Meet Our Leadership & Staff:
T. Dean Wright, Jr.
President & Directing Business Representative
T. Dean Wright, Jr. began his career with the Machinists Union in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1983. He is a proud member of Local 1297 and has held a variety of elected offices in the IAM, including Chief Shop Steward, Sergeant of Arms, Local Lodge Vice-President, Local Lodge President, and District Lodge Vice President. He is also the President Emeritus of the Ohio State Council of Machinists (OSCM). In addition, he has served as Vice President of the Labor & Employment Relations Association (LERA).
In 1998, Dean was appointed to serve as an Organizer for District Lodge 54 in Cleveland, Ohio. Then, in 2002, he was appointed as a Business Representative, and in 2004, advanced to President & Directing Business Representative. In 2019, he was appointed to the IAM Law Committee, on which he served for two (2) conventions.
Brother Wright is responsible for overseeing the District with regard to its eleven (11) affiliated local, current and retired members (14,000+), staff and employees, district finances, and day-to-day operations in Ohio, West Virginia, and Northeastern Indiana.
Don Riffee, Jr.
Assistant Directing Business Representative
Don Riffee, Jr. began his career with the IAM in March of 1987, working in Woodhaven, Michigan. He is a proud member of Local Lodge 598 in South Charleston, West Virginia, and has held a variety of elected offices in the IAM, including Chief Shop Steward, Local Lodge 698 Conductor-Sentinel, Recording Secretary, and Secretary-Treasurer.
Brother Riffee has also held the position of District Lodge 60 President & Directing Business Representative, Vice President Michigan State Council of Machinists, Trustee for the Motor City Lodge 698 Health Care and Pension Funds, and District Lodge 34 Directing Business Representative.
In 2010, PDBR Wright appointed Riffee as Business Representative for District Lodge 54 in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2021, PDBR Wright appointed Brother Riffee as Assistant Directing Business Representative for District Lodge 54. In addition to his District Lodge 54 assignments, he currently holds the position of Delegate to the West Virginia AFL-CIO.
Jerry Espy
Business Representative
Jerry Espy started working at Pentair Water in Ashland, OH, in 1996. Being a proud member of Local Lodge 1297, Brother Espy has served the Machinists Union as a Steward and Local Secretary-Treasurer.
In 2009, Jerry was appointed by PDBR Wright to the position of District Lodge 54 Secretary-Treasurer/Organizer. PDBR Wright appointed Brother Espy to serve as Business Representative in 2012.
Regina Wright
Business Representative
Regina Wright started working for District 54 in 2012. In January 2020, Sister Wright was appointed as a Business Representative and Organizer for District 54. She is a proud member of Local 1297 and serves as the Chairperson of District 54’s Women’s and Human Rights Committee.
Regina graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University with her B.A. and completed her Master of Public Policy from The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University. Sister Wright is a fourth-generation union member.
Phil Johnson
Secretary Treasurer
Phil Johnson started working at Pentair Water in Ashland, OH, in 1996. As a proud member of Local Lodge 1297, Brother Johnson has served the Machinists Union as a Committee Representative and Local Secretary Treasurer. In 2023, Phil was appointed by PDBR Wright to the position of District Lodge 54 Secretary Treasurer. He also proudly served our Armed Services as part of the 321stMissile Wing in the United States Air Force.
Jason Shopbell
Business Representative
Jason Shopbell was initiated into the IAM in 2003 in Wooster, OH. He is a proud member of Local 1581. In 2005, Brother Shopbell was elected to 2nd Shift Steward, which he held for two years. He was elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1581 in 2009, serving for 16 years in this role. He also served his local as a member of the Negotiating Committee starting in 2022. Additionally, he has been a delegate to D54 and the OSCM. In July 2025, he was appointed Secretary-Treasurer of the OSCM. In October of 2025, PDBR Wright appointed Brother Shopbell to the position of Business Representative for District Lodge 54. He also served for over 20 years in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve, including Fighter Squadron 41 and Special Operations helicopter Squadron HCS-84, with two combat deployments to Iraq in 2007 and 2008. He retired from the military in 2014.
District Officers:
President: T. Dean Wright, Jr.
Vice President: Fred Confer
Secretary Treasurer: Phil Johnson
Conductor Sentinel: Jack Williams
Educator: Jacob Thomas
Communicator: Denise Lindsey