Bio of Desiree M. Gambos, Union Partner, Representative & Liaison

On behalf of Union President, Jeff Michaelson and myself, I'd like to wish you a very satisfying, productive and happy new year. As a Union, we are well on our way to implementing and maintaining a strong brotherhood in solidarity of all employees everywhere, in whichever industry. It is the workers who matter in a world of CEO's, minimum wage increases with decreased work hours and people losing their Housing Vouchers. We are the many with one voice and, through the partnership of myself and Jeff, we will be heard.

Currently engaged to be married while I complete Jewish Conversion classes, myself and Jeff have known each other since 2011, and our relationship is stronger than ever now that we are working closely, everyday, for hours on end, to make sure that you receive the proper representation. I am in charge of all of the Administration, Social Media Marketing, Representation and am the Liaison between members and Mr. Michaelson, answering calls and managing his time. All blogs are done by myself as well as all the Tweets, which is where I communicate with you and the world to broaden our perspective and make others aware and support those working for the cause of Labor Rights. I have been creating spreadsheets, maintaining the website, sitting in on Union Meetings, and will be creating and designing more features to move us forward in our goals.

My background is in Real Estate and Graphic Design, having graduated from Pasadena City College and California Brokers Institute. I have also taken Paralegal classes after representing myself, with Jeff's assistance, in Family Law. I litigate on behalf of my child and myself. As a worker, I have been employed by Bank of America as a Telephone Banker, which gave me rigorous training in Customer Service, which I hope to pass to you in my service in the Union. I have been in the Real Estate industry as a Loan Processor and Agent, so I understand negotiations and demands. My experience in Sales makes me a great communicator and taught me confidence. Most recently, I have been self employed as a Social Media Marketer, through my company, i-Dezign, which Jeff has found to be quite beneficial in my support in building the website and our internet presence.

Most importantly, I am a worker who is disabled. As a stutterer since childhood, I know that I'm in good company. I was recently diagnosed with Spinal Arthritis and Scoliosis and struggle with pain everyday. I was raised by a single, Hispanic, mother in East L.A. in the 1980's, who worked and also received government benefits and housing, as I grew up in Scattered Sites conventional housing. My refuge and escape in my youth was the fact that I was in the Gifted and Talented program which exposed me to expanded learning opportunities such as learning DOS computer language in the Third grade, orchestral music (I'm a woodwind), museums and art, such as The Huntington and Andy Warhol's commercial art; my recognized talent was English Communication. In High School, I was in Honors English, having graduated a year early to attend college. In fact, it was because my mother was a HACOLA Participant that I was recruited through them by Bank of America when I was 19 years old.

I am always here for our Union members and would like to extend my hand to reach out to anyone who may have found our website in their search for asserting their rights in Labor and Housing, and encourage you who may be reading this at this time of struggle, to email or call me, as I will have a new business phone soon. I know the struggles of workers and renters, so I am the perfect person to assist Mr. Michaelson in his goals of laying a foundation and building a room of solidarity in the house of the enemy.

In Solidarity,

Desiree