Local 6
Rich Maroko
President of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, AFL-CIO; Business Manager of Hotel, Gaming, Restaurant, Club Employees & Bartenders Union, Local 6 UNITE HERE.
Throughout his more than 20 years at HTC, Rich has distinguished himself as a fierce negotiator and tireless advocate for workers. He has developed an exceptionally effective strategic approach to fighting for our members. As a result, under his leadership, our union has achieved the best contracts in our nearly 100-year history and passed laws that have a tangible impact the lives of hotel and gaming workers across our region.
As President, Rich is the chief executive officer of our union.
Local 6 Officers
Vanessa Meade
HTC Recording Secretary | Local 6 PresidentVanessa began working as a Room Attendant at the Vista Hotel in 1982. She was soon elected as a union delegate by the co-workers in her department. When a terrorist bomb at the World Trade Center destroyed part of the Vista Hotel in 1993, she went to the union's headquarters to help find jobs for her coworkers. She became a Business Agent in 1994, a Vice President of Local 6 in 1997 and Executive Vice President in 2003. In 2020, she became Recording Secretary for the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.
Joe Messineo
Secretary-Treasurer of Local 6 | Delegate to the Enlarged CouncilJoe Messineo is the Secretary-Treasurer of Local 6 and Regional Director of the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council. Joe joined the union's legal department in 2008 and today, supervises our contract enforcement department. Over the last 20 years, Joe has played a key role in grievance handling, contract negotiations, countless mediation and arbitration cases, and workplace investigations. Throughout his career, Joe has been recognized as tough in grievance meetings, strategic in negotiations, eloquent and trusted by our members, and overall, incredibly committed to our union. Joe became an elected officer of the union in 2020 and was elected as the Secretary-Treasurer of Local 6 in 2022.
Steve Miller
HTC Vice President | Local 6 Executive Vice PresidentVice President of the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council and Executive Vice President of Local 6, UNITE HERE. Steve has been working for unions his entire adult life.
Eddie Cedeño
HTC Vice President | Local 6 Senior Vice PresidentEddie serves as a Senior Vice President of Local 6, HTC Vice President, and HTC Regional Director.
Hazel Hazzard
HTC Vice President | Local 6 Vice PresidentVice President of the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council and Local 6, UNITE HERE, Hazel Hazzard began working as a Room Attendant at the Four Seasons Hotel when it opened in 1993.
Marie Richard
Local 6 Vice President | Delegate to the Enlarged CouncilJoining the Union in 1986 as a Room Attendant at the Westin Grand Central, Marie went on to work at the Hyatt Grand Central in 1988, where she became a Delegate in 2002. Her Business Agent at the time, Hazel Hazzard, remembers a “troublemaker” and “strong Delegate” who spear- headed a successful work stoppage in 2003, when the hotel’s cooling tower began spewing toxic mist onto East 42nd Street. On the heels of her success organizing co-workers against an unsafe work environment, Marie was called upon to travel to Washington, D.C., where she helped Local 25 hospitality workers win the strongest renewal contract in their history. Marie was recruited as a Business Agent upon her return to New York City, and she has spent the last 20 years defending the contractual rights of thousands of HTC members, including at the Wyndham New Yorker where she staged a work stoppage in 2013 to protest unsafe asbestos removal. In 2024, Marie was appointed as a Local 6 Vice President. “For the last 20 years, Marie has been an exceptionally effective Business Agent and respected and beloved by the members she represents. It's my honor to appoint Marie as a Local 6 Vice President,” remarked Rich Maroko.
