“Labor Through and Through”: Retired Business Manager Gives Back at USA Events
When Pete Lindahl shows up to a Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) Conservation Dinner, you know exactly what you’re going to get.
He’s the first to arrive and the last to leave and is described by his peers as “a workhorse,” “helpful,” “respected,” and “consistent.”
Lindahl’s dependable reputation and resume plays a crucial role in the success of USA events like the Minnesota BCTC Conservation Dinner and the Colorado State Conservation Dinner.
With 37 years as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and former business manager of IBEW Local 292, Lindahl brings decades of union experience. Even after retiring as a business manager, Lindahl’s engine continues to run as a group Medicare sales executive with Humana, a USA national partner.
Pete Lindahl volunteers at the 2024 SMART & Cigna Colorado Sporting Clays Shoot.
At USA events, Lindahl bridges the gap between union members, vendors, and contractors.
Charlie Fierstine, USA’s Digital Media Manager, has seen Lindahl in action at the Colorado State Conservation Dinner and SMART & Cigna Colorado Sporting Clays Shoot.
“Pete is someone who has been out in the field and worked with union members directly before,” he said. “He is genuinely passionate about the labor movement and what unions can do for their members. That comes through with the conversations I hear him having. He really understands and values union membership and the union lifestyle. That is more important to him than anything he does.”
Lindahl is as reliable as they come, according to USA Event Coordinator Eric Bakken.
“Pete isn’t above anything,” Bakken said. “If he needs to sweep the floor, he’ll do it. If it’s folding tablecloths, taking out the trash, helping at registration—whatever it is, he doesn’t care. He just wants to be helpful. And his relationships are so strong that even years after retiring, he can still make one call and fill a room. He’s not afraid to pick up the phone and develop relationships.”
What drives Lindahl to go the extra mile?
While serving as business manager of IBEW Local 292, Lindahl saw firsthand the value and enjoyment his members experienced through their involvement with the USA. To support both the organization and their community, Lindahl and Local 292 ordered USA calendars, which included two firearms, then raffled off the firearms and donated the proceeds to their local food shelf.
Pete Lindahl participates in a USA sporting clays shoot with other union members.
He also began participating in USA sporting clays shoots in 2014 and found joy in the shared experience and the friendships he built with different trades.
“I just think what the USA stands for is extremely important to me,” Lindahl said. “I’ve been a union member for a long, long time. Watching this process and seeing the value it brings—I really enjoy being a part of it.”
A proud outdoorsman, Lindahl enjoys hunting upland birds with his dog, Zetta, in his free time. At USA events, Lindahl finds common ground among people who share his passion for the outdoors and organized labor.
Pete Lindahl enjoys upland bird hunting with his dog, Zetta.
“Besides my wife and my two kids, the IBEW is probably the next most important thing in my life,” Lindahl said. “It’s provided my family with opportunities that never would have been available. It allowed me just to see and help others. Being a business manager was such a rewarding position and allowed me to pursue a different career in the Medicare space.”
Bakken shared a personal memory of Lindahl from a past Minnesota State BCTC Conservation Dinner.
“Pete once gave me a tour of the Minnesota IBEW building,” he said. “One of the last things he did before retiring was get the ball rolling on that project—securing funding, planning, and procurement. You can tell there’s this sense of pride amongst a lot of that. He’s someone who understands that in a lot of your life, you are playing a small role in a very big game.”
Whether he’s folding tablecloths, running raffle games or turning off the lights after everyone leaves, Lindahl is labor through and through. He stays in the game with a positive attitude and gives back to the things that matter most to him.
