The Board of Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines has appointed Tony Blevins as the charity’s Director. Blevins, a longtime IAM leader and advocate for the IAM’s favorite charity, had been appointed as GDA | TLC’s President by IAM International President Brian Bryant on Jan. 1, 2025.
Blevins, now the GDA | TLC President and Director, served as the charity’s Assistant Director from November 2023 through 2024.
Throughout his career, Blevins has made GDA | TLC a central part of his professional and personal life. His tie was strengthened when his wife, Teresa, herself a GDA | TLC volunteer, lost her vision and has since relied on GDA | TLC guide dogs.
Blevins, a U.S. Marine Corps Enlisted and U.S. Army Officer veteran, is a 39-year IAM member who began his union career as an active member of IAM Local 2003 at Fort Novosel in Alabama. He would go on to serve as District 75 Business Representative, Southern Territory International Representative and Aerospace Coordinator before being appointed Special Assistant to the International President.
“Tony knows first-hand the impact of a guide dog on the lives of countless families,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “His passion for the IAM, as well as GDA | TLC, is taking our favorite charity to even greater heights as we continue to serve our communities.”
Gittlen’s career leading GDA | TLC will be remembered for growing the charity to not only serve the blind and visually impaired community, but also military veterans with PTSD and children with autism. He expanded the fundraising reach of GDA | TLC to not only grow events within the IAM, but also with well-known personas who have helped make the charity a national name.
Gittlen joined the IAM as a UPS mechanic and has been an active member for nearly four decades. He became a shop steward at UPS in 1990 and was appointed as a Local 447 Business Representative in 2000. He would go on to serve as District 15’s New England Area Director.
“Russ will forever be known as someone who took GDA | TLC to a completely new level of service,” said Bryant. “On behalf of our entire union, and the many families he has helped throughout the years, we are incredibly grateful for his leadership of GDA | TLC.”
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