The Boy Scouts of America Pathway to Adventure Council is honored to recognize Mr. Bill Niesman, Business Manager of IBEW Local 9, with the George Meany Award on Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 for his service to the community and the working families in our union trades.

Bill Niesman joined IBEW Local 9 in 1989 following in his father and grandfather's footsteps. All three are named Bill Niesman - the family is not too creative when it comes to names. Bill graduated from the American Line Builders Apprentice Training (ALBAT) program in 1993 and worked as a journeyman lineman for various contractors installing, maintaining, and climbing ComEd poles as well as high voltage tower lines. In 1995, Bill hired on at the City of Naperville and continued his career in Naperville as a lineman and trouble man for ten years. In his time there, Bill became the steward, and began as an instructor teaching the apprenticeship class at the IBEW Local 9 MSECA Training Center and for the City of Naperville

In 2004 Bill accepted a position as an assistant business manager for Local 9 at the request of his friend and mentor Bob Pierson. Bill became Business Manager in January of 2016 when Bob retired. Since becoming business manager, under Bill's leadership Local 9 has grown its membership over 28%. Bringing their numbers up from 2,150 to just under 3,000 members.

Business Manager Niesman serves as the Secretary Trustee of the IBEW Local 9 MSECA Health and Welfare and Pension plans, chairman for the Local 9 Line Clearance Health and Welfare and Pension plans and as a trustee for the Local 9 MSECA Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee. Bill also proudly serves as an Executive Board member of the Chicago Federation of Labor and was appointed Chairman of the Illinois IBEW State Conference Executive Board.

Bill established the IBEW Local 9 Charity Fund and currently serves as President/Director. The Fund holds an annual golf outing that supports numerous charities such as Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, West Cook County Boys and Girls Club, Special Olympics, and Operation Support our Troops America. Local 9 and its membership believe it is paramount to give back to the communities their members work and live in throughout Cook, Will, Kankakee and Grundy counties.

Bill's proudest accomplishments all revolve around his family. His wife Dawn of 27 years, his oldest son Will (22) now a #9 apprentice lineman, daughter Megan (20) and his youngest son Kyle (18). Without their support, love and understanding Business Manager Niesman would not be able to have the career that he loves and believes in so much