Larry Roberts - President
Linda Panarelli - Vice President
I came back to work for the local 299 Austin in 2005 after Larry Roberts became President.
I had served as Chief Steward on tour 1 and stations steward for 5 years previously but left for a few years to return to the flat sorter.
I have been a state VP for District 7, local clerk craft director, local legislative director and am currently your Vice President. In 2012, Mr. Roberts and I attended and graduated National Arbitration class in Washington, DC. There have been many National and State conventions and conferences over the years that have proven to be very educational and informative. I believe you should always keep learning.
I enjoy being the voice for the postal employees who aren't always sure of their rights. While sometimes management takes advantage of craft employees and our inexperience and unknowing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Employee Labor Manuel, and Local Memorandum of Understanding, its nice to have people to speak up for them.
We are always here for our members, we may not always tell you what you want to hear, but we will tell you what is legal and in accordance with the contract and rules.
Thank you for your support!
Linda Panarelli
Vice President
Local 299 APWU Austin
Tracey Dingman - Treasurer
My name is Tracey Dingman. I have been the Austin Local 299 Treasurer since 2013. My goal is to provide quality financial soundness for our members while focusing on transparency. I have worked for the US Postal Service since 1986 in the Clerk and Motor Vehicle crafts. I have been a Union member for my entire career and respect and appreciate the representation of the APWU National and our Local 299. If you have any questions about Union finances, I’m your gal!
Brenda Middleton - Legislative Director
My name is Brenda Middleton and I became a career employee at The United States Postal Service in 1996. I have been in several positions throughout my career. I have been an APWU member from the first day of becoming eligible for membership and became the Legislative Director for APWU Local 299 in 2018. I am a strong believer in the power of the labor movement and my mission is to educated and inform our membership about all proposed and voted on legislative directives in Washington D.C. that impacts our job.
Jesse Benavides Jr.
My name is Jesse Benavides Jr.
Born in Austin Texas. Graduate from Albert S. Johnston High School.
I have been at the USPS since July 1997 as a mail processor. I became an APWU Steward. As a Steward my duties include:
- Filing Grievance
- Experience on filing FMLA
- Assist with filing Workers Comp forms
- EEO Complaints
My likes are:
- enjoy camping
- traveling
- spending time with family
- watching my grandkids, nieces and nephews play baseball/softball in and out of state.
Monte Lane - Chief Steward
I was born in Carlisle Pennsylvania on August 16, 1971. I moved to, what I like to call my hometown, Carlsbad New Mexico in 1974 and resided there with my family until 1979. My family moved to Texas in 1980 when I was about 9 years old, finally moving into the Austin area in 1982. I started work at the United States Postal Service in February of 1994. I got married to Norma Garcia on February 1, 1999. We had a beautiful daughter on September 25, 2000. My daughter is currently a senior at University of Texas at Dallas. I became an alternate steward in 2007 and then a chief steward some 10 short years later in 2017. I have enjoyed my role as chief steward for the past 6 years. I have also served various roles on the APWU Local #299 executive board since the early 2000's.