LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Kevin J. Donovan upon the occasion of
his retirement from the United Auto Workers after over 30 years of dedi-
cated service

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the efforts of those individuals who have distinguished them-
selves in service to the cause of working men and women in the State of
New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Kevin J. Donovan upon the occasion of his retirement from the United
Auto Workers after over 30 years of dedicated service; and
WHEREAS, Kevin J. Donovan began his career in 1971 when he was hired
as a press operator at the General Motors Tonawanda Forge at the age of
19; in 1976, he was elected to his first Union office for Local 846 of
the United Auto Workers; and
WHEREAS, Over the next few years, Kevin J. Donovan advanced in the
Union and held such offices as Trustee, Financial Secretary, Shop
Steward and eventually Local Union President in 1990, where his respon-
sibilities ranged from guarding the fiscal integrity of the Local Union
to administering both Local and National Collective Bargaining Agree-
ments; and
WHEREAS, An ardent proponent of worker involvement and empowerment in
the workplace, Kevin Donovan helped negotiate many local agreements that
instituted those concepts and brought about changes in the way the Union
and management at the General Motors Tonawanda Forge dealt with each
other; from these changes a mutual trust and respect developed between
the Union and management, which helped the plant survive many of General
Motor's plant closings in the 1980s and its subsequent sale to American
Axle; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Kevin J. Donovan was the Chairman of the United Auto
Workers National Negotiating Committee, which reached a historic first
agreement with American Axle; later that year, he was promoted by the
United Auto Workers International Union to Director of Education for
Region 9; and
WHEREAS, Kevin J. Donovan was promoted again the following year to
Area Director of Western New York for Region 9 and Western Pennsylvania;
in 2006, he was appointed as Assistant Director of Region 9 which encom-
passes New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, Kevin Donovan along with other Western New York Labor Lead-
ers, formed the Western New York AFL-CIO Economic Development Group in
1999 for the purpose of creating high road sustainable jobs in the
community; as its Chairman, he has led an initiative that renovates
inner city homes using underrepresented minority groups; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Kevin J. Donovan is the Chairman of its renewa-
ble energy company, whose purpose is to cut the cost of doing business
in Western New York in order to retain and create jobs; and
WHEREAS, Kevin J. Donovan has also served as the Co-Chair for the WNY
Relicensing Consensus Committee, which successfully negotiated with the
New York Power Authority to relicense the power plant in Lewiston, New
York; and
WHEREAS, While working full time and raising a family, Kevin J. Dono-
van returned to college and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
Information Systems Management with minors in Mathematics and Education
from the State University of New York College at Buffalo; and
WHEREAS, An alumnus of the Class of 1991 of Leadership Buffalo, Kevin
J. Donovan serves on numerous boards and committees throughout the

community; he has also taught Industrial Relation Seminars on "The
Changing World of Labor-Management Relations" for Cornell University,
the United Auto Workers, General Motors and American Axle; and
WHEREAS, For over 30 years, Kevin J. Donovan rendered faithful,
conscientious and valuable service to the United Auto Workers, earning
the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; and
WHEREAS, With Kevin J. Donovan throughout have been his wife of 34
years, Jane, and their three sons, Kevin, Jr., Kyle, and Joseph, all of
whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his
achievements; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for Kevin J. Donovan and to wish him
continued success in all of his future endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Kevin J. Donovan upon the occasion of his retirement from the
United Auto Workers after over 30 years of dedicated service; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Kevin J. Donovan.