About John Dougherty

A lifelong product of South Philadelphia, where he still lives today, John is the oldest of three children. Upon graduating from St. Joseph's Prep, he soon thereafter began his apprenticeship with I.B.E.W. Local Union 98. His rise through the union's ranks was swift and impressive. In 1993, at age 33, he became the youngest Business Manager in the history of Local Union 98.

Through his tenacity and leadership, John took Local 98 from a moribund, near bankrupt local to one of the most successful and powerful unions in the country. Local 98 has used its fiscal strength and expansive membership to become a major force in city, state and national politics. His success at the helm of Local 98 has led to many prestigious appointments, including President of the Philadelphia Mechanical Trades Council, Vice President of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council, Vice President of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, Chairman of the Board of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, Board Member of the Penn's Landing Corporation, President of the Pennsport Civic Association, and Commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority, among others.

While building the union, John made sure Local 98 never forgot to give back to those in need. In addition to his work on behalf of Joe Hand Boxing Gym and the Golden Gloves, John, in his capacity as president of Variety - The Children's Charity, was instrumental in the Philadelphia chapter's recent recognition as "Variety Tent of the Year." Local 98's members also donate their time to many neighborhood charitable endeavors, including its annual "Toys and Turkeys" drive during the holiday season, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, the "Cribs for Kids" program, and countless other charitable causes. For more than a year after the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Local 98 raised money and supplies, which they sent to the most ravaged communities along the Gulf Coast.

John and his beautiful wife, Ceilie, have two daughters, Erin, who is Director of Special Projects at the Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter High School, and Tara, who is a recent graduate of West Chester University and employee of IBEW Local 98.