Robert Allen Spears

Allen began his career in the electrical industry after graduating from high school in 1976. He completed a four-year apprenticeship in the electrical trade, and an additional year of electrical code training before passing an exam for his Master Electrician License for Baltimore City in 1983. While working as a foreman electrician on a construction site, Allen had the opportunity to go to work for a small independent elevator company thus beginning his career in the elevator industry in 1986 as a probationary helper. Allen worked construction for this company until completing his NEIEP training and passing the mechanics exam in 1990 and then went to work for Millar Elevator as a route mechanic.

Allen was asked at an IUEC Local 7 Union meeting to temporarily fill in for the Recording Secretary which began his years of service to Local 7, Baltimore. Allen was elected to the office of Recording Secretary in 1991 and served until his appointment to Business Representative in 2000. He completed the New Leader Training course at the Meany Center in 2001 and completed the Frontline Political Coordinator Training of the Building and Construction Trades Department in 2002. After serving four years as Business Representative, in 2004 he was elected to the position of Business Manager/Financial Secretary of Local 7. Allen also served as Warden of the Baltimore Building Trades Council for several years. He also served on the JATC for Local 7 from its inception until 2018. In April of 2004 Allen was appointed to the position of Trustee to the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan where he currently serves. He was also appointed to serve as a member of the IUEC labor committee at the 2006 convention.

Allen was a NEIEP Instructor from 1997 until 2002 and has completed several NEIEP training courses including Train the Trainer, Hydro Controller Troubleshooting Lab and Motor Generator Lab. Allen has completed the OSHA 500 course and Disaster Response Training. He also earned his EIWPF-QEI certification in May of 2005.

Allen started with the EIWPF in January of 2007 as a National Coordinator.  He has instructed portions of the QEI curriculum for the fund and has assisted in the development of the Residential Lift Program. He was responsible for several of the Grant Programs offered by EIWPF and serves on the EIWPF Financial Committee.  Allen became the Lead National Coordinator in 2008. In April of 2013 he was appointed to National Director of EIWPF by IUEC General President Christensen where he currently serves.

As the National Director of EIWPF, Allen has led the fund as it has expanded its programs and staff, to benefit the signatory elevator industry through the hard work of the dedicated national coordinators of EIWFP. This includes the creation of the elevator info website and participation on social media platforms and the implementation of a YouTube channel. The creation of multimedia campaigns to assist the IUEC, and their signatory companies, in increasing the awareness of the skilled members that provide the labor for the elevator industry. With the inclusion of contributions from the Canadian locals, EIWPF will be able to increase the participation of its programs for the benefit of the elevator industry in Canada. We have also expanded our OSHA safety training for construction to now include OSHA safety training for general industry which covers our constructors that work in the service and maintenance portion of our industry. We have supported our constructors to receive specialized training to be able to work in the wind energy sector.