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10 union negotiations experts
These ten labor relations executives have negotiated or overseen collective bargaining agreements with unions on the employer side. A reader can learn how employers prepare a bargaining strategy, run negotiations with union committees and administer contracts once they are signed.
Professionals to explore
01—10Brendan M. Branon
LinkedInExperience: Managing Director - Labor Relations · Delta Air Lines
Former Managing Director - Labor Relations (2013–2015) and Managing Director - Labor & Employee Relations (2015–2018) at Delta Air Lines, later Chairman of the National Railway Labor Conference (2019–2024) and Vice President - Employee Relations at Amazon since November 2024. His profile describes an experienced labor attorney, negotiator, HR professional and airline executive.
Catherine Moncada
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Labor Relations · Granite Construction
Vice President of Labor Relations at Granite Construction since January 2026, after serving there as Director of Labor Relations (2019–2025) and Labor Relations Manager (2013–2019). Her profile describes a labor relations professional with a background in the construction industry, skilled in collective bargaining, dispute avoidance and resolution, and workforce development.
Christie Sutherland
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Labor Relations · Disney Experiences
Vice President Labor Relations at Disney Experiences since December 2024 and Director Labor Relations there since 2016; her profile describes the executive responsible for negotiations and administration of 26 collective bargaining agreements with 46 individual union affiliates covering over 70000 Cast and Crew Members. She was previously Manager Labor Relations at Walt Disney World (2006–2016).
Darin Torosian, MBA, SPHR
LinkedInExperience: Group Vice President Labor Relations · Kroger
Group Vice President Labor Relations at Kroger since November 2025, after serving as Vice President, Labor Relations (2025). His profile says he leads labor relations for one of the largest unionized workforces in the U.S., overseeing 350+ collective bargaining agreements and supporting nearly 300,000 union-represented associates. His other Kroger roles include Vice President Human Resources - Manufacturing and Supply Chain (2020–2025).
Derek Cargill
LinkedInExperience: General Director Labor Relations · BNSF Railway
General Director Labor Relations at BNSF Railway since December 2021, after serving there as Director Labor Relations (2012–2021) and Manager Labor Relations (2011–2012). His profile describes a labor relations professional in the transportation industry skilled in collective bargaining, negotiation, mediation and arbitration, with a J.D. from Texas Tech.
Deric Bomar
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Labor and Employee Relations · Comcast
Senior Vice President, Labor and Employee Relations at Comcast since December 2023, after serving as Vice President Labor Relations there (2008–2023). His profile describes a management-side labor and employment attorney and human resources executive with broad expertise in labor contract negotiations and labor training. He was previously Vice President Human Resources at Comcast (2002–2008).
Maqui Parkerson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Labor Relations · Kansas City Southern
Former Vice President Labor Relations at Kansas City Southern (2018–2021), and Vice President Labor Relations at Union Pacific Railroad since January 2023, after serving there as Vice President Labor Relations and Sustainability (2022) and Assistant Vice President Labor Relations and Sustainability (2021–2022). The profile describes approaching collective bargaining with the perspective of an experienced in-house commercial lawyer.
Natasha Shum
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President, Labor Relations and Chief Labor Counsel · HBO
Executive Vice President, Labor Relations and Chief Labor Counsel at HBO; her profile describes a seasoned negotiator, advisor and litigator in the entertainment industry who heads the labor relations department covering HBO, HBO Max, TNT, TBS and truTV. Her other HBO roles include Senior Vice President and Chief Labor Counsel (2018–2022) and Vice President and Senior Counsel (2012–2018).
Stephanie Sloggett-O'Dell
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & Chief Negotiator Labor Relations · Tenet Healthcare
Former Vice President & Chief Negotiator Labor Relations at Tenet Healthcare (1999–2006), and Vice President - Employee Advocacy & Labor Relations at St. Joseph Health since May 2010. Her profile describes a human resources, employee relations and labor relations professional with a record of obtaining outcomes that meet or exceed business objectives, and lists work as an Arbitrator and Mediator (2008–2010).
Vaneeda McDonald
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Corporate Labor Relations · Philadelphia Gas Works
Vice President, Corporate Labor Relations at Philadelphia Gas Works since December 2020, after serving there as Director, Labor Relations (2017–2020) and Manager, Labor Relations (2012–2017). Her profile describes a corporate labor relations professional in the utilities industry skilled in collective bargaining and interest based bargaining.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's industry and labor law setting to yours, since railroad and airline bargaining under the Railway Labor Act works differently from bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act. Also match the scale of the relationship, from a single contract to hundreds of agreements with many union locals.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you prepare for a contract negotiation, and what do you need from finance and operations before the first session?
- 02How did you handle a negotiation that stalled or moved toward a strike, and what got it back on track?
- 03What contract language caused the most trouble in administration later, and how would you write it now?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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