Officers and staff

Ben Brenneman

Ben Brenneman joined IBEW Local 520 in 2008. In his time with the Local he has served as second-year instructor, Chair of the COPE Committee, Registrar, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and now Business Manager. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his kids, collect vinyl records, and he plays a mean game of tetherball.

Joseph Hernandez

Lead Organizer

Joseph ‘Big Joe’ Hernandez joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as a 1st year apprentice in 2015 and graduated from the JATC in 2019 as a Journeyman Inside Wireman.

Big Joe is the Lead Organizer of Local 520, the Austin chapter President of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC), and President of EWMC of Central Texas non-profit.

Josh Balzer

Field Organizer

Joshua ‘Josh’ Balzer joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as a 1st year apprentice in 2015 and graduated from the JATC in 2019 as a Journeyman Inside Wireman. Josh is a Local Union 520 Field Organizer, Treasurer of the Austin EWMC chapter, and Board member of the EWMC of Central Texas non-profit organization.

As Field Organizer Josh spends his time in the field recruiting non-union electricians and has a passion for our apprenticeship program displayed by the numerous apprentices he has assisted in applying to the apprenticeship.

Abigail Leighton

Field Organizer

Abigail Leighton became a rank-and-file member of local 520 in 2020. Abigail is a Field Organizer, Recording Secretary of the EWMC Austin Texas Chapter and the EWMC of Central Texas non-profit.

As Field Organizer Abigail spends time recruiting non-union electricians in the field, managing the Local’s digital platforms such as utilizing social media and online recruiting tactics to spread the word about our local union.

Fernando Arista

Field Organizer

Fernando joined as a rank-and-file member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 520 in 2018. Fernando is an accomplished non-union-worksite organizer that has recruited countless members from non-union shops into our local union.

His passion is inspiring underrepresented groups of workers to take charge and forge new ways of life for themselves. Fernado spends most of his time in the field speaking with non-union electrical workers about the IBEW.

Jason Tatu

Representative & Designer

Jason Tatu joined IBEW local 520 as a rank-and-file member in 2019. He is our resident low voltage specialist and is dedicated to the growth and betterment of the Teledata division of local 520.

He has been a key player in the negotiations of their unique bargaining agreement, and assists with the in-house design of IBEW 520 merchandise.

Kasey Lansangan

President

Kasey Lansangan joined IBEW Local 520 in 2014. He is a Journeyman Inside Wireman and currently serves the Local as President, Assistant Business Manager, Bull Steward, and Trustee for the Annuity, Health and Welfare, and Apprentice Boards. He has also served as Jobsite Steward, Vice President, Election Teller, and in various roles on COPE, EWMC, and RENEW.

In his free time, he enjoys playing card games, war games, RPGs, and board games with his friends and family.

Jonathan Murray

Vice President, Assistant Business Manager, & Apprentice Instructor

Jonathan Murray joined IBEW Local 520 in 1999. He is a Journeyman Inside Wireman and currently serves the Local as Vice President, Assistant Business Manager, and Apprentice Instructor. He has spent nearly a decade building America across the states. He started the trade as a Material Handler for Tedco Electric at the age of 17.

In his off-time Jonathan enjoys Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, and Camping. You can also find him indoors playing video games and board games. Jonathan is known at the Union Spring Fling and Picnic as the biggest trash talker in washers, corn hole, and horseshoes even though he has yet to win a tournament.

Mike Grant

Assistant Business Manager & Director of Business Development

Originally from East Tennessee, Mike relocated to Austin in 2019. After completing his apprenticeship and managing numerous projects, he founded his own electrical contracting business with offices in Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee, holding master licenses in five states. Mike also took on leadership roles within the East Tennessee Chapter of NECA, including Vice President, President, and Governor.

Following the sale of his business, he was hired by IBEW Local 175 as Assistant Business Manager and Director of Business Development and served on the Board of Directors for the IBEW 175 Federal Credit Union.

Presently, Mike serves as Assistant Business Manager and Director of Business Development here at Local 520 and also on the Board of Directors for Workforce Solutions of Texas.

Diarmid Campbell

Field Organizer

Diarmid Campbell was organized into the IBEW Local 520 on February 16th of 2018, in San Angelo Texas. He became the local field organizer in October 2018 and has done his best to grow and further the cause of the IBEW and Local 520 in West Texas. In his time as the field organizer for San Angelo he has signed 5 local contractors, helped bring back the DOL accredited apprenticeship program as well as partner with the local community college to bring an electrical program to the public.

His passion for his work also carries over into his community as he has helped organize numerous volunteer events (Boys and Girls Club, Open Arms, toy drives) and sits on numerous city and community boards (United Way, VSC, WTBT, Workforce Development Board just to name a few), he is also a recipient of The 20 Under 40 award in 2022 and The Young Professional of the Year for 2023.

Diarmid believes deeply in what the Union and the IBEW can provide not only for its members but for its communities, he is proud to be a Union member and looks forward to fighting the good fight for all works across West Texas and furthering the IBEW’s purpose which is to organize every electrical worker in the trade.

Ryan Pollock

Director of Political and Special Projects

Ryan Pollock began his career as an open-shop electrician in 2013. He was organized into Local 520 in 2014, entered the apprenticeship in 2015, and became a Journeyman Inside Wireman in 2020. That same year Ryan joined the 520 staff as organizer.

He now serves as the Director of Political and Special Projects for Local 520, the Chair of the Local 520 Committee on Political Education (COPE), the Political Assistant for the Texas State Association of Electrical Workers, and the State Political Coordinator for the IBEW 7th District. He also serves the greater labor movement as a trustee of the Austin Central Labor Council and as Vice President of the Texas AFL-CIO representing the 10th District. He serves the greater Austin community as a member of the Austin ISD Bond Oversight Committee and the ACC Regional Advisory Committee.

Gina Shelton

Human Resources & Office Manager

As the newest member of the IBEW 520 team, Gina serves as the local’s Human Resources & Office Manager in addition to overseeing all Building Management activities. Gina joined the 520 team in October 2023 after working over 20 years in the healthcare sector, and brings extensive experience in team engagement, process development, and navigating difficult conversations.

Outside of work, Gina can be found paddleboarding or nurturing her many tropical plants and is known for having the loudest laugh in the room.

Megan Tatsch

San Angelo Office Manager

Since 2012

Cassandra Gonzalez

Dues Office Administrator

Since 2024

Mary Ygnacio

Payroll & Accountant

Mary Ygnacio has been on staff with the IBEW Local Union 520 since 2002. She has served as the Dues Secretary and is now the Payroll/ Accountant for IBEW Local 520. Mary served as Secretary Treasurer for eight years for Office Professional Employees International Local Union 277 (formally Local 298).

Mary enjoys working for IBEW Local Union 520 where she has gotten to know several members and their families. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, Lucas, Penelope and Liana.

Ronnie Hardi

Ronnie Hardi has been an IBEW 520 member since April of 2014. He is chair of the executive board, a teacher at the Austin ETA, and chair of the scholarship committee, as well as the picnic committee.