Jean Cohen
Executive Officer
[email protected]
Jean Cohen is the Executive Officer of the South Bay Labor Council, one of the largest and most influential labor organizations in the Bay Area. In this role, she oversees a federation of more than 100 affiliated labor unions representing over 100,000 working families across Santa Clara County, San Benito County, and the broader Silicon Valley region. Jean provides executive leadership for the Council’s policy, organizing, and electoral programs, with a strong record of advancing worker protections, union organizing and collective bargaining campaigns, and equitable economic development through coordinated labor and community action.
Under Jean’s leadership, the South Bay Labor Council engages and mobilizes more than 100,000 union members and voters across multiple election cycles, leading large-scale field programs and issue-based campaigns rooted in direct action, strategic coalition building, and sustained investments in leadership and policy development. With a focus on power-building, coalition governance, and growing the labor movement, the SBLC works with unions and values aligned partners to win causes and elect candidates who prioritize working people. Most recently, the SBLC ensured electoral victory in November of 2025 for Proposition 50 and Yes on Measure A.
Jean currently serves on the Executive Boards of Team San José and Working Partnerships USA, and on the NOVAworks Board of Directors. She was elected in 2023 to a third term as Vice Chair of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party and is an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow. In August 2024, she was sworn in as a member of the Santa Clara County Planning Commission, and she also serves on the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Management Board.
Previously, Jean served as Political and Communications Director for UA Local Union 393 from 2016 to 2020, while also holding the role of First Vice President of the South Bay Labor Council, strengthening labor’s regional political infrastructure and affiliate coordination.
Jean has held senior leadership positions with SEIU–UHW, NUHW, and as Political Director of the Alameda Labor Council, where she directed organizing, legislative, and electoral programs for more than 120 affiliated unions across the Bay Area.
Earlier in her career, Jean worked on housing, land use, and transportation policy for State Senator Jim Beall and San José City Councilmember Raul Peralez, contributing to policy frameworks supporting equitable growth and responsible public investment. She later served as Director of Development and Communications at Sacred Heart Community Service, where she strengthened organizational capacity and advanced programs promoting economic self-sufficiency for low-income and unhoused residents throughout Santa Clara County.
Jean was born in San Jose and is the proud daughter of a union teacher and a union musician. She holds an M.A. in 21st Century Leadership from Saint Mary’s College.
Jack McGovern
Political Director
[email protected]
Jack McGovern brings a unique background of policy expertise and campaign organizing and fundraising skills, including many years working for Supervisor Cindy Chavez and Senator Josh Becker. Jack oversees the South Bay Labor Council’s electoral and policy campaigns. Jack has a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Vanessa Tapia
Communications Organizer
[email protected]
Vanessa Lemus Tapia is a labor organizer, strategist, and advocate with deep experience in union leadership, community engagement, and coalition-building. She founded the first Women’s Committee within Teamsters Local 350, creating new pathways for leadership development, political education, and member engagement.
Vanessa has served as a delegate to the Central Labor Council, a delegate to the San Mateo County Democratic Party, and as an appointed District Delegate to State Senator Josh Becker. She currently serves as Chair of the San Mateo County LGBTQIA+ Commission, where she works to advance equity, representation, and inclusive policy at the county level.
Her work centers on strengthening worker power, elevating underrepresented voices, and building sustainable movements through collaboration, strategy, and organizing. Vanessa brings a people-centered approach to leadership and remains committed to creating lasting change for working families and communities across the region.
Ron Lind
Special Projects Consultant
[email protected]
Carmelita (Lita) Gutierrez
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Carmelita Gutierrez joined South Bay Labor Council in the summer of 1997. She is charged with administrative office responsibilities. As a student at San Jose State University, Carmelita was an active organizer with MEChA, a Chicano/Latino student organization. As a member of MEChA she helped organize for educational rights on campus and worked with a coalition of other high school and college Chicano/Latino student organizations across California. Her experience allowed her to serve as a liaison from MECha to the African-Black Student Alliance and to the Asian, Pacific Islander Student Union in organizing educational rights issues statewide. “Lita” graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Social Science.
For press inquiries, please email [email protected].
Executive Board
Riko Mendez
President
SEIU Local 521
Maria Noel Fernandez
1ST Vice President
IAM & AW Local 1101
Will Smith
2ND Vice President
IBEW Local 332
Troy Jones
Recording Secretary
UFCW Local 5
Dolores Morales
Sergeant-at-Arms
CEMA
Enrique Fernandez
Treasurer
UNITE HERE Local 19
Enrique Arguello
Member
Laborers Local 270
Ernie Arranaga
Member
NALC 193
Steve Belong
Member
Carpet 12
David Bini
Member
Building and Construction Trades Council
Samuel Kehinde
Member
SEIU USWW
Danny Mangan
Member
Sprinkler Fitters Local 483
Malinda Markowitz
Member
CNA/NNOC
Jerry May
Member
IAFF Local 230
Eric Mussynski
Member
UA Local 393
Patty Picard
Member
CSEA Chapter 350
Bob Prola
Member
OGEA
Robert Sandoval
Member
Teamsters Local 350
Raj Singh
Member
ATU Local 265
Florencio Sinogui
Member
Teamsters 665
John Tucker
Member
AFSCME District Council 57
Stanley Young
Member
IFPTE Local 21
Emmanuel Zendejas
Member
SMW 104
Tony Alexander
Trustee
APRI
Paul Fong
Trustee
AFT Local 6157
Laurie Mesa
Trustee
UFCW Local 5
Lyseria Phillips
Ex-Offico Member
Pride at Work