THE TEAM - Alternate Vice Presidents

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Markeisha Haynes, born September 22, 1978, has been a motor coach operator for 17 years for the Big Blue Bus in Santa Monica, Calif.

A member of Local 1785 in Santa Monica, Haynes was elected as local chairperson of LCA-SMB and general chairperson of GCA-SMB in November 2021.

Haynes serves as secretary for the SMART-TD District 3 Chairpersons, is a union organizer and a member of SMART’s Council for Recruitment and Retention.

She was appointed as alternate vice president of the SMART-TD Bus Department on Oct. 1, 2023.

Haynes resides in Wilmington, Calif., and has two children — a son, Darrius, and a daughter, Sanai.

Luke Edington, born December 28, 1977, has worked for Union Pacific since 1998 and has been a member of the union for his entire career.

A member of Local 286 in North Platte, Neb., he’s been a conductor in pool freight, extra boards, and locals across from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Marysville, Kansas. He’s worked in yards as a foreman, switchman, pilot, and yardmaster and is a qualified remote-control operator.

Brother Edington joined the union in August 1998 and began serving his local as an officer in 2012 beginning as the Alternate Legislative Representative in January, then as Local Chairperson beginning in December of that year through May 2015.  He also served as the Legislative Representative for two years, as well as Local Delegate at the 2014 and 2019 conventions.

He’s held positions of responsibility at the state level as secretary of Nebraska State Legislative Board.  In the General Committee he served as a Sr. Vice General Chairperson from 2015 through 2019, and as General Chairperson from 2019 to present.  

In addition to these positions, he serves as the Secretary of the Association of General Chairpersons District 1 beginning in 2019, Secretary of General Chairperson’s Committee beginning in 2023, and the Vice Chairperson for the Iron Road Healthcare Board of Trustees.  He was elevated to Alternate Vice President by the SMART-TD board in October 2023.

Brother Edington resides in Lyndon, Kansas, and is married to his wife, Bethany. They have six children — Quentin, Ethan, Aubrie, Asher, Owen, and Nixon.

Christopher E. Bartz, a member of Local 1976, began his railroad career in 2003.

He is general chairperson of GO 256 (Canadian Pacific – Soo Line- IHB & Metra), serving in that capacity since January 2013, and was elected a TD alternate vice president at the Second SMART TD Convention in Las Vegas on Aug. 11, 2019.

For his local, he has served in a number of officer positions including vice local chairperson, local chairperson, president, alternate delegate, delegate and trustee. He has been Local 1976’s vice president since 2014 and is secretary of LCA 256A (Soo Line yardmasters).

He received an associate’s degree in fluid power technology in 1993 from Alexandria Technical College and lives in Benson, Minn.

He served in the Army Reserves from 1990-2001 in Supply, Chemical Decon and Chemical Recon units prior to leaving the service.

He has three children and resides in St. Paul MN. 

Scott Chelette is general chairperson of SMART Transportation Division GO 927 (Former T&P Property), a position he was elected to in April 2019. As a member of Local 1337 (New Orleans, La.), he has held numerous union positions since 2002.

Chelette started his railroad career in 1996 with Union Pacific Railroad where he worked as a switchman, brakeman, conductor, fireman and locomotive engineer.

During his union career, Chelette has held many positions including local chairperson, delegate, alternate legislative representative, Houston Hub vice general chairperson, acting general chairperson, general chairperson and alternate to the Executive Board (an international position). Brother Chelette has also successfully completed several courses at the National Labor College.

He was elected a SMART TD alternate vice president at the Second TD Convention on Aug. 11, 2019.

Born and raised in the Baton Rouge, La., area, Chelette currently resides in Tyler, Texas, with his wife, Deb. They have four children: Brandon, Ryan, Jacob and Alexis.

He is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army.

Larry R. Miller Jr., born September 22, 1970, began his railroad career with BNSF in 1997 as a switchmen, brakeman, and conductor and has been a member of the union for his entire career.

A member of Local 1841 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, He has worked in yards as helper, foreman and utilityman. Worked Locals as brakeman and conductor and pool service as a conductor. 

Brother Miller became involved with local 1841 early in his career, first holding the office of Vice Local Chairperson in 2002, then onto Local Chairman over multiple terms, and served as a Delegate. 

Brother Miller while holding the position of Local Chairperson, was elected 1st Vice General Chairperson in 2011. In 2015, Miller was elected General Chairperson of GO 386 (BNSF Property, Former GN Road, SP&S Road/Yard, C&S Road/Yard and short line, Montana Western Railroad). Was re-elected by acclamation in 2019, and by acclamation in 2023. He sits on the Resolution Committee of the Western General Chairperson’s Committee.

At the Second SMART Transportation Division Convention on August 11, 2019, he was elected Alternate Vice President.

Brother Miller has one son, Colton James Miller “CJ”, who currently resides in Bend, Oregon.

He and his wife, Delores, reside in Kalispell, Montana.

Thomas “Tommy” Gholson, of Local 573 in Danville, Ky., has worked for Norfolk Southern since 1998, first as a brakeman, then as a conductor and as an engineer.

He held the local offices of president, legislative representative and local chairperson before becoming an assistant general chairperson in 2011.

Gholson has served as general chairperson for GO 898 since 2018 and became a SMART-TD alternate vice president in October 2019. He also serves as vice chairperson of the Association of General Chairpersons, District 1.

In conjunction with multiple union officers, Brother Gholson assisted in the negotiation of the national railroad contract talks that opened in 2019. He also served on the Work-Rest Subcommittee and was a driving force behind the work that led to NS joining the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).

He resides in Somerset, Ky., and is a veteran of the U.S. Marines.

Chip Waugh, a dedicated member of TD Local 1258 in Elgin, Illinois, representing passenger rail Conductors and Engineers, was elected General Chairman of GO721 in Chicago, Illinois in 2015. He is currently serving his third consecutive elected term in this influential role.

Chip, after attending college embarked on his railroad career in 1992, starting as a trackman and building and bridges mechanic. Recognizing his potential and dedication, he transitioned to the operating department in 1994, being promoted to the role of Conductor.

Throughout his career, Chip has been actively involved in union service, demonstrating leadership and commitment. He served two elected terms as Local Chairman for Local 1258 and two elected terms as First Vice General Chairman for GO721 before elevating to his current position as General Chairman.

Chip Waugh's extensive experience, coupled with his strong union background and leadership skills, continue to contribute significantly to the representation and advocacy of railway workers in the Chicago area.

Anthony Petty of Local 1594  Is a husband, father of three, and grandfather from the “City of Brotherly Love. “He has also held the esteemed position of a Bus, Trolley, and Train Operator for a remarkable 15 years, where he perfected his skills and expertise in ensuring smooth transportation services. In addition to his role as an operator, he dedicated 8 years of his career as the Vice-General Chairman, where he diligently served the esteemed members of SMART Local 1594 with unwavering commitment and dedication. Presently, he serves as the General Chairman for Local 1594, a role which he holds with great pride and responsibility. He is excited to embark on a second term as a Delegate, a testament to the trust and confidence bestowed upon him by his fellow colleagues. Being a part of this Union has been a fulfilling journey, as he advocates for the interests of members, prospective members, and officers to cultivate a safe, harmonious, and cohesive work environment that fosters unity and good fellowship among all stakeholders.