Fundamentals of Contract Negotiation

Carlos S. Arevalo Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd.

A panelist at the Public Sector Labor Conference for several years, Carlos Arévalo has been practicing law for more than 20 years and has significant experience in representing Illinois public sector clients in the areas of labor and employment law involving benefits, termination, discipline, labor arbitration and collective bargaining, as well as local government law. He also represents clients in state and federal court and in administrative proceedings before the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Labor Relations Board and more. Carlos also represents private sector clients, including profit and non-profit entities as well as individuals. Additionally, Carlos served as a member of the Board of Trustees for McHenry County College. He was president of the McHenry County Bar Association and Stateline SHRM Chapter. Carlos continues to be active in leadership for the Illinois State Bar Association’s labor and employment and local government related committees, frequently speaking on these issues at the state and local level. Carlos is a member of the Leadership Greater McHenry County Class of 2013 and sits on the Regional Board of the Mercy Health System

Matthew Carpenter Related Seminars and Products

General Counsel

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73

Matt Carpenter is currently the General Counsel for SEIU Local 73. Prior to that, Matt practiced at a union-side labor law firm where he represented clients in both the private and public sectors.  Matt began his legal career as a general practitioner but soon thereafter took a position with a Michigan healthcare local. In that role, in addition to traditional staff attorney duties, he negotiated dozens of contracts before returning to Chicago. Although he’s a regular attendee at the Public Sector Labor Conference, this is his first time presenting at the Conference.

Amanda R Clark Related Seminars and Products

Shareholder

Asher Gittler & D'Alba Ltd.

Amanda Clark is a shareholder at Asher, Gittler & D’Alba, Ltd., starting with the firm in 2011 as a law clerk. Amanda has experience in public sector labor law across Illinois, representing bargaining units of firefighters, trades employees and educational employees. Her experience includes contract negotiations, grievance arbitrations, disciplinary hearings, and IELRB and ILRB proceedings, and state and federal litigation.

Amanda is a 2012 graduate of Chicago Kent College of Law with a certificate from the Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace. She received her undergraduate degree from North Park University. Amanda is an active member of the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law. She currently serves as the Union Co-Chair of the State and Local Government Bargaining and Employment Law Committee. She is also currently a Co-Vice-Chair of the ABA Labor and Employment Law 17th Annual Conference Committee. Amanda has co-authored an annual report reviewing public sector grievance arbitration decisions for the State and Local Government Bargaining and Employment Law Committee, as well as co-authored papers on the impact of the U.S. Supreme Courts Janus decision, and the Illinois Workers’ Rights Constitutional Amendment.

Robb Craddock Related Seminars and Products

Executive Director

University of Illinois

At the University, Mr. Craddock serves as chief spokesperson and is responsible for the administration of twenty (20) different labor agreements covering university employees.  Mr. Craddock represents the University’s Chancellor in grievance matters. Prior to working for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Robb Craddock served as the Deputy Director of Labor Relations for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services from September 2008 through January 2015. In that role, he successfully handled labor relations matters on behalf of the Office of the Governor.  Mr. Craddock represented the largest employer in the State of Illinois.  His tenure as the State of Illinois’ chief labor negotiator exposed him to multiple labor unions including American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union, Teamsters and various trade unions.  In 2019, Robb Craddock returned to Illinois Department of Central Management Services in conjunction with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to serve as Chief Labor Relations Negotiator and Executive Branch Labor Relations Advisor.  While in that capacity, he successfully negotiated an agreement with AFSCME Council 31; ending a four (4) year labor dispute.  In October 2013, Mr. Craddock accepted on behalf of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services the James Baird Leadership Award for 2013 presented by the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association (IPELRA).  This annual award recognizes leadership and achievement in Illinois public sector labor relations.  Robb is an at-Large Member of the IPELRA Board of Directors, and a member of the Legislative Advocacy Committee. Mr. Craddock received his Master of Public Administration with a graduate certification in Public Sector Labor Relations from the University of Illinois at Springfield.  Mr. Craddock received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western Illinois University.