About Us
“The vision of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers District 54 is to establish and support economic and social justice for all workers, regardless of their sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin; ensuring that all work is performed by union workers; by furnishing job training and retraining; by enforcing safe and healthy workplaces; by providing fair and reasonable wage rates and benefits; and by establishing secure and portable retirement pension plans.”
QUICK INTRO
IAM District Lodge 54 was chartered on August 7, 1913 and represents 14,000+ active and retired members. President & Directing Business Representative T. Dean Wright, Jr. has led the District since 2004, and is responsible for overseeing the District Lodge in regard to its sixteen (16) affiliated local lodges, current and retired members (14,000+), staff members, employees, district finances, and its day-to-day operations in Ohio, West Virginia, Northeastern Indiana, and Michigan.
T. Dean Wright, Jr.
President & Directing Business Representative
T. Dean Wright, Jr. began his career with the Machinists Union in 1983 in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a proud member of Local Lodge 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 currently holds the positions of President of the Ohio State Council of Machinists (OSCM). In addition, he has also held the position of Vice President 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 to the position of Business Representative and in 2004 advanced to the position of President & Directing Business Representative. In 2019, he was appointed to the IAM Law Committee.
Brother Wright is responsible for overseeing the District Lodge in regard to its sixteen (16) affiliated local lodges, current and retired members (14,000+), staff members, employees, district finances, and its day-to-day operations in Ohio, West Virginia, Northeastern Indiana, and Michigan.
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 positions of Delegate to the West Virginia AFL-CIO and Vice President of the Ohio State Council of Machinists (OSCM).
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. In 2017, he was appointed as a Vice-President to the Ohio State Council of Machinists and currently also holds the positions of Vice-President of the Ashland/Wayne Holmes Central Labor Council and Vice-President of the North-East Ohio Area Labor Federation.
Jim McClelland
Business Representative
Jim McClelland was initiated into the IAM in 1989 in Columbus, OH. He is a proud member of Local 1471.
In 1995, Brother McClelland was elected to the position of 3rd Shift Steward; he held a Steward position for 18 years, ten of those as the Chief Steward. He was elected as Conductor/Sentinel, later Vice President of Local 1471, and in 2005 became President of the Lodge. In January of 2014 PDBR Wright appointed McClelland to the position of Business Representative for District Lodge 54.
He served our Armed Services in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army.
Regina Wright
Business Representative
Regina Wright started working for District Lodge 54 in 2012 as the District’s Communications Representative. She also held the position of Communications Representative for the Ohio State Council of Machinists, winning a combined eight Wimpy Awards for her work.
In January 2020, Sister Wright was appointed to the position of Business Representative and Organizer for District Lodge 54. She is a proud member of Local 1297 and currently holds the position of Vice President for the Ohio State Council of Machinists. In September of 2020, Sister Wright was appointed by GVP Conigliaro as the IAM Eastern Territory’s Women’s and Human Rights Liaison and fulfilled the one-year term. She is the Chairperson of District 54’s Women’s Committee.
Regina graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University in 2017 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 in 2020. She has previously worked for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and completed a fellowship for the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). 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 321st Missile Wing in the United States Air Force.