Press Kit

Veronica Mendez Moore's position is to lead CTUL in building a new model of organizing and form coalitions and strategies that build the power we need to re-write the rules so that our economy works for everyone. 

I’m motivated when I get the opportunity to support people to transform from someone who doesn’t believe they have power, into someone who recognizes their collective power with others and decides to wield it to change the world. Once people experience that, anything is possible. I envision a world in which everyone is free to determine their own destiny in solidarity with those around them – a world where people can be inspired to act from love and fulfill their greatest potential. 

I am very competitive! Whether it’s competing against myself to sing my best song at karaoke, or against others playing strategy games like Settlers of Catan with extension packs, I love to win!

Madeline Lohman is a Senior Researcher with The Advocates for Human Rights. She conducts research, community education and outreach, and legislative advocacy on immigrant rights and human trafficking in Minnesota. In 2019, she developed protocol guidelines on behalf of the MN Department of Health to improve the statewide response to youth victims of labor trafficking. She also specializes in trainings and technical assistance on human rights advocacy for social justice organizations, as well as international monitoring and reporting, primarily on the death penalty.  

As part of The Advocates' team on combating human trafficking, she published a 2016 report on labor trafficking and exploitation in Minnesota. She also convened a working group of government experts to design a self-assessment card for labor trafficking victims as well as trainings and materials to accompany the card.

Her previous work with The Advocates included researching and writing a report on immigrant rights in Minnesota, building on several years of organizing and managing partnerships with community organizations through Minnesota to combat anti-immigrant bias. As part of her work on immigrant rights, Madeline also collaborated with local governments and community organizations to conduct local-level immigrant integration initiatives. She also participates in advocacy at the Minnesota legislature, previously managing communication materials and websites for an immigrant rights coalition.

In addition to her work on immigrant rights, Madeline conducts trainings and creates educational materials on human rights for the general public, social justice professionals, educators, and K-12 students. She regularly presents at local and national conferences, organizes a yearly training series, and helped train Ugandan parliamentarians establishing a human rights commission. As part of her educational work, she co-wrote both a curriculum on immigration and human rights for use in high schools and a training manual on using human rights in social justice work.

Prior to working at The Advocates, she held positions at a variety of nonprofits, including Freedom House in Washington D.C., International Relief Teams, Human Rights Education Associates, and PACT Bolivia. Madeline graduated from The Fletcher School at Tufts University with a MALD and received her BA from Harvard University.

Barb Pecks has been a carpenter since 1999, with nine years in the field and the past 14 years serving as a Business Representative with North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters. She began her path into the trades by participating in a pre-apprentice training program offered by Women Venture, and she advocates for the continued use of pre-apprentice programs to expand the workforce.

During the past 20+ years, Barb has been involved with her Local 322, Women in the Trades and Sisters in the Brotherhood. For the past 10 years she has also been the Midwest District representative for the International Sisters in the Brotherhood group of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Barb is also an instructor/facilitator for the Department of Education and Training at the Carpenters International Training Center.

Adam Duininck has held his position as North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters’ Director of Government Affairs since July 2017. With a strong background in labor and construction, Duininck plays a key role in carpenter advocacy and working with legislators to protect worker safety and area standards.

Burt Johnson is General Counsel to the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters. For 15 years, he has negotiated collective bargaining agreements with employers and employer association representatives throughout the region, worked toward resolution of all manner of employment-related disputes, and provided advice and counsel to union leadership in strategic, organizing, and legislative campaigns. Before joining the Regional Council, he was a law clerk at the AFL-CIO General Counsel’s office in Washington, D.C.  

Rev. Doug Mork is currently the Executive Director of the Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council (BDC) and also serves as one of the pastors at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. He has worked at the intersection of faith, labor and community engagement for more than 30 years. 

Woodrow Piner has been a North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters (NCSRCC) member of Local 322 for 21 years, five as a business representative and most recently as the Director of Central and Southern Minnesota since October 2019. Piner has been essential in helping to magnify the underground world of construction and the exploitation happening in the industry. He has spent many years working with elected officials, contractors and developers ensuring construction projects are done safely and in the best interest of the public and workers.

Kevin Pranis is Marketing Manager for LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota, which represents more than 13,000 skilled construction laborers and family members. Kevin directs the union's growth programs in Minnesota and North Dakota, and represents LIUNA on a range of policy matters including energy transition and labor law enforcement. He serves on Governor Walz's Advisory Council on Climate Change and has led LIUNA's work on wage theft prevention.