AGENTS & STAFF

Caleen Carter-Patton

Caleen Carter-Patton earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. After college, the Bethany, Mo., native completed an internship with Chicago Jobs with Justice, and then went on to do political work for the Chicago Teachers’ Union. Before joining Teamsters Local 727 in March 2014, she was a lead organizer for the Fight for 15 campaign, which aims to organize fast food and retail workers across the Chicago area and the nation. She also serves on the Board of Trustees and as a docent for the Illinois Labor History Society, giving labor tours throughout the city. Caleen represents members in the parking, hotel, soft drink, paratransit and transportation industries.

Mike DeGard

Mike DeGard has been Teamster for 20 years and has more than 10 years of experience as a business representative, contract administrator and union officer. He previously worked for Teamsters Local 705 and joined Local 727 in December 2013. A DePaul University graduate, he joined the Teamsters in 1997 as a driver for USF Holland. Mike has a strong background in collective bargaining and organizing, and as a business representative for Local 727, he represents members from the trade show, soft drink and parking industries. He has served as a Trustee for the Teamsters Local 727 Benefit Funds since 2016.

David Glass

David Glass was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side. He attended Northern Illinois University and spent several years working in retail sales and customer service before joining Local 727’s organizing team in April 2012. David went on to work as an organizer for Teamsters Joint Council 25 and returned to Local 727 to serve as a business representative in July 2014. He represents members in the paratransit industry.

Nicholas Micaletti

Nicholas Micaletti, a 2004 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been with Local 727 since 2007. Before coming to the local, he worked for System Parking for eight years, working in every bargaining unit position under the parking industry contract. He currently represents members in the parking, funeral and soft drink industries as well as members at Brookfield Zoo and Chicago-area racetracks. Nick also has served as a Trustee for the Teamsters Local 727 Benefit Funds since 2016.

Melissa Senatore

Melissa Senatore is a graduate of Colorado State University and Chicago-Kent College of Law. The Libertyville, Ill., native joined the local union in November 2013. Before attending law school, she worked as a casting director in Los Angeles and was a part of the original bargaining unit that was organized by Teamsters Local 399. Her experience helped her earn a labor law scholarship to Chicago-Kent, and she is now putting that knowledge and experience to further use as a business representative for Local 727 motion picture, parking, media and pharmacy members.

Teamsters Local 727 Legal Department

Jayna Brown, General Counsel

Jayna Brown joined Local 727 as a staff attorney in February 2013. The Bay City, Mich., native graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degrees in psychology and political law theory from DePaul University before going on to earn her Juris Doctor from DePaul. Jayna previously worked as a law clerk for Hogan Marren — a union-side law firm — and as an associate attorney for Children’s Law Group. Her father, a former General Motors employee, is a lifelong member of the UAW and her grandfather and two uncles were Teamster drivers.  As general counsel, Jayna is the in-house legal advisor to the union, working on contract negotiations, arbitration hearings, hearings before the National Labor Relations Board, the Illinois Department of Labor and other governmental agencies, while also handling union compliance matters.

Teamsters Local 727 Organizing Department

Donaldo Leiva, Internal Organizer

Donaldo Leiva began working as an organizer with Local 727 in April 2012. The Chicago native honed his interpersonal and communication skills while working for many years as a retail store manager. Since joining the union, Donaldo has spearheaded many of Local 727’s largest organizing campaigns in the paratransit, hotel and parking industries. Interested in joining Teamsters Local 727? Contact Don.