Public Employee Press

Union Scrapbook
Stephanie Velez retires after 39 years with city and union

Professional Division Director Stephanie Velez was joined by a roomful of union leaders, staff, friends and family who came together May 7 to celebrate the beginning of her well-deserved retirement after a long and distinguished career at DC 37.

“Stephanie has made a significant contribution to this union and we are very grateful and honored to have had her with us for so long,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who was joined in saluting Velez by DC 37 Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin, Director of Field Operations Barbara Ingram Edmonds, Research and Negotiations Director Dennis Sullivan and James F. Hanley, commissioner of the Office of Labor Relations.

Velez began her career with the city in 1970 as a Supervising Hospital Care Investigator. She held important staff and elective positions in SSEU Local 371 as an organizer, grievance rep and chair of the HHC Chapter. At DC 37 she started as a council rep in 1987, was promoted to assistant director of the Professional Division 10 years later and to director in 1999. Velez, who was accompanied by two of her aunts at the party, plans to start the next chapter of her life in North Carolina.