Minnesota State Interior Systems Local 68
670 Olive Street
Saint Paul, MN 55130 US
651-379-0268
Administrative Assistant – Melissa Laskey
Executive Board
Timothy Stender
President
Tim started his career as a union carpenter working for Minuti-Ogle as an apprentice in 2001, after completing a program in Construction Carpentry at St. Paul Community College. Worked almost a decade as a Journeyman and Foreman in the steel framing & drywall industry with Minute-Ogle and later, Ryan Companies. He transitioned into the industrial energy sector of carpentry after completing several upgrade classes. Spent many years working in power plants and refinery throughout the council. After completing a program in construction management at North Hennepin Technical College in 2014, took a position as a field engineer for CBI at the Flint Hills Koch refinery until 2016. He accepted a position as an intern Business Representative for the NCSRCC in 2017 & hires on staff in April of 2018. Currently working within the “Special Projects” department on council-wide initiatives.
Tim has been an extremely active member of three local union halls. He was placed in Saint Paul Local 87 as an apprentice, transferred membership to Anoka Local 851 after purchasing his first home, and was appointed Vice President of the newly formed Minnesota Interior Systems Local 68 by the International General President when it was founded in 2009. He has served in many rolls within Local 68, Vice president, two terms as President, Trustee and currently in his second term as Treasurer. He has also served multiple times as a delegate to the Lakes and Plains Regional Council and then the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters.
In his free time, he enjoys fishing, 4-wheelers, sunset pontoon rides & campfires, with his wife, Sarah & two children, Mitchell & Sophie at their family cabin in northern Minnesota.
P: 651-341-4428
Alejandro “Alex” Richardson
Vice President
Morgen Larsen
Recording Secretary
Ryan Ponthan
Financial Secretary
Delegate to the Regional Council
Ryan started his career as a union carpenter working for Stern Drywall Inc. as an apprentice and worked his way up to a Journeyman and Foreman. He now serves as a Business Representative for the NCSRCC where he works on council-wide initiatives in the special projects department. Ryan serves as a Trustee on the Twin City Flor Covering Industry Pension & Education Funds, labor representative on the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC), Chair of the NCSRCC Organizing Committee and previously served as the Chair on the Carpenters Federal Credit Union, Board of Directors. Ryan says his mission is to “have a positive impact on as many people as he can” in both work and his personal life. As a 17-year member, Ryan is very proud to serve in his different roles representing members of the UBC.
P: 651-706-4883
Josh Burkstrand
Treasurer
Delegate to the Regional Council
P: 612-978-5745
Paul Ciesielski
Trustee
Delegate to the Regional Council
Paul is a carpenter by trade who works at St. Croix Wall Systems. He has over 25 years of experience in the field, 16 as a union member. He has strong leadership skills formed over 22 years as a carpenter for the United States Army. Additionally, Paul has spent time as an instructor at the Carpenters Training Institute. Paul has managed numerous healthcare projects from the start of construction through completion. He provides his teams with practical knowledge in managing active construction projects, utilizing his communication skills to work through whatever challenges he faces on jobsites. Paul is excited to represent members of Local 68 in his new role on the Executive Board and as a Delegate.
P: 651.747.7299
Diego Morales
Trustee
Delegate to the Regional Council
P: 651-341-4454
Mitchell Langford
Trustee
Delegate to the Regional Council
Floor Installer
Mitchell is a second-generation Floor Installer with 21 years of experience. He started his career as an apprentice with Royal Floors in October of 2001. Mitchell is a high-performance floor installer and is currently working for St. Paul Linoleum. Mitchell takes pride in not only his work, but everything he does, including representing members in his new role as a delegate to the regional council.
Megan Dant
Conductor
Delegate to the Regional Council
In January 2004, Megan first started laying floors non-union. She decided she wanted higher wages, benefits, and better training, and so Megan signed up for the INSTALL apprenticeship program in July 2004. During the Great Recession, Megan was unsure about the future of construction and started online classes where she obtained her Associates of Arts in Business. However, while getting this degree, work picked up and Megan journeyed out in July 2010. She continues to work as a floor coverer for United Installations. Megan is in her first term as a delegate for the union where she serves on the new member education committee. Megan is also active in the SIBs organization and serves on their steering committee.
Megan has a second job serving our country as an Engineering Assistant in the United States Air Force Reserves at the 934th Airlift Wing at Minneapolis St. Paul airport. Through this training, she was able to obtain a degree in Construction Technology. Megan receives several opportunities to volunteer for her fellow members and in the community thanks to the U.S. Air Force. One of these opportunities is becoming a victim advocate to sexual assault survivors.
Through her professional and private life, Megan wants everyone to receive fair and equal treatment and feel empowered. She hopes that people never settle for anything less than their best.
Ben Coplan
Warden
Delegate to the Regional Council
Ben started his career the day after high school as a material handler in floorcovering with a broom in one hand and an audition tape to WWE in the other. Being around the trades his whole life and being a 3rd generation trades person, construction was where he enjoyed working. Ben became a foreman before he finished his apprenticeship. He moved into the office as the safety director and labor dispatcher for the company he worked for. Taking great pride in being the advocate for all the members he worked side by side with, Ben wanted to take it to the next level. He is now a Business Representative for the NCSRCC where he works with members and is also helps lead ICRA, Career Connections, INSTALL and helps guide companies with their mentoring programs for recruitment and retention. Ben now has 2 of his kids in the trades and couldn’t be happier to give back to the members and an organization that has provided so much for him and his family.
P:763-639-8405
Delegates to the Regional Council
James Hendricks
Delegate to the Regional Council
Adam Bakri
Delegate to the Regional Council
Tom Estell
Delegate to the Regional Council
Bryan Manning
Delegate to the Regional Council
James “JC” Kehborn
Alternate Delegate #1 to the Regional Council
Kevin Elliott
Alternate Delegate #2 to the Regional Council