Also promotes Philadelphia Carpenters James Hocker as new Philadelphia Regional Manager & Kevin Morrow as new Organizing Director

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) The Philadelphia-based Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EAS) announced a number of promotions, including the appointment of Anthony Abrantes to Assistant Executive Secretary-Treasurer, James Hocker to new Philadelphia Regional Manager and Kevin Morrow as the new Organizing Director

Prior to his promotion, Abrantes served as the Union’s Political Director, Director of Organizing, member of the union’s Executive Board, Trustee for the Northeast Carpenters Funds and the Carpenters Contractor Trust, Delegate for Local Union 254, Trustee for the Carpenters Benefits Fund of Philadelphia & Vicinity, and President Emeritus for the Northwest Jersey Central Labor Council.

In promoting James Hocker to Philadelphia Regional Manager, EAS Executive Secretary-Treasurer Bill Sproule said, “since first joining our union as an apprentice twenty years ago, James has acquired a well-deserved reputation for hard work, quick strategic thinking and dedication to expanding workers’ rights and opportunities to increase our union’s market share of jobs. Having James as our new Philadelphia Regional Manager will be a tremendous asset as we move forward to expand our overall market share and employ our highly skilled members on job projects throughout the region.”

Hocker’s new responsibilities will include overseeing activities in southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland.  James is a second-generation union carpenter and 20-year member of the union.

“As a second-generation carpenter, I am honored by the trust and confidence Bill and all my fellow brothers and sisters have placed in me. I know the superior quality and craftsmanship of our highly skilled members, and I pledge to continue working as hard as I can to expand our market share in the Philadelphia region,” Hocker said.

After completing his apprenticeship at the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeships Training Center of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Hocker worked as an interior systems carpenter until 2012 when he became a Council Organizer. While on staff, James served as a Business Representative, Council Representative, Team Lead, and most recently as Senior Council Representative for the City of Philadelphia. He has also served as an Executive Board Member for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Trustee on the JATC, Trustee for the Carpenters Contractor Trust, Trustee for the Carpenters Benefits Fund of Philadelphia & Vicinity, and Delegate for Local Union 158.

The Carpenters also announced that Kevin Morrow has been appointed the new Organizing Director. A 25 year carpenter, Morrow was first hired on Council staff in 2011 as a Council Representative for the Bucks County and Philadelphia area. Later he served as Assistant Director of Organizing under the Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters. Most recently he has served as a Senior Council Representative for the Organizing Department who was additionally assigned to lead the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council Organizing Task Force.

In addition to his roles on staff, Kevin has held leadership positions, including Delegate and Trustee for Local Union 167. In his community Kevin has in the past served on the Democratic Party Committee of Philadelphia, the Perkasie Planning Board, and the Bucks County Workforce Development Board.

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters represents over 41,000 of the most skilled carpenters who live and work in Delaware, The District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Virginia, and West Virginia. In Philadelphia and surrounding counties, the union represents 8,000 carpenters in Philadelphia and surrounding 7 counties alone. EAS Carpenters are trained in many different trades, including: commercial/residential carpentry; heavy highway; pile-driving; floor-layering; mill cabinet work; and trade show construction.

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