Previsch retains seat as SMART Transportation Division president

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ (SMART) Transportation Division yesterday elected John Previsch as president at the division's first convention in San Diego.

Previsich had been elevated to the president post on Oct. 1, 2013. Since he became a local officer in the mid-1980s with the United Transportation Union, Previsich has served the union as general chairperson, international vice president, assistant president, and general secretary and treasurer.

He currently serves as the SMART Transportation Division's representative on the Federal Railroad Administration’s Rail Safety Advisory Committee and is a cabinet-level appointee to the National Freight Advisory Committee, which reports directly to the U.S. transportation secretary on MAP-21.

Previsich began his transportation career with Southern Pacific Transportation Co., where he was a train-service operations employee in San Francisco. He later transferred to engine service and achieved certification as both a conductor and locomotive engineer.

Division members also elected Alternate National Legislative Director John Risch III as national legislative director, effective Oct. 1. National Legislative Director James Stem previously announced plans to retire Sept. 30 and did not seek re-election.

In addition, division members re-elected Transportation Division Vice Presidents David Wier, John Lesniewski, John England, Doyle Turner and Jeremy Ferguson, and elected Troy Johnson and Adhi Reddy as vice presidents.