also served as Sergeant-At-Arms, as Steward at Washington University's Olin School of Business, and as Chief Steward of BJC Campus Renewal.

In 2023, Business Manager Jacobs again called on Josh, this time to help lead the IBEW's campaign to liberate electrical workers whose skills are being exploited by the Carpenters' Union. In the months that followed, Josh and the other organizers gathered majority support from two of the three most viable contractors signatory with the Carpenters' Electrical Local 57.

Business Manager Frank Jacobs and the Unity Club recommend Josh Peniston for re-election as Officer on the Executive Board.

In His Own Words

"The IBEW to me is not just a profession, it's a lifestyle! You only get out of it what you put in, and that's why being an officer for this membership is such a great honor. I will work as hard as I can to represent this great Local and its membership to the best of my ability!"

About Dan Drury, Jr.

Thirty-seven-year member Dan Drury, Jr., comes from a labor family. His father, Daniel E. Drury Sr., was a 51-year member of Ironworkers' Local 396, and it was Dad who guided Dan and his brother Kevin to IBEW Local 1. Dan was initiated into the Local on October 27, 1989, and topped out as a Journeyman Wireman on October 1, 1993. He has been an active volunteer ever since. When the IBEW Local 1 coalition rallied to fight Right-to-Work in 2018, Dan volunteered so often that Business Manager Jacobs invited him to work full-time on the signature-gathering effort.

During his time in the field, Dan has served as assistant steward, job steward, service-truck operator, and foreman for multiple electrical contractors. That path has given him general knowledge and experience across nearly every aspect of Local 1's jurisdiction. He is an advocate for genuine service to all members and for relationship building among all the trades.

His dedication during the Right-to-Work fight led Business Manager Jacobs to recommend him to fill an unexpired term on the Executive Board. Dan's calm, methodical, and detailed approach to the Board's adjudication process is an exemplary example of the duties and responsibilities of a Local Union officer. He has served as Officer on the Executive Board since 2018, served on Local 1's Bylaws Committee in 2017 and again for 2025–2026, presents at the Persuade-A-Local (PAL) program, and speaks regularly at New Member Orientation. He is a member of the Tri-County Labor Club.

Outside the hall, Dan served as President of the Villages at Walden Pond Homeowners Association from 2019 to 2025, and personally organized a fundraiser that raised $5,000 for a Local 1 member battling cancer.

Business Manager Frank Jacobs and the entire Unity Club recommend Brother Dan Drury, Jr., for Vice President.

In His Own Words

"Just like our society, our IBEW is in constant change. The battle between maintaining tradition and evolving for a successful future is a struggle. As the density of our membership continues to flow into the edges of our jurisdiction, we must find ways to maintain unity and remind each other that we are on the same team and fighting for the betterment of not just organized labor but all working people."