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International Longshoremen's Association Local 1410
International Longshoremen's Association Local 1410 Officers & Staff
President Mark F. Bass has been a longshoreman and member of ILA Local 1410 for nearly 33 years. As a 5-term president, Mr. Bass serves as chair of all of the Local’s committees, co-chair to the MSSA-ILA Pension, Welfare, and Vacation Plans, and a Vice President for the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, ILA. Driven by his passion to serve others and to improve the lives and well-being of the workers of Local 1410, Mr. Bass takes NO DAYS OFF. He eats, sleeps, breathes, and bleeds ILA. President Bass takes the rich history of Local 1410 – and the communities where its workers, live, work, and play – very serious and very personal. It is his heart’s desire to move Local 1410 to the next level. He works diligently to cultivate a sense of pride for the ILA among the workers of the Local. When he is physically absent from the Local, President Bass is committed to the ILA’s solidarity and humanitarian mission to improve the lives of the working class in Africa and abroad.
Vice President James Dean has been a longshoreman with ILA Local 1410 since 2004. Prior to being elected as vice president, Mr. Dean served as the chief hiring delegate. Outside of the organization, Mr. Deans enjoys spending time with family and friends and simply living life. He takes pride in his belief that inside of him beats the heartbeat of a longshoreman – 24/7, 365. He joins the solidarity of so many other longshoremen. Mr. Dean is a dynamic illustration of being ILA strong.
Joseph Williams, Sr. is a member of ILA Local 1410 and serves as the financial secretary of the Local’s Executive Board. He has been a longshoreman since 1997. When he is not working in the field or handling the financial aspect of the Local, Mr. Williams enjoys spending time with his family.
Gail Patrick is a dual member of ILA Locals 1410 and 1459. She has been a longshoreman for nearly 20 years. Ms. Patrick is the Chief Hiring Delegate for the 1410 Hiring Center and serves as the recording secretary of the 1410 Executive Board. She is driven by her commitment to see others succeed in the longshore industry and spends countless hours doing what she loves – serving others. When she is able to escape the demands of the Local, she enjoys spending time with her mother and travelling.
Jimmie Laffitte, Sr. is a member of ILA Local 1410. He has been a longshoreman since 1974. He currently serves Local 1410 as a trustee, hiring delegate, and member of the audit committee. When he is not working in the craft, Mr. Laffitte enjoys going and ministering God’s Word.
Eric Bumpers is a trustee and member of ILA Local 1410. He has been a longshoreman with the Local for over 3 years. He also serves the Local as a hiring delegate. Prior to entering the longshore industry, Mr. Bumpers served our country as a member of the United States Air Force. He is a graduate of the Community Colleges of the Air Force, and he also attended Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Bumpers is a certified Executive Chef by trade. His free time is spent travelling and expanding his culinary arts experiences.
Timothy Cooke is a member of ILA Local 1410. He has been a longshoreman since 2015. He currently serves Local 1410 as a trustee. Outside of the organization, Mr. Cooke takes great pleasure in taking care of his elderly father and watching sports. They both love travelling and dressing to impress.
Kristopher Ware is a member of ILA Local 1410 and has been a longshoreman since 2016. He currently serves the Local as a member of the audit committee. When he is not working in the craft, Mr. Ware enjoys working on cars and spending time with his wife and son.
Joshua Laffitte is a member of ILA Local 1410. He has been a longshoreman for nearly 8 years. He currently serves Local 1410 as a hiring delegate. Outside of the organization, Mr. Laffitte
enjoys exercising, gaming, and travelling.
Misty Knight is the Executive Assistant to President Mark Bass and the Office Manager for the ILA Local 1410 Business Office. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Alabama (USA) in 2007. During her first year as a classroom teacher in the Mobile County Public Schools System (MCPSS), she continued her education at the University of West Alabama (UWA) where she received her Master of Education and Educational Specialist degrees in Elementary Education. In 2021, Ms. Knight received her Class A Professional Educator Certificate in Instructional Leadership from UWA also. She was employed by the MCPSS for over 14 years before exclusively committing her areas of expertise to Local 1410. For nearly 12 of those years, Ms. Knight worked diligently from the background assisting President Bass to resolve issues of the workers and the Local. She is a lifelong learner and does not mind sharing her God-given gifts with others.
When she is away from the organization, Ms. Knight enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, writing, and learning new things. She is a full-time problem solver, and she takes pride in anything that she commits to. If Ms. Knight does not have an answer for you, she will employ her strong research skills to get to the bottom of things.
Melisha Edwards has been employed by Local 1410 as the office assistant since December 2021. Outside of assisting with handling the business of the Local, Ms. Edwards enjoys spending time with her family.
