Heartland Lodge 6760
Fort Wayne District
www.tcu6760.com
Heartland Lodge 6760
Version 23.10.12
Steve Wilhelm
TCU/IAM
Chief of Staff
Kevin Hite presents an award to Steve Wilhelm
Wives and friends enjoying the good times.
Lodge officers Kevin Hite, Mike Bleser, Michael Fisher and Kevin Mitchell celebrate an evening of friendship, unity and true brotherly love,
Effective October 1, 2023, TCU/BRC Heartland Lodge 6760 member Steve Wilhelm has been promoted to the position of Chief of Staff of the Transportation Communications Union/IAM. Brother Wilhelm will work closely with TCU National President Arthur Maratea, officers, and staff at the National Headquarters.
After serving his country in the United State Marine Corp, Steve Wilhelm began his rail career January 19, 1993, with Norfolk Southern at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Early in his career Steve became interested in union activities. He accepted his first union appointment as Secretary of the Local Protective Committee in June 1997. It did not take long for the Lodge to realize Steve's talents. Later that year he was elected as Recording Secretary of Lodge 6760. As Steve's union experience grew, he was given more responsibilities. In February 2002, after the lodge had eight lodges merge into 6760 making it the second largest lodge in the United States, Steve was promoted to Assistant Local Chairman of the Lodge to help with the huge influx of work at the local level. In June 2003, he was again promoted as Senior Assistant Local Chairman to assist with formal investigations. During his first investigation as lead chair, a hearing officer became so infuriated by Steve’s skills he accused the lodge of hiring him as a lawyer. The local chairman replied to the hearing officer ‘You better get ready for the future.’ In 2004, Steve spent the entire year mirroring the local chairman, both in the office and on the road, which led him to being elected as Lodge 6760’s tenth local chairman effective January 1, 2005. Just eleven months later Steve was elected as 3rd Vice General Chairman of Joint Protective Board 200. In January 2008 Steve Wilhelm was reelected to a second term as Local Chairman. With a near photographic memory, Steve Wilhelm has been described by his Local Chairman predecessor, Steven Pequignot as "a person you train one day, then learn from thereafter."
On November 1, 2009, Steve was appointed to the office of Assistant National Representative. He worked with National Representative Roger Cain, handling cases and negotiating contracts for members of TCU Unit 200.
On December 16, 2010, Steve Wilhelm received an award from Vice Local Chairman Kevin Hite, on behalf of the members of Lodge 6760 for the skills he demonstrates while representing lodge members and keeping the union a strong and united organization. Steve Wilhelm became the first member of Lodge 6760 to assume an International Office of the union. Since then, he has been successful with many claim award cases on behalf of the members.
Effective June 1, 2012, Steve was promoted by Past National President Robert A. Scardelletti to the office of Director Constitution & Laws. For that promotion Steve moved to TCU Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, to work directly with past Senior Executive Director Constitution & Laws, Dennis O’Malley until his retirement, when Steve was then promoted to Executive Director Constitution & Laws. Steve held that office for eleven years until this promotion.
Steve Wilhelm has been a gift to Lodge 6760. He has represented our members above and beyond the call of duty. We are pleased to share him and his experience with the Grand Lodge.
The officers and members of BRC/TCU/IAM Heartland Lodge 6760 wish Steve Wilhelm continued success in his journey representing our members.
