Who We Are

About Our Union

We represent 10,000 support staff in K-12 schools across Minnesota, as well as adjunct faculty members at colleges and universities in the Twin Cities area.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is an organization of 2-million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide and dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society.

Our Vision Statement

Imagine…

Students in every Minnesota school having all that they need to succeed, from pre-k to career;

A community that recognizes our contribution to education by providing good working conditions and fair wages to all staff;

An economy that fairly rewards everyone’s hard work and enables all families to enjoy a good quality of life through their work and retirement years;

A Union of members powerful enough to make it happen!

Executive Board

Kelly Gibbons
Executive Director
I have been a member since 2000, I have worked my whole life fighting for the rights of working people! I will continue to fight for working people, and to have a voice in their workplace, where they feel safe, respected and valued. We are facing difficult challenges ahead and I want to ensure that we work together as a strong and powerful union!
(651) 256-9112 email
Keith Niemi
President
I have been a member of SEIU since 1985 and have served as a Union Steward beginning in 1991 within SEIU. Since 2001, I have been a Contract Organizer for SEIU Local 284. I have had the honor of serving as President since 2006. My vision is to continue to provide experienced leadership to our Union as we face the serious challenges before us. We will continue to work tirelessly to improve the lives of our members and work to insure adequate funding for public education.
(651) 256-9108 email
Tilly Gitchuway
First Vice President
Elected 2/16/2019.
Amanda Reineck
Second Vice President
Terrance Hoye
Sergeant at Arms
Bryce Koenig
Trustee
Lori Smith
Trustee
Tim Jess, Jr
Trustee
Cathy Garrett
Member at Large
I have been a member of SEIU284 and an employee of the Hopkins Public School District 270 since 2008. I have been on the bargaining committee for the Paraeducators unit for six years and a steward for 3 years. I have also been involved in the SEIU MPO program during the 2018 and 2020 Minnesota State House elections. It is rewarding to be part of an organization that advocates on behalf of hourly public school employees. I am honored to be part of SEIU284. Elected 2/20/2020
Cynthia Swaim
Member at Large
I have been a Para Educator for 22 years in the Maplewood, Oakdale, and North Saint Paul school district. I worked as a substitute for three years before accepting a permanent position. I have worked with special needs students from all areas and age groups. Everyone in my immediate family is in a union. I have a baker, a plumber, a school social worker, and a postal worker. I dipped my toe into union work by first attending lobby day with SEIU and have been a steward now for a few years. I think that the labor movement grows leaders and empowers employees to improve their workplace. It is an honor and a pleasure to serve on SEIU’s board. Elected 8/1/2019.
Lisa Hager
Member at Large
Since 1999, I’ve been an Administrative Support for Intermediate District 287 and a Local 284 member. I’ve served on my Bargaining Team since 2001. I was a Union Steward for 13 years (2002-15) with the Administrative Support, Facilities, and Cooks unit. I have participated in lobby days and attended Leadership Assembly Meetings. Keith Niemi suggested several times that I join the Executive Board – I declined before now. But it’s time for me to step up and become more active again. Serving as a Member at Large allows me to broaden my knowledge and to give back to the membership. I look forward to gaining a whole new perspective on a bigger scale! I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother and I live in White Bear Lake.
Michael Sylvester
Member at Large
I’ve been a member of Local 284 since 1995 when I first started driving school buses. Currently I drive for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools. I am also a steward in my bargaining unit. I got involved and active because I was tired of watching our elected officials over the last decade continually cut funding for education and as a result expecting school support staff to live with less pay and pay higher expenses. Together we all have a louder voice and more power to try to make the changes that are needed.
Steve Miltich
Senior Member
I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, an area which I still love. I graduated from Bemidji State University with degrees in criminal justice and journalism. In my life I have been a police officer, a newspaper reporter and editor, and a radio news anchor. For the past twenty years I have been employed primarily as a school custodian. For more than a decade it has been my privilege to represent the members of Orono’s custodial bargaining unit as the steward. Presently I am serving my second term as a Trustee on Local 284’s Executive Board. I live in Mound with my wife Kim, step-daughter Kali and 3-year-old German Shepherd. It is my hope to one day visit Croatia, Italy and Ireland. I love Italian food, good wine, good music and intelligent conversation. My goal is to live to see unions more powerful than the billionaires, an end to poverty and hunger, and a country where every workingman and woman is treated with respect.
Lori Goth
Member At Large

Staff

Shaun Laden
Organizing Director
651-256-9104 email
Aaron Janson
Contract Organizer
651-256-9303 email
Ami Naff
Organizer
(651) 256-9313 email
Hal Goetz
Contract Organizer
651-256-9107 email
Jeff Leys
Contract Organizer
651-256-9315 email
Sara Nyhus
Regional Contract Organizer
651-256-9306 email
Shelly Johnson
Contract Organizer
651-256-9113 email
Riecher Denmark
Regional Contract Organizer
(651) 256-9312 email
Todd Schmitz
Contract Organizer
651-256-9318 email
Lisa Weed
Contract Organizer
651-256-9308 email
Chris Stinson
Political Coordinator
651-256-9309 email
Beverly Tinney
Member Engagement Specialist
651-256-9316 email
Nadine Wikstrom
Director of Operations/Ethics Liaison
651-256-9103 email
Christina Domeier
Administrative Assistant / Dues Coordinator
651-256-9110 email
Andrea Running
Dues Coordinator
651-256-9111 email
Luke Varien
Communications Coordinator
651-256-9314 email

About Our Union

Our Vision Statement

Constitution and Bylaws

Join Local 284

Kelly Gibbons

Executive Director

Keith Niemi

President

Tilly Gitchuway

First Vice President

Amanda Reineck

Second Vice President

Terrance Hoye

Sergeant at Arms

Bryce Koenig

Trustee

Lori Smith

Trustee

Tim Jess, Jr

Trustee

Cathy Garrett

Member at Large

Cynthia Swaim

Member at Large

Lisa Hager

Member at Large

Michael Sylvester

Member at Large

Steve Miltich

Senior Member

Lori Goth

Member At Large

Shaun Laden

Organizing Director

Aaron Janson

Contract Organizer

Ami Naff

Organizer

Hal Goetz

Contract Organizer

Jeff Leys

Contract Organizer

Sara Nyhus

Regional Contract Organizer

Shelly Johnson

Contract Organizer

Riecher Denmark

Regional Contract Organizer

Todd Schmitz

Contract Organizer

Lisa Weed

Contract Organizer

Chris Stinson

Political Coordinator

Beverly Tinney

Member Engagement Specialist

Nadine Wikstrom

Director of Operations/Ethics Liaison

Christina Domeier

Administrative Assistant / Dues Coordinator

Andrea Running

Dues Coordinator

Luke Varien

Communications Coordinator