markg@mech701.org – 708-588-7512
Directing Business Representative – Mark Grasseschi
Mark Grasseschi has been a dedicated member of IAM Local 701 since 1987. He built his career in the Automotive industry and served as Shop Steward at Phillips Chevrolet, where he demonstrated strong leadership on the shop floor. In 2013, he participated as a member of the extended bargaining committee for the Standard Automotive Agreement (SAA) negotiations. The following year, in 2014, he was appointed to the Local 701 Executive Board as a Trustee while still serving as Shop Steward.
In July 2015, Mark was appointed as a Business Representative. In that role, he represented a wide range of industries including automotive dealerships, specialty shops, bakeries, trucking companies, machine shops, road builders under MARBA, municipalities, and the forklift industry. In 2019, he was appointed as a Trustee on the Will/Grundy County Trades Association Board.
Beyond his representational duties, Mark has played an active role in member communications as both editor and co-editor of the Local 701 Newsletter. He also contributes to the Local’s website and Facebook page. Mark serves as a Trustee on the Local 701 Health, Welfare, and Pension Funds. SEE MORE
Assistant Directing Business Representative – Ryan Haehnlein
Ryan Haehnlein has been a proud member of IAM Local 701 since 2011. He began his union career in the Heavy-Duty industry at M&K Truck Centers, where he served as Shop Steward and successfully settled multiple labor disputes and grievance victories. In 2021, Ryan was appointed as an Organizer and later that year promoted to Business Representative. In June 2022, he was appointed Assistant Directing Business Representative (ADBR) under DBR Mark Grasseschi.
Ryan currently services members across the Freight, Heavy-Duty, Automotive Dealership, Machine Shop and Equipment industries, as well as various manufacturing and independent sectors. He also plays an active role in member communications as the editor of the Local 701 newsletter and contributes to the development of the Local’s website and app. In addition to his representational duties, Ryan serves in several leadership and advisory roles. He is a delegate and COPE representative to the Chicago Federation of Labor and serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois State Council of Machinists. In January 2024, he was appointed by IAM International President Brian Bryant to the IAM Law Committee. SEE MORE
ryanh@mech701.org – 708-738-1620
Business Representative/701 Automotive Coordinator – Walter Emerson
Walter “Wally” Emerson has been a proud member of IAM Local 701 since 2000. He spent his career in the Automotive industry and began serving as Shop Steward at Pugi of Downers Grove in 2013. In 2015, he was elected to the Local 701 Executive Board as a Trustee, a role he held until his appointment as Business Representative/Organizer in October 2017.
In addition to his representational duties, Wally serves as the Local 701 Communicator and manages the Local’s digital presence, including its website, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. He currently represents members in the Automotive Dealership, Equipment, Ready-Mix, Machine Shop, and Trucking industries.
Wally is actively involved in the labor movement beyond Local 701. He is a delegate to the Illinois State Council of Machinists and the Midwest States Conference of Machinists, and he serves as the 1st Vice President of the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. He also holds roles as a Trustee on the Local 701 Training Fund and as a Trustee-in-Training on the Local 701 Health, Welfare, and Pension Fund. SEE MORE
wemerson@mech701.org – 815-219-0438
Business Representative-Chris Becktel
Chris has been a member of Local 701 since 2007. He worked throughout his career in the car industry. Before his move to the Organizing Department at Local 701 he worked at Toyota of Naperville. Chris has worked on many organizing drives over the years. During the 2017 Standard Automotive negotiations, Chris was on the extended Bargaining Committee. He’s also been involved in the Local 701 Community Outreach Committee, and the Organizing Committee. Chris has attended classes at the Winpisinger Center in Maryland. These include Organizing Prep, Organizing 1, Leadership 1, Political Training and Education, Negotiation Prep., Foundational Skills, Arbitration, Collective Bargaining, Advanced Collective Bargaining, First Contract, Negotiating Healthcare and Insurance, Negotiating Retirement Securities, and Service Contract Act.
cbecktel@mech701.org – 708-542-0852
Business Representative – Mike Burtner Jr.
