Doug Hart – President

Doug Hart serves as President of the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans

Saundra Cole – 1st Vice President

Bill Engler – Vice President

I am a 49 year retired member of the IAM. Throughout my working career I advocated for working people and the disabled. Since retiring in 2002 I have focused on protecting and strengthening Social Security and other programs necessary for the wellbeing of all retirees.

Mickey Abend – Vice President

Mickey Abend is a AFT member for over 60 years. She was a teacher in New York City for over 30 years. She retired to Arizona and helped to organize a UFT retiree section in AZ. 25 years ago and is the coordinator for UFT/RTC servicing over 400 retirees. She worked for AFT for 9 years starting with organizing 11,000 Bureau of Indian Affairs employees around the country and won the election in 2000 representing BIA and OST employees around the country. Worked in AZ., Washington, DC., Reston VA., Tennessee, and other parts of the Southwest.

Vic Peterson – Vice President

I was a steward, Secretary/Treasurer, grievance committee, and Chairman of the joint health and safety committee for the United Steelworkers. I then moved to Nevada, I worked at the only union mine in Northern Nevada, organized by the Operating Engineers. There I was a steward, negotiating committee, and chairman of the joint health and safety committee. I then went to work for the U S Dept. of Labor as a Mine Health and Safety Inspector. I have also spent 18 years in the Air Force Reserve from 1984 until 2002 where I had 3 deployments to Persian Gulf/Arabian Gulf region

Roman Ulman – Vice President

Roman Ulman is the President of AFSCME Arizona Retirees Chapter 97. He has been active in organized labor for 50+ years and negotiated a contract with Recorders Court at the age of 25.

Roman is a graduate of Wayne State University with a BA Degree and a Major in Political Science.

Stewart Shulz – Vice President

I  have been an Aircraft Mechanic for nearly 20 years, and Shop Steward
looking to give back some time to the union that represent me or us, over my years with the airlines. IAM a private Pilot and own a 1948 Cessna 140 aircraft

Prior to entering the aviation field as a mechanic, I worked in Engineering departments as a Designer and had my own company designing and building conveying systems, special machines.

Linda Somo – Treasurer

Linda Somo retired from the Mesa Public School District after a 30 year career as a teacher and counselor. A staunch union supporter, she has always been an active and involved member of the National Education Association, the Arizona Education Association and her local, holding many leadership positions, including serving on the Board of Directors and as a local president. She is currently the Past President of the Arizona Education Association-Retired.

Julie Rivera Horwin – Vice President

Julie Rivera Horwin taught in the Arizona public school system for 32 years.  She spent her career “launching” others, and now continues that commitment with participants of the Leading For Change Fellowship and Candidate Training program. Julie is a Founding Board member of Leading For Change, currently serving as its Board secretary and as a Consultant. Julie currently serves as the President of the Arizona Education Association-Retired Board, a statewide local of AEA, representing over 2400 members. Additionally, she serves on the National Education Association-Retired (NEA-Retired) Executive Council.

Donna Stebbins – Vice President

I am the Chair at Democracy for America Maricopa County, Treasurer at LD 30, Vice Chair of Arizona Progressive Caucus, Secretary of AFSCME Retirees, Board Member at West Valley Union Club, and a State Committeeperson.

Kitty Kennedy – Regional Board Member

Kitty Kennedy’s background includes 30 years in telecommunications, followed by careers in hospital social work and health care information systems. Advocacy for seniors, especially benefits and pensions for retirees, has been a focus for Kitty for 25 years. She is former president of the Telephone Retirees’ Association of Arizona and former Arizona state leader for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. She continues as the Regional Editor of the Retiree Guardian, the newsletter of telephone company retirees in the western states. Currently, Kitty is a member of the national ARA Executive Board as the Community At-Large (CAN) delegate for the Western Region.