Business Reps Promoted

Local 15 President/ Business Manager, Chris Riser is proud to announce.

Reflecting on their long-standing commitment and contributions to our union and its members, Business Representatives Fabian Vela, Brian Daniels, Mike Keating, and Shawn Wachter were promoted to Assistant Business Manager.

Brian Daniels

Brian began his career in August 1990 as an Auxiliary Boiler Operator at Will County Station in Romeoville, Illinois. In 1994, he transferred to Braidwood Station in Maintenance, where he became deeply involved in union leadership and representation. Over the years, Brian served in multiple leadership roles, including Braidwood Mechanical Maintenance Steward, Braidwood Physical Chief Steward, Executive Board member, and member of the Local 15 audit committee.

Brian was appointed Business Representative for IBEW Local 15 in 2021. In this role, he played a significant part in major union efforts, including the 2023 Kincaid contract extension negotiations and the 2024 staffing initiatives agreement. His work also included grievance resolution, backlog reduction, participation in arbitrations, negotiating outage travel agreements, and organizing members. Brian has represented Local 15 members throughout the Midwest and was elected as a delegate to the 2026 International Convention.

Fabian Vela

Fabian Vela was hired by ComEd in February 1991, he started as a Mail Clerk at ComEd’s downtown office. He would then promote to the following positions, “C” Clerk in the Correspondence Department, Customer Service Representative at the Chicago North Call Center, Energy Technician at Chicago South and Glenbard, and General Service Representative in Maywood. He has been very involved with Local 15 in various capacities regarding union matters. He has been a steward and then promoted to a Chief Steward, 2-Term elected delegate to the IBEW International Convention, and 2-Term elected Local 15 Treasurer.

Fabian was appointed to the Clerical Business Representative position for IBEW Local 15 in April 2018. He has been involved with various efforts affecting the clerical group including clerical agreements such as the Call Center CC&B Project Staffing Agreement, and the Flexible Work Agreement. He has also worked on clerical grievance resolutions for the Customer Operations group, the Transmission and Distribution group and Constellation, grievance reduction, and arbitrations. Fabian has also negotiated contracts for members at the Enertouch/Franklin Energy Group.

Mike Keating

Mike started with ComEd as a Meter Reader in October 2006, he became an Overhead Lineman in 2009 and promoted to Overhead Crew Leader 2019. He spent his entire career in South Region between Joliet, Pontiac, and UPA.

Mike became a IBEW Local 15 Steward in 2010. He was Elected to IBEW Local 15 Executive Board, and a Local 15 Delegate in 2021 and 2026 for the IBEW International Convention.

Mike became a Local 15 Business Representative in January 2022. His work has included negotiations for Locating Pilot, SSG Contract, SSC Hydro Excavation/ Fence agreement, O&C/Non- O/C validation, Valtin Changes to the CFR and Meet and Discuss.

Mike is an IBEW Safety Representative for Local 15. Throughout his career he has attended several IBEW Conferences and schools.

Shawn Wachter

Shawn began his career in May of 2004 as a meter reader in Woodstock.  He went to Overhead basic school in August of 2005, he completed his apprenticeship in October of 2007 and accepted the Overhead Crewleader promotion in October of 2017.  Shawn became a steward for Local 15 at the Elgin headquarters in 2013 and was named Chief Steward in 2015.  He served on the Local 15 Audit Committee for 3 years.  Shawn attended Arbitration Training at the University of Illinois and Advanced Arbitration, Brief Writing Training at the University of Madison during his time as a Steward. 

Shawn was appointed North Region Physical Business Representative for IBEW Local 15 in March of 2022.  His work has included, negotiating agreements and settlements, working down our grievance backlog, negotiating grievance reduction, arbitration preparations, and organizing our charity board.

Shawn was elected as a delegate to the 2026 IBEW International Convention.  In December, he attended Contract Negotiation Training at the University of Madison.