Nominees for SSA Executive Board

Elections for these positions will be held virtually Monday, November 16, 2020 through Wednesday, November 18, 2020 via Eballot. Below are the biographies in alpha order: 

Nominees for SSA President:  

Katrina Minnis - Enrollment Associate III 

I have work at the college since 1999, I am proud a graduate of HFC, and I am currently perusing my master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. I am your current serve as the Executive Vice President of the SSA, I was handpicked to represent our group on the Core Return to Campus Team, and I serve on the Diversity Taskforce.  As your Executive Vice President, I have made strides to improve management/staff relationships and I am still working with President Kavalhuna and other Executive Level Administrators to continue this process. 

I am a hardworking, dedicated, responsible, team player who is not afraid to do things I have never done before. I am both willing and able to serve to secure what is best for the membership and was part of the negotiation team responsible of our current contract and I am a member of the current negotiation team. I am innovative, and I value fairness. I have the need to get explanations and answers, so I am not afraid to ask tough questions when I need to. My ability to effectively communicate has allowed me to establish and maintain good working relationships wit management and Human Resources.  

I am running for SSA President to continue the work that I have started, representing the membership, at large, as a valued benefit to HFC and fearlessly defend our contract.   It has been my pleasure to represent my colleagues and serve as an SSA Executive board member for nearly ten years, and I consider it an honor to represent the SSA membership, as your President,  continuing to be an experienced, effective leader for our best interests and a seasoned, acknowledged voice for your concerns. 

Leslie Windless - Financial Aid Associate III 

My name is Leslie Windless, and I hope to gain your consideration for the upcoming SSA President position. I currently serve on the SSA Executive Board as Secretary and I am a member of the SSA’s Constitutional Amendments, Social, and Negotiations Committees. I have a master’s degree in Human Services with a specialization in Higher Education.  

Additionally, I have over a decade of experience in the role of President/Director/Chairperson for multiple nonprofit organizations: HFC Operations Council 2019-current, Wayne County Head Start, Transforming Minds Organization, and Freedom Fighters of Michigan.  

I stand on the principles of transparency with the general membership as well as respect and equity for all members. I believe that actions speak louder than words, so I have outlined the three major actions I have taken as a leader in the SSA and the three major actions I plan to take as your new SSA President: 

Highlights Since My Election as SSA Secretary 

• Affiliation: I established a new relationship with the Washtenaw Community College and Wayne County Community College Union Presidents to gain insight into how they were handling the pandemic. Through these conversations, it became clear that not being affiliated was adversely impacting the SSA. I researched and interviewed three organizations then brought them back to the SSA Executive board for group interviews. This initiative enviably led to our affiliation with TPOAM. 

• Transparency and General Membership Inclusion: I have taken my role as an officer seriously, especially regarding increasing communication with our membership. For the first time in the history of the SSA, general membership minutes are sent out after the meetings in a DRAFT state, Speak Up sessions were held to gather input from the membership for the upcoming contract, and the membership was consulted prior to a decision being made for health insurance. 

• Commitment: It is important that a president be willing to listen to, collaborate with, and sometimes challenge figures of authority on behalf of the membership.  Over the past two years as a leader within the SSA I have done just that including speaking up at the Board of Trustees meeting. Those who know me, would say I am respectful, but willing to speak up when something is not right. 

While reviewing historical board minutes to better support the membership, I found that four members were being underpaid.  I worked with the employees and HR to get them proper compensation and back pay.  This is just one example of the thorough commitment I give to the entire membership every day. 

A president must have a presence in both the college and the community. I have been present for every SSA General Membership, HFC Board of Trustees, and Dearborn Public School Board meeting for the last two years. These meetings are vital to the role of the SSA union president. I have fostered relationships between the SSA and Dearborn Community through our annual “Trunk or Treat”, the community baby shower, the backpack drive, and more.  

My short-term goals as President 

• Compensation Review: I plan to work closely with TPOAM to review all current compensation and job descriptions for accuracy and unbiased wages. 

