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Las Vegas, Nevada - Delegates to the National Treasury Employees Union's (NTEU) 47' National Convention have overwhelmingly elected Colleen M. Kelley to lead the nation's largest independent federal sector union.

Kelley, who becomes NTEU national president after service as the union's national executive vice president, received 93 percent of the votes cast. Kelley said she is "grateful for the support and confidence of the NTEU membership," as she assumes the union presidency from outgoing long-term president Robert M. Tobias. She said her campaign for the union's top job was based on a theme of unity in which the energy and commitment of every member and leader of NTEU is directed at the common goal of bettering the lives of federal employees.

She will address convention delegates for the first time as National President on Thursday, August 5th.

The newly elected NTEU National President is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She served as an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent for 14 years. She joined the IRS following her graduation from Drexel University with a degree in accounting. She also holds an MBA and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Kelley, who worked closely with outgoing President Tobias, has spearheaded NTEU's efforts on many fronts to help achieve the dignity and respect federal employees deserve. These .include the union's historic and successful effort more than a year ago to provide IRS customer service employees with increased pay and career opportunities.

She serves on the IRS Modernization Executive Steering Committee, a body that under law has oversight responsibilities for the massive IRS restructuring currently underway. She served on the IRS Executive Planning Board, with responsibilities for IRS budgets and spending plans, and has chaired NTEU's bargaining teams in both the IRS and the Customs Service.

Kelley has been an NTEU member since 1974. She served in virtually all leadership positions in Chapter 34 (IRS Pittsburgh), and became NTEU's Director of Membership and Benefits Programs in 1988, the position she held prior to her election as National Executive Vice President.

Ferris, who delegates elected National Executive Vice President, has served NTEU in a variety of capacities. Most recently as Director of Negotiations, he worked closely with newly elected National President Kelley on a wide range of contracts and agreements.