New IBEW President Has Roots In Mansfield
Former Ohio labor leader Kenneth W. Cooper was appointed to finish the term of outgoing IBEW International President, Lonnie R. Stephenson who retired effective January 4, 2023, after serving with the union for five decades.
Stephenson said, “As hard as it is to step aside, I am confident that the IBEW remains in good hands.”
Prior to ascending to the international union’s top spot brother Cooper served as Business Manager with Local 688, IBEW Vice President for the Fourth District and IBEW Secretary-Treasurer. President Copper who also served as a Vice President of the Ohio AFL-CIO began his career in 1985 with IBEW Local 688 in Mansfield and by the age of 31 was elected as the local union’s Business Manager. That's something that current Local 688 Business Manager, Carl Neutzling, said is unheard of.