• Political Engagement: I have participated in interviews for the upcoming election of the 2021 HFC Board of Trustees candidates. I will ensure that the SSA has a forum to speak with the candidates prior to them being elected going forward.  It is important that candidates hear SSA concerns and learn about who we are before becoming board members.  I have been working on creating a relationship where all four campus unions are able to support each other; I am also working to get the SSA engaged with the Labor Day parade and other community events HFC’s other unions participate in. 

• Transparency and General Membership Inclusion: I will ensure that the newly adopted traditions (Speak Up sessions, DRAFT minutes following the meeting, and an annual Health Insurance Information session) continue during my term as President. I will also guarantee that the membership has an opportunity for input on any Letters of Agreement presented by the College before they are signed. 

In closing, it would be an honor to serve in the role of SSA union president for the next three years.  It has been my pleasure working with an amazing SSA Board and membership to make awesome things happen. I would expect and encourage the general membership to hold me accountable to the duties of this position and promises I have made. It is still my mission to be a voice for ALL SSA union members and a team player in the positive changes occurring in our union. #SSAStrong  

Nominees for SSA Vice President:  

Kierra Wilson – Student Success Navigator 

Hello fellow members of the Support Staff Association, 

My name is Kierra K. Wilson, and it would be of great honor to represent you as your next Executive Vice President. Many of you know me well from my work in Student Services. I have worked diligently as an Enrollment Associate III for nearly 6 years and I have since earned my bachelor’s degree, nearly completed my MBA, and earned a promotion into my current role as a Student Success Navigator in Advising. I have served on the board as the Vice President of Student Services for a few years now and I have also developed meaningful relationships while extending my responsibility to our members that work hard in Facilities through the lengthy vacancy of their area vice president. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to serve this membership well thus far. I have done so courageously, fearlessly, and passionately.  I understand that this year has been challenging for us all. In what feels like one breathe, I have worked hard to fight the use of time clocks, punitive management tactics and the effects of the Covid pandemic for our membership. I look forward to growing with you all and representing you to the best of my ability. 

Respectfully, 
Kierra K. Wilson 

Nominees for SSA Secretary:  

No nominees for the position of SSA Secretary were submitted. A separate election for this role will be held at a later date. More information from the Executive Board is to follow. 

Nominees for SSA Treasurer:  

Joni Morris - Financial Aid Associate III 

My name is Joni Morris and I am running for re-election of the Treasurer position of Henry Ford College Support Staff Association (HFC-SSA).  I am currently a Financial Aid Associate and have been in this position for sixteen years.  I am also a previous business owner, with significant knowledge of our accounting system (QuickBooks).  In addition, I have twenty-seven years of tax preparation experience.  I believe it’s a combination of all this experience that resulted in me being elected the Treasurer on 04/26/2019. 

Since taking office, I have worked diligently to clean up our records so that they are accurate and up-to-date.  First, I was able to enforce our current Constitution language regarding annual auditing.  Last year, an audit was performed on the 2018 records, which was our first audit since separating from Dearborn Federation of School Employees (DFSE) in 2011.  The audit exposed some areas in which we need to improve, so as the Chairperson of the Constitutional Amendments Committee, I have been able to work with my team members to put policies in place to improve those weaknesses.  Second, I believe in transparency, so I created an annual budget and Treasurer report that is available to every member and shows exactly how dues are being utilized.  Finally, as the Election Committee Chairperson, I have been able to work with my team members to significantly change our election process which allows for electronic record-keeping that will be available to all members. 

I hope to continue my work for another term. 

• I would like to increase our membership.  As such, as a member of the Constitutional Amendments Committee, I suggested eliminating the probation period which allows employees to become members sooner.  In addition, I worked with our affiliate (TPOAM) to implement service fees for employees who choose not to be members but request our assistance for disciplinary action and grievances.

• I would like us to be able to work with our members in the event of layoffs.  Therefore, I created the Employee Contact Information Form so that we can communicate with those members when they don’t have access to HFC email or phones.  We are not able to access the HFC system or request personal information from Human Resources, so it is important to collect this information directly from our members. 

• I would like to keep current members in good standing when the increased dues take effect on July 1, 2021.  I created new membership forms based upon the approval of increasing dues.  While many forms have been received from employees, there are several more to be collected and then forwarded to Payroll.  This process is cumbersome and will require constant communication with Payroll as well as accurate recordkeeping to ensure dues are collected properly. 

