John Bland

John Bland is a committed Boilermaker out of Local 13, with a distinguished career spanning over 25 years in the field before stepping into leadership roles. He’s currently serving as an organizer and recruiter for the Northeast. Bland has proudly served Boilermakers Local 13 in various capacities, including several years as a business agent and five years as business manager/secretary-treasurer. For over two decades, he has been an active member of Local 13’s scholarship committee, helping to support and empower the next generation of skilled workers. His expertise and dedication to the trade earned him an appointment by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to the state’s Energy Transition Committee, where he contributes to shaping the future of energy policy.

Most recently, he served as a superintendent with Riggs Distler in New York, where he led a crew of Boilermakers in constructing internal components for windmills—showcasing the union’s critical role in advancing sustainable energy.

Currently, as an organizer and recruiter for the Northeast, Bland is leading a large-scale organizing campaign in Lynchburg, Virginia, and working to bring a cutting-edge technology equipment manufacturer into the Boilermaker family. He sees this as a pivotal opportunity for the union to secure equity and expand its presence in emerging industries.

Outside of his professional life, Bland enjoys camping, fishing and golf. However, his true passion lies in the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the Boilermakers. He views the members as family and is deeply committed to finding new opportunities to organize, advocate and fight for the rights and futures of his brothers and sisters in the trade.