MELISSA BACON
Melissa has been with the company for 12 1/2 years. She is currently a Customer Sales Representative in the BCST. Melissa is also a MBA Rep and a Member of the Safety Council. Melissa has been to Grievance and Arbitration School and most recently Organizing Boot Camp, as well as multiple conferences representing Local 15.
Melissa is married with 4 adult kids and 3 grandkids. She is a member of Victory Apostolic Church. She enjoys card games and baking.
THANK YOU, MELISSA, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO LOCAL 15!
FORREST HELFRICH
Forrest has been with the company for 16 years at Dresden Station. He was hired in 2008 as a Chemistry Technician. Forrest has been a steward since 2016 and Chief Steward since 2023.
He has attended the Utility Workers' Coalition in Madison, Wisconsin, Utility Conference in Austin, Texas and Arbitration School in Champaign, representing Local 15.
Forrest lives in Coal City, Il. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Brandi for 8 years and has 2 sons, Dylan (6) and Luke (3).
He loves anything to do with sports, whether it's watching or playing and any outdoor activities. He plays a lot of golf and plays in a men's basketball league. Most importantly, he loves spending time with his wife and boys.
THANK YOU, FORREST, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO LOCAL 15!
CHAD CHISM
Hello, I'm Chad Chism and I'm the Local 15 Steward for the Electrical Maintenance Dept., Instrument Maintenance Dept., Clerks, and Material & Supply Coordinators at Powerton Station. I started at Powerton Station December 3rd, 2007. I was hired into the Electrical Maintenance Department and that's where I have worked ever since. Prior to becoming a Steward, I had always been a strong Union man, I shop at a local Union Grocery Store just as my parents and grandparents shopped and I buy "Made in the US" as often as possible.
During the summer of 2023, I became a steward. Leadership is not natural to me but I was inspired by the quote "Staying in your comfort zone is the surest way to never grow" and have I ever learned the truthfulness of that quote. I continue to be inspired by the quote "Step so far out of your comfort zone that you forget how to get back".
Union beliefs run strong in my family. My great grandfather was a Union Organizer for the Bricklayers Union in Chicago during the 1920s. On the other side of the family, my grandpa and five of his brothers moved from southern Missouri to the Pekin, Illinois area for the good Union jobs the area had available.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you!!!
THANK YOU, CHAD, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO LOCAL 15!
Will Clarke
My name is Will Clarke. I started with ComEd in 2012 in the stores department as an intern after graduating from Dawson Tech. I was moved over to meter reading in 2013 at the Chicago North location. I read meters for 2 years until I jumped over to Area Operating in 2015 and also joined the BAPP team at that time. I’ve been steward at the Jefferson location for most of my time as an Operator. I’m a recipient of the 101 club and the MEA award .
Outside of work I like to spend time with my wife Kelly of 13 years and my two daughters Cameron-8 and Kennedy-4. I also enjoy losing a few boxes of balls on the golf course whenever I get a chance.
THANK YOU, CHAD, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO LOCAL 15!