After a storied career advancing education for thousands of IAM members, Winpisinger Center Director Mary McHugh has announced that she will retire, effective Jan. 1, 2026. IAM International President Brian Bryant has announced that Julie Frietchen, currently the IAM’s Women’s and Young Workers Director, will succeed McHugh as the Winpisinger Center’s director.
McHugh, the center’s fifth director and the first woman to hold the position, served 18 years as the Winpisinger Center’s assistant director starting in 2006 before becoming director in 2022. She joined the IAM in 1995 as an associate general counsel.
“Mary has been a dedicated leader and a driving force behind the success of the Winpisinger Center,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Her commitment to ensuring IAM members are equipped with the necessary skills has been invaluable. I want to thank her personally for her dedication to our union.”
McHugh played a key role in adapting the center’s programs to meet the evolving needs of the workforce.
“The Winpisinger Center is a special place because of the IAM members who learn with and from each other here,” said McHugh. “It’s been my privilege to have spent so many years working with remarkable people all striving for justice and dignity on the job and in our communities.”
Frietchen, an IAM member for over 30 years, served as an education representative at the Winpisinger Center before leading the IAM’s Women’s and Young Workers Departmentsince 2022.
“Julie is a passionate advocate for workers and a dedicated educator,” Bryant said. “Her experience and leadership will continue strengthening the Winpisinger Center’s mission of empowering IAM members.”
Frietchen began her IAM career as a Continental Airlines flight attendant in Cleveland and held leadership positions within IAM Local 2339 and District 142. She has a bachelor’s degree in labor studies from the National Labor College and a master’s degree in work and labor policy from SUNY Empire State University.
She also played a key role in the IAM’s Leadership Assembly of Dedicated Sisters (LEADS) program.
“I am honored to step into this role and build on the incredible foundation laid by Mary McHugh and the late Chris Wagoner before her,” said Frietchen. “The Winpisinger Center is a cornerstone of our union’s education and leadership development, and I look forward to continuing its vital work.”
McHugh’s retirement concludes a career focused on labor education and advocacy. Frietchen’s appointment signals the IAM’s ongoing commitment to member development.
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