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Austin Keyser (he/him/his)

Assistant to the International President for Government Affairs
IBEW

Austin Keyser is the Assistant to the International President Kenny Cooper. He began his career as an apprentice in 2001 in Portsmouth, Ohio, where he became a third-generation inside wireman and the youngest serving business manager in the IBEW at the time.
Over the next decade, Austin continued to serve the IBEW through several executive public service positions, including President of the Scioto County Planning Commission and Commissioner for the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission. At the AFL-CIO, Austin held senior roles including Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the Shawnee District Labor Council.
In 2011, during the height of anti-labor sentiment in the Midwest, Austin was recruited for multiple assignments by President of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka. Trumka first appointed Austin the Ohio State Director of the AFL-CIO, and then appointed Austin the Director of the Midwest Region where he implemented the legislative agenda for over 100,000 local unions and successfully managed labor’s first super PAC with a campaign staff of over 1,000.
During this time, Austin also played other key roles in labor and strategic development, including member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank, board member of President Biden’s super PAC, and Co-Chair of the Biden-Harris Climate, Energy, and Environmental Policy Committee. In the latter role, Austin was integral to the creation of the administration’s historic infrastructure bills.
Austin has long served the IBEW as a senior advisor to labor leaders such as the AFL-CIO’s Richard Trumka and IBEW International President Lonnie Stevenson. In his current position, Austin continues this role, drawing upon his extensive experience and many successful initiatives to strategically advise International President Kenny Cooper on how best to strengthen the IBEW by driving its agenda.

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