Dear OCEA Member,
OCEA is governed by 19 volunteers elected by their peers to serve on our Board of Directors. These are the union members who step up to lead, who give their time and energy to represent their fellow workers, and who guide the direction of our organization.
Each year, OCEA recognizes one Board member who has gone above and beyond in service to the union. The Distinguished Board Member Award is our way of honoring exceptional leadership among our elected leaders.
This year, we are proud to announce that the 2025 OCEA Distinguished Board Member Service Award goes to Jennifer Morgan.
Jennifer has been with the Superior Court since 1999. She became an OCEA member almost from day one. In 2004 she became a steward—that’s more than 20 years of workplace leadership. She has served on multiple Court negotiations teams over the years, helping secure the contracts that protect her co-workers.
Jennifer was appointed to the Board of Directors in September 2021. Since then, she has served on the Budget Committee and Scholarship Committee. Earlier this year, she was elected Treasurer and now serves on the Executive Committee.
But where Jennifer really shines is in political action.
Jennifer has served as Chair of OCEA’s Political Action Committee for over a decade. For more than ten years, she has guided how OCEA engages in the political arena—presiding over more than 100 political contributions and attending dozens of fundraising events on behalf of OCEA members.
She represents OCEA in rooms full of elected officials and candidates. She builds relationships in Orange County and Sacramento. Most importantly, she makes sure the people who make decisions about public employees know who we are and what we stand for.
Jennifer was recently presented her award at our 2025 OCEA Steward Awards. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition.
In Solidarity,
Maria Corona
OCEA First-Vice President
A previous email announcing our President’s Award winners did not include one recipient:
Joe Avila, Orange Municipal Employees Association
During his time as President of OMEA, Joe led the fight in a particularly difficult round of negotiations. He mobilized his membership several times, often filling city council chambers, while speaking truth to power during public comment. Joe unflinchingly stood up to the City Council and demanded the respect and dignity that his members deserve. Joe’s leadership exemplifies the spirit of the labor movement.
Additionally, Garden Grove City Employees Association President Dana Saucedo was listed as a President’s Award recipient. She was instead the first-time recipient of the Distinguished Affiliate Member Service Award.
Thank you to these leaders for their service to the working families of Orange County!
