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Matt Gugala is the President/Business Manager of SMART Local 265. Matt has been in the sheet metal trade since 1995 and was accepted to the apprentice program in September of 2002. Through a well-rounded background, Matt has worked on various projects from residential sheet metal to custom fabrication, commercial/industrial service, and Test and Balance. He was the local 265 TABB night instructor, among his various certifications, attained the NEBB CP, and was a subject matter expert in developing the ITI’s TABB Supervisor test. Matt’s desire to ensure working people are treated with dignity in the workplace drove him to apply for the organizing position in 2016. Matt was elected in 2022 as the Financial Secretary Treasure/Business Representative, and elected to President/Business Manager in June of 2024.

Kevin Galass the Financial Secretary, Treasurer and Business Representative for SMART Local 265. He began his Sheet Metal career in the Fall of 1995 as a Pre-Apprentice. During this time, he has served as Conductor, an Executive Board member, Business Representative for the southern jurisdiction of Local 265, and was elected to the position of Financial Secretary/Treasurer/Business Representative (DuPage) in june of 2024. 

Kevin has worked for multiple contractors over his career that awarded him the opportunity to work in a variety of sectors of the Sheet Metal Industry. These opportunities have given Kevin a great insight of the life struggles and success’s that the members of SMART Local 265 see on daily basis. One of Kevin’s many priority’s is to always fight for a Fair Wage, good Health Insurance and a Pension that gives a member the ability to retire with dignity. Thru a strong Brotherhood and Sisterhood bond these values will help ensure members will have successful Sheet Metal career and the ability provide a good quality of life for them and their families.

When Kevin is not at work he enjoys spending time with his wife and their two kids. They enjoy most outdoor activities but, their favorites being camping, fishing, and relaxing on the boat.

Brian McSherry is a Business Representative of SMART Local 265. Since entering the industry in 1988, Brian has worked in the Commercial HVAC Sector working in the Shop fabricating and in the Field as a Foreman on Tenant Buildouts to New Construction Projects. Brian has held positions as an elected officer of Local 265, Sergeant of Arms and Recording Secretary and served as an Organizer for 9 years with the last 2 years as the Subsidized Organizer. Brian has also served as President of the Elgin Trade Council and currently is a Delegate and Recording Secretary of Fox Valley Building Trades Council and a Delegate to the DuPage County Building Trades Council. Brian serves as an Trustee for the Local Pension and LMCC Board. Outside of work, he enjoys Golfing, Cubs Baseball and spending time with his wife Ellen and their Kids and Grandkids.

Brian started his career as a Local 265 Sheet Metal Worker in the summer of 2000, shortly after graduating from Providence Catholic High School. While serving his apprenticeship, Brian represented Local 265 at the International Apprentice Contest for four consecutive years. Over the next decade, he made his living performing a wide variety of sheet metal facets; from industrial work at nuclear facilities to copper cupolas on a house to miles of ductwork in an office building. In 2019 Brian was appointed to the Workforce Development Team for Local 265 where he worked tirelessly with the entire staff to ensure that fairness is owed to all workers. In 2022 Brian was elected Business Representative in the South. Brian enjoys spending the time away from work with his wife and two boys.

Ron Mika Jr. is a Business Representative for SMART Local 265. He is also a delegate for Elgin, McHenry, and Fox Valley Building Trades Councils. He started at a small vent shop doing mostly residential. After becoming a journeyman, Ron made the transition from residential to commercial and tenant buildouts, eventually running work for one of the largest commercial vent shops in Local 265. He then went on to be an assistant to the operation manager at another large vent shop. Ron has worked on everything from restaurant projects to large commercial high rises in Chicago. After nearly 30 years in the field, he was appointed as an Organizer for Local 265 and then elected as Recording Secretary. In 2022, Ron was elected as a Business Representative for the North. Outside of work, Ron is an accomplished hot rod and truck builder, and enjoys spending time with his wife and kids.

Tom Syron is a Business Representative for the southern jurisdiction of SMART Local 265. Tom comes from a Union family; he is the son of a Union Sheet Metal Worker and a father of a Union Sheet Metal Worker. Along with many uncles and family friends in the trade. Tom’s career started in 1992 working for an architectural sheet metal company. He eventually migrated into the commercial HVAC construction side and worked for some of the smallest to some of the largest contractors. Along the way he was fortunate to work with many outstanding Sheet Metal Workers that helped him become the mechanic he is today. In 2002 he opened his own signatory HVAC company that specialized in commercial construction. After about 5 years of doing that, he decided to throw in the towel and go back to work for a large mechanical contractor in our area. There, he ran many complex projects from commercial construction, industrial, food processing, large retrofit projects, and service work. He earned the nick name “Quality Control” as he was known for his leadership of his crew and their attention to detail, quality, and craftmanship. Tom was elected trustee in June 2021 and appointed Subsidized Organizer in September of 2022, and then elected Business Representative in June of 2024.

Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his wife, working on his Pontiac, and spending time with their four adult children.

Jay Jones started his apprenticeship in the sheet metal industry in 2000 with Local 115, right after graduating high school.  Two years later Local 115 merged with Local 265, where he finished his apprenticeship and became a journeyperson. Jay worked in the production/sign sector of the trade for 20 plus years and then moved to the Building Trades sector where he worked primarily in the architectural disciple. Jay hopes to use his knowledge and experience to help pursue new growth in all segments of the sheet metal industry.  

Jay has always wanted to earn his keep, embracing new technologies and taking continuing education courses throughout his career. He served as a union steward for fifteen years and was elected as the production trustee in 2009, serving nearly four terms. Jay was elected as recording secretary in June of 2022 and appointed to the workforce development team as an organizer in July of 2022. He is sure to combine his attention to detail with his high level of energy to help grow our local union.  

Jay was raised understanding the value of unions and the power of collective bargaining to provide fair wages, quality healthcare and the ability to retire with dignity after a long career. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, traveling, playing and coaching softball.

Mike Powers is a member of the Workforce Development team at SMART Local 265.  Mike has been in the sheet metal trade since 2004, he was accepted into the apprenticeship program in September of 2006.  Mike spent the entirety of his field time in the architectural sector, working on various size projects from custom homes to high rise exteriors.  He was elected to the Sergeant at Arms position in June of 2015 and then Trustee in 2018.  During September of 2022, Mike was appointed to the Workforce Development team of SMART Local 265. 

Mike holds a firm belief that all trade workers should have a living wage and benefits available to them, it is this idea that motivates him to organize and inform undervalued workers of the advantages of collective bargaining.

Mike is a music and art enthusiast who enjoys spending his time away from work with his wife and two children.