Rich Ewing, Secretary-Treasurer / Business Representative
Ric h represents: ABF Freight, Peninsula Truck Lines, United Parcel Service in Bellingham and Burlington.
Rich has a lifelong history with Teamsters Local 231. His father was a proud member of Local 231 working in the freight and moving & storage industries. Rich knows what it is like to grow up in a family of 7 people who were supported on one Teamster income, with wages and benefits that were fought for over decades. Rich started his career as a local 231 member in 1991 at Yellow Freight. He served many years as shop steward and was a Trustee on the Local 231 Executive Board for several years prior to becoming a Business Representative in 2010. Rich became Local 231 Secretary-Treasurer in September of 2012. He currently serves on the Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust as a Trustee and is the Chairperson of the Appeals Committee. Rich is a trustee on the Retiree's Welfare Trust. He also serves on the Joint Council 28 Executive Board as Vice President. Rich is the Joint Council 28 Freight Division Chair and Union Co-chair for the Teamsters' and Employers' Board of Adjustment.
Email: rich@231teamsters.org
Phone: 360.734.7780
Daron Smith, President / Business Representative
Daron repres ents: AGC (including Haskell, Lakeside and Snelson), Associated Petroleum Products, City of Blaine, Darigold, Island County Corrections, Island County Support Staff, LTI, Inc., Milky Way, Miles Sand and Gravel, Skagit County Courts and Parks, Skagit County Juvenile Corrections, Whatcom County Corrections and Whatcom County Master Unit.
Daron started his career as a Teamster in 1999 serving the citizens of Skagit County as a Juvenile Corrections Officer. He became a shop steward in 2000, where he was a dedicated advocate for his fellow employees; and, in 2011, Daron joined Local 231’s Executive Board where he steadfastly served the members of the Local. He served in both capacities through January of 2014. In February of 2014, Daron joined the staff at Local 231 serving the members of the Local as a Business Representative. He has not looked back since and continues to look forward to the future utilizing his experience and dedication to work hard in serving the members of this great Local Union. In May of 2024 Daron was appointed President on the Executive Board for Teamsters Local 231. He also serves as the Joint Council 28 Law Enforcement and Corrections Division Chair.
Email: daron@231teamsters.org
Phone: 360.734.7780
Heather Ewing, Recording Secretary / Business Representative
 Heather represents: Bellingham Cold Storage, Commercial Cold Storage, EPL Feed, City of Ferndale, Heidelberg Materials, Petrogas West, RDS, Ridwell, Sanitary Service Company, Souther Glazier's Wine and Spirits, Waste Management, Whatcom PUD and Sudden Valley Community Association. Heather is also the Political Coordinator for the Local Union.
In 1991, Heather graduated from WWU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. In 1992 Heather became a member of the Teamsters when she started working as a Driver Helper for United Parcel Service. In 1996 she became a member of Teamsters Local 227 as a Utility Driver for Wonder Bread. Shortly after she started at Wonder Bread she was nominated Shop Steward. She served the membership as a Shop Steward for 10 years. In 2006, Heather was laid off from Wonder Bread, and she started a career as a Real Estate agent negotiating contracts for home buyers and sellers. Heather's true passion continued to be fighting for the rights of working men and women, so when she had the opportunity to join Teamsters Local 231 in 2014, as a Business Representative and Political Coordinator, she did not hesitate. In May of 2024 Heather was appointed Recording Secretary on the Teamsters Local 231 Executive Board.
Email: heather@231teamsters.org
Phone: 360.734.7780
Jennifer Thompson, Business Representative
Jennifer repres ents: Americold Lynden, City of Anacortes, City of Bellingham Supervisory and Professional, Coupeville School District, Island County Deputy Prosecutors, Morse Distributors, City of Oak Harbor, Skagit County PUD, City of Stanwood Clerical, City of Stanwood Public Works and Whatcom County Master Unit.
Jennifer began working at Teamsters Local 231 in 2002 when she was hired as a Dues Clerk and Office Assistant. After 11 years of working in the front office assisting the membership and the staff of the Local Union, Jennifer realized her passion for the Labor movement would be well served in the field, and she was hired into a Business Representative position. Jennifer is committed to doing what she can to improve the working conditions of our membership through negotiating and administering strong contracts, listening effectively and advocating for worker rights.
Kelsey Hover, Organizer / Business Representative
 Kelsey represents: Aramark Uniform Services, Bellingham Public Schools, Bellingham Technical College, Bimbo Bakeries, City of Everson, Ferndale School District, City of Lynden Public Works, City of Lynden Clerical, Mount Vernon School District, City of Mount Vernon, United Parcel Services and Whatcom County Master.
Kelsey, a lifetime resident of Whatcom County, was raised in a strong Union household; she was ecstatic to start her journey as a Teamster when she accepted a position as a Road Maintenance Worker with Whatcom County in 2017. In June of 2020, Kelsey left her position at Whatcom County Public Works and came to work in the office for Local 231 as the Dues Clerk and Administrative Assistant. In her new role, Kelsey learned many invaluable lessons and quickly realized her passion for the labor movement. In late 2021, Kelsey was promoted to her position as a full-time Organizer and Business Representative with Teamsters Local 231. Kelsey is excited to have this opportunity to grow our Union and to represent and fight for the members of Local 231.
Email: kelsey@231teamsters.org
Phone: 360.734.7780
Derek Mansur, Organizer / Business Representative
 Derek represents: City of Burlington Public Works, City of Burlington Clerical, Cascade Ambulance, Town of La Conner, Perdue Foods and Scoular Company.
Derek began his career as a Ready-Mix Driver with Cal-Portland in 2015, where he first became a Union member with Teamsters Local 38. He then went to work in King County for Cal-Portland and continued his Union membership with Local 174. While working in King County in 2021, his employer forced him and all his fellow Teamsters Brothers and Sisters out on a 5-month-long ready-mix strike that was felt throughout the entire northwest region. The King County strike ignited Derek’s passion for workers’ rights and what it means to be a Teamster. In an effort to be closer to home, in 2022, he was hired by Heidelberg Materials in Whatcom County, where he quickly realized that not having a Union Contract wasn’t an option. As a result, he led an organizing campaign with his co-workers and Teamsters Local 231. After the successful organizing efforts, Derek was on the negotiating committee and had the opportunity to be a part of a historic first contract for his co-workers and himself. Derek was hired as a Business Representative and Organizer in April 2024, and is ready to show up and fight for the membership and to aid the unrepresented of Whatcom, Island, San Juan and Skagit Counties in becoming part of Teamsters Local 231.
Email: derek@231teamsters.org
Phone: 360.734.7780
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