Aaron C. Carmella
St. Petersburg,FL
Summary
Results-driven Senior Management experience with proven production and efficient task completion. Skilled in client relations, strategic planning, and problem-solving. Excel in communication, adaptability, and leadership to effectively manage operations and foster strong partnerships.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Field Representative
AFL-CIO
Annapolis, MD
09.2024 - 10.2024
- Worked on presidential, Senate, and targeted congressional races in Maryland.
- Set up the war room and created action plan for targeted races in specific geographic areas.
- Oversaw volunteer and field efforts, focusing on the Baltimore and Prince George’s County areas.
- Attended Central Labor Council meetings and set up voter outreach efforts in their areas.
- Created literature, ran statewide Zoom phone banks with volunteers and released staff.
Labor Liaison
Stanley Campbell for Senate
West Palm Beach, FL
04.2024 - 06.2024
- Hired at recommendation of Labor Leaders after candidate received the Labor Endorsement
- Served as a pipeline between the campaign and labor leaders across the state.
- Created labor talking points for the candidate, and scheduled union meetings for campaign outreach.
- I attended meetings on behalf of the candidate.
- Assisted the Communications team in creating messaging for flyers, handbills, the website, and social media.
- Assisted the field team in working on GOTV efforts leading up to the primary election, focusing efforts on labor, who voted at a much higher rate than the general public.
Political and Communications Director
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Orlando, FL
10.2023 - 02.2024
- Created political, legislative, and communication plans for issues germane to the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), which included issues regarding work safety, unemployment, school district employees, municipal employees, and public pensions.
- Facing a union decertification bill, I attended the legislative session with members of IUPAT to lobby and assist our members affected by this legislation, visiting offices and speaking in committees.
- Created talking points, flyers, and updated the website and social media with pertinent information to keep members up to date.
- Assisted multiple offices with creating targeted data to conduct phone banks, canvasses, phone blitzes, and local office visits when issues were on the docket.
- Assisted in organizing drives in the public sector to keep the thresholds above the decertification level.
Field Director
Florida AFL-CIO
Tallahassee, FL
02.2021 - 10.2023
- Directed activities of Field Staff, including hiring, managing daily activities, and oversaw Field Plan progress.
- Created and implemented a reporting system for staff and monitored progress on assignments.
- Coordinated activities between the Central Labor Councils, State Federation, and Executive Board.
- Directed state political activities through field representatives and Central Labor Councils.
- Directed and managed the Working Families Lobby Corps (WFLC), which saw over 1,000 participants during the legislative session.
- Developed comprehensive briefs and talking points for WFLC participants, and also created daily schedules and appointments to most effectively use their time.
- Directly lobbied, as well as instructed members on how to lobby their elected officials.
- Served as Comms Director, controlling social media, the website, and Action Network (our email program), among other outreach tools.
- Created targeted lists for and created mailings for over 300,000 members and families, as well as coordinated with print shop and mail house to execute these communications.
Operations Specialist
City of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, FL
04.2019 - 02.2021
- Assisted with the overhaul of the new Stormwater Fee Structure, including customer service and information dispersion.
- Served as liaison between Mayor’s Office and Public Works Department as well as communicated with contracted engineering/GIS firm to stay updated on all facets of project.
- Worked with the City Council to ensure proper communication with their constituents.
- Attended neighborhood meetings with other Public Works Department directors to present the new structure.
Legislative and Media Consultant
Self-Employed
St. Petersburg, FL
12.2018 - 04.2019
- Assisted the AFL-CIO State Federation and allied groups in developing an action plan for the 2019 Legislative Session.
- Drafted field plan for the Legislative Session and Committee outreach, focusing on efforts in Tallahassee and local districts to help influence the vote at the Capitol.
- Created online tools to assist local field staff in coordinating activities, as well as increasing accountability across the state.
- Served as Communications Director, handling press relations, managing the associated websites, and creating weekly update videos during the Legislative Session.
- Managed social media presence on Facebook and Twitter, and handled ad buys.
Campaign Coordinator
AFL-CIO
St. Petersburg, FL
08.2018 - 12.2018
- Served as Field Director of the statewide coordinated voter outreach program.
- Oversaw the daily activities of three statewide leads and eleven field staff across Florida.
- Worked with the Campaign Manager and Communications Director to coordinate the design of literature, printing, and distribution of materials to targeted areas of the state.
- Assisted in developing a statewide political plan and monitored its implementation in regard to certain goals set for different areas of the state.
- Wrote all scripts, ensuring they passed legal review and had them uploaded in a timely manner for remote use.
- Worked with local staff to coordinate events with national leaders and elected officials, maximizing turnout and press coverage.