Please consider me for re-election and allow me to continue being your Treasurer. 

Nominees for SSA Steward:  

Angela Kotsoyianis - Financial Aid Associate III (Three Year Position) 

Hello, my name is Angela Kotsoyianis and I am asking for your support in my run for the position of SSA Steward. I have worked at Henry Ford College in the financial aid department for the last six and a half years and have been in the higher education field for a total of eleven years. 

 Over the last couple years, I have gained an interest in our leadership, and how decisions and policies are made that affect us individually and as a membership. I feel that we have a lot of potential to become a much stronger union, and I want to do my part to get involved and help push us forward. To prepare, I have been working to thoroughly understand our contract, and made a point to attend our bi-monthly membership meetings over the last year and a half. 

I have also been a part of the SSA Social Committee for the last 3 years. I have played an integral, behind the scenes role in helping to make the last two Trunk or Treats a success, as well as assisting with the various luncheons and other events we have had.  

When I first began my employment at HFC, I didn’t know much about our union, and to be honest I just signed the authorization form agreeing to pay an initiation fee and bi-weekly dues and didn’t give it much thought beyond that. We can do better, in addition to assigned and expected duties, as Steward I would like to do more outreach to new hires to give them a proper introduction and make them feel welcomed to the SSA. A few of the ideas I have to accomplish that are offering a small welcome package when they join, reaching out to personally invite them to a meeting, and sending out a new-member spotlight email to introduce them to the membership.   

If elected to serve in the role of Steward, I plan to ensure that every member knows that they can and should contact me for any questions and/or issues that may arise. I will work to earn the trust of our members that I will always act in their best interests, always respond in a timely manner, and maintain confidentiality in all circumstances. 

Thank you for taking the time to consider me to be one of the voices of our union. 

Jill Sestok – Lab Associate (Two Year Position) 

I, Jill B. Sestok, have accepted the nomination for a Steward position as a way to continue to be involved with the SSA Union at HFC.  I have been an employee with HFC for four years and have been an SSA Union member since the first allowable time frame.  Throughout my time with the College I have served the Union and membership through various committees such as the Constitutional Committee, the Social Committee, and the Negotiations Committee.  During the time I have been serving on these teams tremendous headway has been made in the Constitution and Bylaws documents, in many activities and service efforts including the Trunk or Treat festivities, and through surveys that have given the membership a real chance to respond and give feedback as to their concerns regarding our contract.  While I did not lead these efforts, I have been an important part of joining in to make sure that they have come to fruition.  As a Steward I will continue to be a team member who contributes in a coordinated way to make sure that the membership is represented well, heard, and attended to. 

Should I be elected, some new things I plan to bring to this leadership role are a report out at each membership meeting as to what Stewardship responsibilities were met and executed and an effort to have "office hours" that will allow members to meet with me and share concerns and celebrations regularly.  I believe that continued transparency in the way the leadership is operating is extremely important, as well as consistent ask of the membership voice to weigh in on the matters at hand.  I have enjoyed seeking to understand more fully how the leadership has been operating by participating in lively discussions to date involving the use of Roberts Rules of Order whereby the membership is able to bring business to the floor during meetings, the auditing of the Union finances on a regular basis, and the parameters of the Constitution and Bylaws being enforced.  If I am elected to serve as a Steward, I will continue to put a voice to issues such as these that represent both myself and the membership being cared for according to our best standards.  Thank you all so much for this opportunity. 

Samuel Williams – Custodial Leader (Two Year Position) 

Hi, this would be my 4th year as a Henry Ford employee. I have been part of Henry Ford College education system for 13 years receiving a degree in Computer Science and in Liberal Arts. I would say I am dedicated, fair and not afraid to stand up for what is right! This would be my first time running for a Steward, but I will work hard to ensure that the facilities department (the biggest area in the union) has a voice at the Executive Board table.  

Nominees for SSA Webmaster:  

No nominations for the position of SSA Webmaster were accepted. A separate election for this role will be held at a later date. More information from the Executive Board is to follow. 

Thank You,
SSA Election Committee Members 
Anna Kiluk (Chair) 
Valencia Purry