Mike has been a member of Local 701 since 1996. He has worked in the Diesel Industry throughout his career and most recently served as shop Steward for First Student for 8 years. During that time, Mike participated in multiple successful contract negotiations with the Company. Mike is a 2nd generation local 701 member with his father and uncle both retired members. In 2022 Mike was appointed to the position of Business Representative/Organizer. Since January of 2022 Mike has taking several classes at the IAMAW William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, Maryland to further his Union education to better serve members. Mike is a delegate for the Chicago Federation of Labor and attends the monthly meetings.
mburtnerjr@mech701.org – 708-240-1388
Business Representative-Carl Cassata
Carl has been a member of Local 701 since 1995. He has previously worked at various dealerships since 1990. In 2015 he joined Elgin Toyota and has been a shop Steward since 2021. Carl also was on the 2021 SAA negotiations committee. In 2022 Carl was appointed to the position of Organizer. In June of 2022 Carl was appointed to the position of Business Representative. Carl has been appointed as a trustee on the Elgin Trade Council in 2023.
He has also attended classes at the William W. Winpisinger Education & Technology in Maryland. Classes include: Collective Bargaining, Advanced Collective Bargaining, Arbitration, Advanced Arbitration, Organizing I & II, Communications for Organizing, IAM Foundational Skills and Basic Web Development.
ccassata@mech701.org – 708-334–2372
Business Representative-Joe Scheer
Joe has been a member of Local 701 since 2001. He worked in the commercial trucking industry at Rendel’s Inc. where he served as the shop steward and shop foreman for many years. During his time at Rendel’s he was instrumental in leading several successful contract negotiations, and enforcing the terms of the contract. He has volunteered on the organizing and political committees. Joe was appointed to the position of Business Representative in December of 2022 where he services the Automotive, Trucking, Equipment, and Aggregate sectors of the industry. He is a delegate to the Will/Grundy counties central Trades and Labor Council, AFL-CIO and was elected President to the council in January 2025. He also serves as a delegate to the Illinois State Council of Machinists. He has attended several classes at the Winpisinger Training Center in Maryland, including Leadership 1, Foundational Skills, Collective Bargaining, Advanced Collective Bargaining, First Contract, Arbitration, IAM-Critical Incident Response Training Program, IAM-Adult Mental Health First Aid USA, and continues to further his education through the IAM to better serve our membership.
jscheer@mech701.org – 815-685-9423
Business Representative – Chad Gallois
Chad Gallois has been an active member of Mechanics’ Local 701 since 2000. Chad worked as an Automotive technician under the Standard Automotive Agreement (SAA). Throughout Chad’s career, he served Local 701 as a shop steward at Lexus of Naperville, Local 701 election official, strike captain in 2017 and 2021, and served on the 2021 SAA negotiation committee. He has volunteered on the Organizing and Political committees, and supported multiple strike lines. Chad was appointed to the position of Business Representative/Organizer in December of 2022. As a Business Representative/Organizer, Chad services various shops throughout several industries such as automotive dealerships, bakeries, forklift, trucking and equipment. Chad has continued to further his Union Education through the IAM at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center.
He has attended such classes as Leadership 1, Foundational Skills, Arbitration, First Contract, Collective Bargaining, Advanced Collective Bargaining, Mental Health First Aid, and Negotiating Retirement Security Program. In January 2024, Chad was appointed as a delegate to the Chicago Federation of Labor and seeks to support the labor movement to provide a better way of life for the working class.
cgallois@mech701.org – 708-846-0880
Business Representative – Steve Steif
Steve has been a member of the IAM since 2005 and has 13 years with Local 701. Throughout his career, he has worked as a Millwright in the Aggregate industry. Steve was appointed Shop Steward at Heidelberg Materials in August of 2022. He completed the Stewards training class in January of 2023. While serving as Shop Steward, he helped cover four separate locations under Heidelberg’s Collective Bargaining Agreement and has been instrumental in enforcing the terms of the Agreement. Steve served on the Union’s bargaining committee in 2023 and directly participated in the successful negotiations for their current Agreement. Steve was appointed to the position of Business Representative/Organizer in April of 2025.
ssteif@mech701.org – 708-728-5708