- Managed data from outreach activities, and created weekly reports to evaluate staff performance.
- Tracked the activities of over 130 release staff and created reports as needed for their affiliate organizations.
Operations/Constituent Services Manager
City of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, FL
08.2016 - 08.2018
- Managed an online citizen service platform and directed the Mayor’s Action Center staff.
- Worked with city departments to streamline their work order process and improve customer service.
- Initiated the use of web-based platform to transfer work requests in real time to department staff for increased accountability to customers.
- Worked with state, county, and federal agencies, as well as contractors and outside providers, to maintain communication and customer service on projects happening within the city of St. Petersburg.
- Represented the city at community and neighborhood meetings to update areas on pertinent issues.
- Worked with Mayoral Staff to coordinate public information and responses to incoming inquiries about issues and services.
- Created work order requests to capture data for the Pete Stat program, which was an interactive online portal for customers to see issues reported and work performed by the city, creating another level of accountability on promised projects.
- Trained city employees of various departments on the use of technology, including new work order systems, and phone, tablet, and computer applications.
- Managed the online response during and after Hurricane Irma, as well as helped plan and staff the Emergency Operations Center.
Field Representative, West Central Florida Labor Council
Florida AFL-CIO
Tampa, FL
04.2009 - 08.2016
- Aided in the planning and direction of all organizational activities, including scheduling and leading meetings and training, and planning events and fundraisers.
- Represented the Central Labor Council to Congressional Representatives in their home offices, leading local members to lobby on issues from healthcare reform to international trade.
- Along with other activists, formed Awake the State, a statewide organization consisting of activists from multiple organizations in local chapters focusing on issues affecting each group.
- Recruited and trained members to attend the Working Families Lobby Corps, successfully lobbying legislators from both parties during the legislative session to support issues such as paycheck protection, pension reform, and the protection of home rule ordinances.
- Helped draft Wage Theft Ordinances for Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, and through direct lobbying and public media campaign ended up successfully passing them
- Initiated and drafted an Apprenticeship Hiring Ordinance in St. Petersburg, working on a five-year campaign eventually ending with a Community Benefit Agreement focusing on hiring local apprenticeship students and hard-to-hire residents on city-funded projects.
- Planned and executed successful events, such as press conferences and rallies, to get press coverage and raise public awareness on key issues.
- Oversaw the political plan covering the twelve counties of West Central Florida, increasing participation for all levels of activity, from municipal elections to federal and national campaigns.
- Managed release staff and CLC employees in multiple locations in the Tampa Bay area.
- Led voter and constituent outreach, and community relations by directing paid staff, released members, and volunteers.
- Developed a training module for members wishing to run for local office, and used it to teach candidates statewide to win races for the School Board, City Council, and County Commission.
Director of I-4 Corridor
Florida AFL-CIO
I-4 Corridor
06.2014 - 11.2014
- Temporarily appointed Director of the I-4 Corridor for the 2014 election cycle.
- In charge of implementing the political program from Sarasota to Daytona.
- Managed four Central Labor Council field staff and monitored the activities of released staff sent to the area.
- Responsible for meeting daily goals and nightly reports for federal and state elections compliance.
- Kept schedules of hours for local hires within our given budget, and also helped in processing payroll by making sure proper papers and tax documents were acquired.
Grassroots Coordinator
American Postal Workers Union
Tampa, FL
01.2008 - 04.2009
Field Director
Ferguson for Delegate
Rocky Mount, VA
05.2007 - 11.2007
Legislative Intern
United Food and Commercial Workers Union
Washington, DC
10.2006 - 04.2007
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Affairs
University of Georgia
Athens, GA05-2016
Timeline
Senior Field Representative
AFL-CIO
09.2024 - 10.2024
Labor Liaison
Stanley Campbell for Senate
04.2024 - 06.2024
Political and Communications Director
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
10.2023 - 02.2024
Field Director
Florida AFL-CIO
02.2021 - 10.2023
Operations Specialist
City of St. Petersburg
04.2019 - 02.2021
Legislative and Media Consultant
Self-Employed
12.2018 - 04.2019
Campaign Coordinator
AFL-CIO
08.2018 - 12.2018
Operations/Constituent Services Manager
City of St. Petersburg
08.2016 - 08.2018
Director of I-4 Corridor
Florida AFL-CIO
06.2014 - 11.2014
Field Representative, West Central Florida Labor Council
Florida AFL-CIO
04.2009 - 08.2016
Grassroots Coordinator
American Postal Workers Union
01.2008 - 04.2009
Field Director
Ferguson for Delegate
05.2007 - 11.2007
Legislative Intern
United Food and Commercial Workers Union
10.2006 - 04.2007
Bachelor of Arts - International Affairs
University of Georgia