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Indiana State AFL-CIO Officers

Brett Voorhies, President

President Brett Voorhies was born and raised in Speedway, Indiana. Voorhies started on the shop floor at Rexnord/Link Belt in Indianapolis as a proud member of the United Steelworkers local 1999. As a rank and file member, he served as a union steward, member for both the safety and legislative committees, and as Editor of his local union newsletter. His proven leadership qualities led him to an USW International staff position in Rapid Response and Political departments, then became rapid response coordinator for District 7. Voorhies was elected President of the Central Indiana Labor Council in 2011. In December of 2013, he was elected President of the Indiana AFL-CIO at its 28th Biennial State Convention and is now serving his third term as our State Federation President. President Voorhies enjoys music, racing, riding his Harley and spending time with his family. During his leadership as President of the Indiana State AFL-CIO, the federation has gained substantial financial stability, increased participation and affiliation and launched a powerful labor candidate program to recruit, train and elect union members to political office. President Voorhies currently serves on the Indianapolis Mayor’s Labor Advisory  Board, Anthem Labor Advisory Board, Indianapolis Airport Authority Board and the National AFL-CIO Advisory Council. 

 

Shawn Christ, Secretary Treasurer 

Shawn currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Indiana State AFL-CIO for his third term. Formerly, he served as the President of the Hoosier Heartland Area Labor Federation and as President of the Central Indiana AFL-CIO. Shawn has  been a member of IBEW Local 481 for over 30 years. He spent over 20 years in the field as a journeyman electrician. In 2010 to 2016, Shawn was a Business Representative, Political Director and Organizer for Local 481. Since becoming Secretary-Treasurer of Indiana State AFL-CIO in 2016, he has been the lead lobbyist at the statehouse for the state federation and he also oversees all the finances of Indiana State AFL-CIO. Shawn lives in Danville with his wife Stephanie and their dog, Lucy. Stephanie and Shawn have three adult kids: Casey, Tara, and Alex.

 

Indiana State AFL-CIO Staff

 

In 2023, the staff of the Indiana AFl-CIO proudly chose to organize with the UAW and won their first Collective Bargaining Agreement. We are proud members of UAW Local 933 and Region 2B and believe our affiliation supports our staff team to better serve our affiliates and the broader labor movement in Indiana. 

 

UnoBlessed, State Director

UnoBlessed currently serves as State Director for the Indiana AFL-CIO, after serving five years as the organization’s Deputy Director. Before stepping into the role, Uno served as an organizer in Central Indiana and Field Director for the Labor 2016 member-to-member program. Prior, Uno served two years as an Americorps member in SE Washington, DC before completing her Urban Studies degree from Butler University. After graduation, she worked as a non-profit recruiter and community organizer in the Washington, DC area focusing on strategic partnerships in the Mid Atlantic before moving to do the same in Chicago. In 2016, her love and commitment to her family and her community drove her home to organize working Hoosiers with the AFL-CIO. She leads an organizing-inspired political program, including a labor candidate program, that is centered on member-to-member issue-based conversations and has led statewide political programs for the past seven election cycles. As a proud member of UAW Local 933 and serves as Chairperson for the Indiana AFL-CIO Staff Union. As chairperson, she serves on the UAW Local 933 Executive Board and serves as a Trustee on the Greater Marion County CAP Council. She is also the Indiana Democratic Party Labor Caucus Chair and serves on the Indiana Democratic Party State Central Committee. In her free time, Uno is an active gardener and plant mom, volunteering with garden clubs, community gardens and continues to broaden her knowledge of native plant species, pollinators, and backyard ecology. She is also a proud dog mom to an adorable and sassy Australian Shepherd-Husky mix puppy named Blu, who loves regular walks around the neighborhood and playtime with her dog cousins and friends. Uno is passionate about education, organizing, and workers' rights and is committed to building an inclusive labor movement in Indiana and across the country.


Donny Jones, Political Director

Donny is the Political Director of the Indiana AFL-CIO and started in February 2021, having retired from General Motors as a third-generation skilled trades UAW member of 32 years. He served as a UAW chairperson over several local union committees, was the Grant/Wabash County CAP chair for two terms, was elected Secretary of UAW Local 23 and President of UAW Local 977. During his tenure at the UAW, Donny earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from IUPUI and was honored with the Highest Achievement in History by the School of Liberal Arts. He went on to Butler University and holds a Master of Arts in Labor History. Donny is in his third year as an adjunct professor at IU with the Department of Labor and Working Class Studies and teaches L-203 Labor and the Political System. He serves as Alternate Bargaining Chair of the staff union of the Indiana AFL-CIO which is affiliated with UAW Local 933 in Indianapolis. Donny is married to Democratic City-County Councilor Kristin Jones and has two grown children that reside in Indianapolis and Durham, NC. In April of 2024, Donny and Kristin became grandparents of Lavigne Lynn Jones who has taken most of their free time since her birth!

 

Libby Cheval, Office Administrator

Libby started with the Indiana AFL-CIO in May 2025, and she is proud to hold her first Union job. Originally from Columbus Indiana, she spent her youth going to political rallies and Union strike marches for local factory workers. Prior to working for the Indiana AFL-CIO, Libby spent two decades as a restaurant server, and 7 years in Banking Operations. In 2021, she earned her Bookkeeping Certificate from Ivy Tech Community College. Libby is thrilled to finally be part of an organization that reflects her values as a strong advocate for workers’ rights in the state of Indiana and across the US. In her spare time, Libby enjoys reading about current events and politics, spending quality time with her needy cat, and visiting her husband’s family in France.