Harry Rygor
Local 6 Vice President | Delegate to the Enlarged CouncilLocal 6 Trustees
Nicole Aigoro
Local 6 Trustee | Delegate to the Enlarged Council | Valet Attendant at the New York Hilton
Kazi Hossain
Local 6 Trustee | Delegate to the Enlarged Council | Room Service Waiter at Park Lane
Jay Laut
Local 6 Trustee | Banquet Captain at Pierre | Banquet Server at Waldorf AstoriaLocal 6 Executive Board
Kwame Adu
Local 6 Executive Board | Houseperson at Club Wyndham Midtown 45
Francisco Avalos
Local 6 Executive Board | Delegate to the Enlarged Council | Banquet Captain at the New York Hilton
Yolette Baptiste
Local 6 Executive Board | Room Attendant at the Stewart
Aissata Bocoum
Local 6 Executive Board | Room Attendant at Waldorf Astoria
Alba Brito Ventura
Local 6 Executive Board | Room Attendant at Hyatt Centric Times Square New York
Crystal Chamber
Local 6 Executive Board | Room Attendant at New York Edition
Christellia David
Local 6 Executive Board | Room Attendant at New York Edition
Jason Donnelly
Local 6 Executive Board | Table Games Dealer at del Lago Resort & Casino
Rene Gomez
Local 6 Executive Board | Ground Control at Yotel Times Square
Rafael Gorritz
Local 6 Executive Board | Banquet Server at InterContinental Barclay | Banquet Server at New York Hilton
Sal Marciante
Local 6 Executive Board | Banquet Server at the InterContinental Times Square
Shirin Mistry
Local 6 Executive Board | Front Desk Agent at Hilton Albany
Rafelina Moreno
Local 6 Executive Board | Banquet Server at InterContinental Times Square | Banquet Server at Plaza
Vivienne Morgan
Local 6 Executive Board | Turndown Attendant at the Westin Grand Central
Yu-Kai Ni
Local 6 Executive Board | Houseperson at Marriott Vacation Club Pulse
Erik Owusu
Local 6 Executive Board | Banquet Houseperson at the Hyatt Regency Times Square
Judith Seemungal
Local 6 Executive Board | Delegate to the Enlarged Council | Turndown Attendant at the Carlyle
Kyaw Soe
Local 6 Executive Board | House Attendant at the Eventi
Yanela Tamayo
Local 6 Executive Board | Banquet Server at Conrad New York Downtown
Ana Taveras
Local 6 Executive Board | Room Attendant at Residence Inn Newark Elizabeth Liberty International Airport
Ha Chhao Yi
Local 6 Executive Board | Delegate to the Enlarged Council | Turndown Attendant at W Times SquareAdditional members of Local 6 Executive Board: Nicole Landano
Local 6 Delegate Assembly
Eliyahu Abrahaim
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Porter at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway
Otoniel Acevedo
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the Conrad New York Downtown
Williams Adjei
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Hilton Fashion District
Hawa Aglonu
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Laundry Attendant at Courtyard Fifth Avenue
Paul Vincent Agoncillo
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Chef de Partie at the Baccarat
Naji Almontaser
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Captain at New York Hilton
Hewan Anderson
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Waiter at University Club
Jairo Arcila
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Sheraton New York Times Square
Yilmaz Atmaca
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at the Dominick | Beverage Server at Waldorf Astoria
Rosa Barahona-Granados
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Row NYC
Michelle Bartley
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at the Marriott Marquis
Eduardo Bermudez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at Hyatt Regency Jersey City
Edward Berry
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Door Attendant at Time
Enock Boakye
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Steward at InterContinental Barclay | Steward at Peninsula
Robert Borriello
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Dealer III at Resorts World Catskills
Juan Calderon Jr
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Bell Captain at M Social Times Square
Clinton Castillo
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Service Server at Park Hyatt
Tsering Chonden
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Four Seasons New York Downtown
Jewel Chowdhury
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at Pierre
Joinal Chowdhury
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Barback at NYAC
Bobby Crowder
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Andaz 5th Avenue
Christopher Davis
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Chef Tournant at Carlyle
Juan Diaz
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the Lucerne
Juan Dieguez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Steward at Lotte Palace
Yeshi Dolma
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at NoMo SoHo
Steven Eugene
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Housekeeping Aide at Marriott Brooklyn Bridge | House Attendant at EVEN Hotel Brooklyn
Rafael Fernandez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Locker Room Attendant at Lotte Palace
Felix Ferreira
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at the Marriott Downtown
Fernando Galicia
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Prep Cook at the Boathouse
Jose Garcia
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Engineer at Residence Inn White Plains Westchester County
Lorena Garcia
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Hyatt Centric Times Square New York
Armando Garcia
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Doorperson at Conrad New York Downtown
Tamer Gendy
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at the Four Seasons
Gisett Gomez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Holiday Inn Express Albany Downtown
Nelson Guadalupe
