Maritime Trades ALF CIO
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About Us

Officers & Staff

Executive Officers

David Heindel has been the President of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO since February 2023.

 

Brother Anthony “Ski” Gonsiewski is the current President/Business Manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 25. He was appointed this position in April of 2021.

Mark Clements became Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, on April 1, 2023.

Staff

Brittanie Potter

Administrator & Chief of Staff

Brittanie Potter was officially appointed as Administrator and Chief of Staff of the Maritime Trades Department in 2023, but she was no stranger to the MTD or the Labor movement.

 Brittanie originally joined the Department staff in 2011 as Office Manager, providing administrative support. After five years with MTD, she was offered a position with the Seafarers International Union as the Executive Assistant to the Legislative and Political Director.  In that capacity, Brittanie maintained the yearly political budget for the Union and tracked contributions in accordance with Federal Election Commission guidelines, among other duties.

In 2017, now-retired Seafarers (and MTD) President Sacco asked her to serve as his Executive Assistant. She excelled in this new position, while continuing with her responsibilities to the Political and Legislative office. She worked under President Sacco’s leadership for six years before his retirement in March 2023. After assisting incoming President David Heindel with his transition into office, Brittanie was reassigned to the Maritime Trades Department in a leadership role as Administrator/Chief of Staff.

Brittanie comes from a strong union family and is committed to the values and traditions of the Labor movement.  When she isn’t spreading the word about Maritime workers or women in Labor, Brittanie can be found cheering on her teenage daughter at softball games.

Michael Hickey

Communications Director

Michael Hickey has occupied the role of the Maritime Trades Department’s Communications Director since 2011.

Michael began his career in the maritime industry in 2001 serving as a Public Relations Director at the Seafarers-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training in Piney Point, MD. In this capacity, he acted as photographer, writer, and point of contact for media requests. Michael later became a liaison to The Seafarers Log, assisting with photography and various other special assignments.

Michael previously worked as a photojournalist for newspapers and magazines up and down the Mid-Atlantic. Hickey has an extensive record of volunteer work for a variety of causes, particularly those involving cancer research and autism.

Hickey’s love of hockey led him to coach at various levels of the sport, including Maryland University Ice Hockey Assistant Coach from 1995-2001.

Michael is married to Kim Hickey, MTD’s administrative assistant. When he’s not slinging a camera or sliding on the ice, Hickey enjoys grilling and training his dog for therapy work.

Kim Hickey

Administrative Assistant

In 2021, Kim Hickey came aboard as Administrative Assistant for the Maritime Trades Department.

Prior to that, Kim worked for the Seafarers Union in the pension department. She found her calling in the maritime industry after a long career of administrative work in a Capitol Hill dental practice. She likes to say she is staying true to her roots as a former resident of the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

Kim is married to Michael Hickey, MTD’s Communications Director. She loves animals (they currently have two cats and one dog), chasing rainbows, lending a helping hand, inspiring others to make a difference, and being near the water.

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