Dear OCEA Member,
Each year, OCEA’s Board of Directors and staff celebrate our stewards with an end-of-year awards ceremony to honor their collective achievements and recognize outstanding individuals who stepped up in big ways for their co-workers and the union.
OCEA stewards are the heart and soul of the Orange County Employees Association. They are the few who act for many. They are the workplace leaders who fight for fairness, safety, stronger standards, and higher wages.
2025 was the year OCEA showed up everywhere. At bargaining tables across Orange County, our teams fought for better wages and working conditions in more than a dozen cities, districts, and the Superior Court. We showed up in Sacramento multiple times to advocate for worker protections. We protected retirement security. We held the County accountable. And more than 4,400 of you completed the 2026 County Negotiations Survey—the highest response in OCEA history.
In the spirit of the season, OCEA wants to express our gratitude for our incredible stewards by simply saying—WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO OCEA AND THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN 2025.
Below are the winners of the 2025 OCEA President’s Award, which recognizes leaders who demonstrate outstanding service and dedication to their fellow members:
Aine Eisenhauer
City of Seal Beach
Aine is a core member of our Seal Beach team and a consistent leader in every negotiations cycle. This year was no exception. She came fully prepared with her own research, awareness of citywide contract developments, and an understanding of the concerns and priorities of the members she represents. Aine is never afraid to step up and lead, and she is someone our team can always rely on. She is a trusted and respected voice not only within the union but with the City as well. Having her on our team is an invaluable asset.
Chrystal Weyker
Garden Grove City Employees Association
Although Chrystal had previously been elected to serve on the Board, this was her first time stepping into the high-pressure role of a negotiations team member. She came to the table fully prepared, armed with a thick binder, detailed research, and a deep commitment to her co-workers. It was a tough negotiations cycle, but Chrystal’s readiness, persistence, and steady voice made a meaningful difference.
Dan Napier
Newport Beach Employees League
Shortly after being nominated as NBEL’s President, Dan sprang into action. He played an integral part on this year’s negotiations team by not only helping to secure a historic contract, but by being the driving voice during membership meetings leading up to a 100% ratification vote.
Dana Saucedo
Garden Grove City Employees Association
Dana has served as President of GGCEA for over fourteen years, always prioritizing the members and the association over herself. She is committed to their best interests and has never lost faith in the cause, even when facing hardships with the City. She has shown her dedication time and time again, leading her members in contract negotiations and even showing support for other units’ actions outside of her own obligations.
Jose Alvarado
Irvine City Employees Association
Jose serves as President of ICEA and is truly a representative for the employees. He always makes himself accessible to hear their concerns. Jose goes above and beyond, cultivating strong relationships with the City to ensure he can effectively advocate on behalf of members. There is virtually nothing happening within the City that he isn’t aware of; he is constantly working behind the scenes to secure better wages, stronger benefits, and a positive work environment for all employees.
Joseph Arrocha
Public Defender
Joe has been an OCEA steward since 2024, and in that short amount of time he has shown time and again what it means to be a workplace leader. He is a strong advocate for his co-workers and was one of the first stewards to volunteer to host a membership meeting in his workplace. Joe is always willing to answer the call when OCEA members need him.
Julie Reynolds and Shantel Collins
Huntington Beach Municipal Employees Organization
Julie and Shantel are always working together to create change for HBMEO members. They are also rarely seen apart. Inseparable enough to get a joint-nomination, these two also work together in Huntington Beach’s police department. Julie and Shantel were key players in gathering input from the membership and collaborating with the entire negotiations team amidst a difficult time at the negotiations table—an effort that would ultimately lead to ratifying their tentative agreement.
Kenya Walton
Sheriff’s Department
Kenya is a Cook in the Sheriff’s Department and has been active organizing her co-workers into a committee. This committee has advocated for fair treatment and better wages for her and her co-workers. In addition to being an active workplace leader, she has also helped on numerous membership recruitment events and candidate canvassing.
Maria Ruiz
Superior Court
Maria has been an OCEA member for 26 years and a steward for the last six years. She has served on multiple negotiations teams and helped negotiate our last two historic contracts. Her experience and levelheaded approach make her an ideal workplace leader who co-workers can trust.
Mike Carreon
Yorba Linda Water District
Mike has served as President of one of our newest groups and is dedicated to his co-workers at the Yorba Linda Water District. Mike leads in partnership with his board to ensure the members are educated and heard. Mike proactively meets with the management of YLWD to address workplace issues. Mike is a great union leader, and an advocate for his co-workers.
Nicole Bovey
Laguna Beach Municipal Employees Association
Nicole leads by example, serving her co-workers as President of the Laguna Beach Municipal Employees Association, one of OCEA’s newest affiliates this year. Advocating on behalf of municipal employees across the county, she made an impactful speech during public comment at an Orange City Council meeting.
Robert Gonzalez
Costa Mesa City Employees Association
Robert joined the Costa Mesa Employees Association Board shortly after being hired in 2014 and became President just two years later. Since then, he has been a fearless advocate for his members: championing numerous class and compensation studies that resulted in significant increases for members, managing a 15-person Board, and leading negotiations for his group this year. As he steps down after more than a decade of service, we extend our deepest gratitude for his unwavering commitment, leadership, and dedication to the employees of Costa Mesa.
Suzette Smith
Health Care Agency
Suzette is a consistent, dedicated presence in all facets of OCEA. From supporting her team at the Public Guardian to serving as a delegate to the Orange County Labor Federation and attending many union events, Suzette is there to uplift workers from all walks of life.
Thanh Nghi Nguyen
County Executive Office
When faced with difficult working conditions, Thanh Nghi helped lead her co-workers to advocate for themselves and escalate their concerns. Alongside the Outreach and Engagement organizing committee, she expressed the team’s dedication to their crucial positions all the way up to the Board of Supervisors. She has been a consistent workplace leader for her group throughout various challenges.
Please join us in congratulating this year’s recipients!
In Solidarity,
Maria Corona
OCEA First-Vice President
