Wendy comes from a union family, walking her first picket line with her father (a leader with Local 180 Carpenters Union) at the age of five. Walking with families on that line made her understand that the labor movement was about workers sticking together to fight for their rights. Her dad instilled in her the idea that the only way to win fair wages and pension benefits was through a union job, and that you never cross a picket line.  She joined the staff of Council 57 in July 2016 after nearly twenty years in the labor movement.  Wendy grew up in the Fairfield- Suisun area of Solano County, working for thirteen years in the school district that both she and her children attended. 

During her time as a rank and file leader at CSEA she worked as a lost-time organizer on numerous campaigns including CAUSE (California Advocates Unite to Save Education) in coalition with other unions, politicians and community groups. Wendy’s first staff union job was with AFSCME Local 3299, where she represented workers at the UC Davis medical system, training new leaders to empower themselves through organizing and representation.