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at Millennium Hilton One UN Plaza
Francisco Guerrero
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Doorperson at the Plaza
Felix Hang
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Laundry Attendant at St.Regis
Aida Hernandez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at the New Yorker
Darryl Jackson
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the Park Lane
Dana Jackson
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Cook III at Hyatt Regency Jersey City
Audrey James
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at the Lexington
Neil Johnson
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Doorperson at the Plaza
Alonzo Jones
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Romer's Hells Kitchen
Ben Horn Kaon
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at The Wallace
Venci Karlic
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at the Mandarin Oriental
Josefina Kinnee
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Hyatt Regency Morristown
James Kirkland
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Omni Berkshire Place
Edmundo Lopez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Bellperson at InterContinental Times Square
Sonia Louis
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Sheraton Parsippany
Said Mankor
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the Marriott Marquis
Paul Martin
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Loews Regency
John Marzullo
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Cook at Union Club
David McCalla
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at W Times Square
Kenneth Mcqueen
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at Rainbow Room
Doris Medina
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Utility Steward at Thompson Central Park
Ralph Mendez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Door Attendant at Sheraton New York Times Square
Dean Mitchell
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Steward at JW Marriott Essex House
Alfredo Morales
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Houseperson at the New York Hilton
Petruta Muset
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Service Server at InterContinental Times Square
Mohammed Mutawakil
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the Westin Times Square
Jenny Ngai
Delegate Assembly | Amenity Runner at Trump International Tower & Hotel
Desiree Norris
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at the St.Regis
Rafael Nunez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the Carlyle
Christopher Pagillo
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Peace Officer at NYRA
Luis Perez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Hyatt Regency Times Square
Remigio Perez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Bus Attendant at Hyatt Grand Central New York
Tshering Phenthok
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Quin Central Park by Hilton Club
Mohammed Pinto
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Bellperson at Loews Regency
Zumreta Pupovic
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at the Concorde
Howard Redford
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at the Mandarin Oriental
Oscar Rodriguez
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the Westin Grand Central
Wilfredo Roldan
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Tournant Chef at Plaza | Cook at Sheraton New York Times Square
Maria Rosario
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Club Wyndham Midtown 45
Yira Rosario
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at TWA
Ted Rose
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Laundry Attendant at Sheraton New York Times Square
Alberto Ruiz
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Lead Slot Attendant at Resorts World NYC
Charles Safo
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Park Central
Basirah Sayyid
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at the Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Zoila Shafik
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Marriott Marquis
Chandra Singh
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at the Mandarin Oriental
Robert Soto
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Slot Attendant at Resorts World Catskills
Jean Robert St Aude
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Sheraton New York Times Square
Beverley Stroud-Roach
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Carlyle
Colin Taylor
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Cook at Millennium Broadway Times Square
Jigme Thasur
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Quin Central Park by Hilton Club
John Tincani
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at Pierre
Manuel Tirado
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the William Vale
Ada Velez-Escalera
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at the New York Hilton
Migmar Wangdu
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Ace
Michael Williams
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at the Marriott Marquis
Annmarie Wilson
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Ink 48
Xiao Hong Wu
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Henn na New York
Nancy Zhang
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Room Attendant at Hilton Garden Inn 35th Street
Calvin Yeung
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Houseperson at Ludlow
Davorka Zulj
Local 6 Delegate Assembly | Banquet Server at Rainbow RoomAdditional members of Local 6 Delegate Assembly: Oliver Barrett, Luis Borrell, Odette Campbell, Ming Chen, James Langton, Stanley Marte, Ovis Navarro, Alexis Rodriguez, Ana Santiago, Jessica Tsementzis, Joe Zheng