The Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is constituted of representatives of public members and labor rights experts. The public members can be any state, city, county, local government agency, public school district, or federal government agency in the United States that procures apparel or other relevant products or services, pays the annual dues, and supports the mission and purpose of the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium.
Current Board of Directors of the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium:
Ian Robinson, President, labor expert, Ph.D., is a Lecturer and Research Scientist in the Department of Sociology and the Residential College of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Mr. Robinson's research includes work on ethical consumer demand for sweatshop-free apparel and the impacts of neoliberal economic restructuring on labor unions and the rights, wages and conditions of workers.
Hallie Albert, Secretary, public member, is Deputy Director of the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement for the City and County of San Francisco, California. Among other responsibilities, Ms. Albert liaises with San Francisco's Office of Contract Administration and Sweatfree Procurement Advisory Group, working together to implement San Francisco's Sweatfree Contracting Ordinance.
Cary Watters, Treasurer, public member, is the Sustainable Procurement Program Manager for the City of Portland, Oregon. Previously, she worked for the Portland Bureau of Transportation, first as Contract Equity Coordinator, then as Contracts Supervisor. As a Tlingit tribal member who grew up in Portland’s urban Native community, much of her previous work was grounded in cross-cultural climate justice movement building. Cary is passionate about centering frontline community solutions to build a regenerative economy for future generations.
Matthew Fischer-Daly, Member, labor expert, is an Assistant Research Professor at the Labor and Employment Relations School and Center for Workers' Rights at the Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Fischer-Daly's research includes labor regimes in global supply chains, especially in agriculture and manufacturing. He currently teaches courses on labor in the global economy, international and comparative employment relations, and US collective bargaining. He worked at the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) as coordinator of the Cotton Campaign to end forced labor in the cotton sector, 2012-2016. Previously, he worked at Social Accountability International, where he facilitated workshops on international labor standards for workers, managers, and private and public inspectors. He holds a Ph.D. in labor relations from Cornell University, an M.A. in international economic relations from American University, and a B.A. in political science and Spanish from the University of Michigan.
Liana Foxvog, Member, labor expert, is the Director of Supply Chain Strategies at the Worker Rights Consortium. Previously, she worked at the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) from 2010 until 2020, serving most recently as Director of Campaigns. In 2004, she joined SweatFree Communities as National Organizer, and coordinated ILRF's campaigns for workers' rights in the apparel industry after the program merged with ILRF. Ms. Foxvog has been interviewed extensively on advocacy for workplace safety and corporate accountability in the garment industry by national and international media outlets. She holds a Union Leadership and Administration Master's Degree in Labor Studies from the University of Massachusetts, where she teaches the Labor and the Global Economy course.
Yolanda Miller, Member, public member, in her role as Deputy Procurement Officer for the City of Austin, provides strong leadership for the staff responsible for procuring goods and services for the entire City. Her guidance and expertise ensure the smooth operation of the procurement process. Yolanda has held various executive positions in purchasing at several governmental and private agencies spanning over the past 25+ years, including managing areas including Contract Administration, Mail Services, Warehouse/ Central Receiving, Historically Underutilized Business Programs, Records Management, Purchasing Card Programs, Recruiting, and Retirement Programs. Her previous employers include Greenwood / Asher and Associates (Destin, FL), The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), The City of San Antonio, Louisville Water Company (KY), and ICMA Retirement Corporation.
Brian Swanson, Member, public member, is a Senior Management Analyst for the City of Los Angeles. He works for the Department of General Services' Supply Services Division, whose responsibility includes overseeing $600+ million in commodity purchases each year. As part of these efforts, Mr. Swanson and his team enforce the City of LA's Sweatfree Procurement Ordinance, which works to ensure commodity suppliers and their subcontractors are not denied labor rights, they are fairly compensated, and are afforded safe working conditions.
Stephen Wishart, Member, labor expert, is the Central American Director for the American Center for International Labor Solidarity, AFL-CIO (Solidarity Center). Previously, Mr. Wishart was a Strategic Affairs Coordinator for the Manufacturing, Distribution & Retail Division at the union UNITE HERE, where he directed the union’s Military Uniform Manufacturing and Federal Procurement Program, assisting in numerous organizing, anti-sweatshop, and labor rights campaigns. He also previously served as a Strategic Campaigner for the United Steelworkers of America, where he helped develop and instruct a contract and pattern bargaining campaign course to prepare union members for upcoming contract negotiations.