President, New York City Central Labor Council

What one factor is most important to success?

Respect of those you work with and those you serve

What do you look for in an employee?

Maturity, reliability, integrity and a professional attitude.

What’s the best way to save money?

Not to watch the dollars, but to watch the pennies. Then the dollars will take care of themselves.

What’s the best way to spend money?

Efficiently, always reinvesting it in the product.

What’s your greatest pleasure?

Earning the love and respect of your family and your peers.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Brush my teeth, have coffee and read the newspapers—The Daily News, Newsday, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. You can keep The Post!

How do you deal with stress?

With my family, and with a treadmill.

What one lesson do you hope to pass on to your children?

Work hard, and be honest.

How do you bounce back from adversity?

By knowing that life is peaks and valleys and that it’s imperative to have the strength to climb the hills when in the valley.

What’s your favorite thing about Queens?

Diversity,multiculturalism —it’s America!

Brian McLaughlin, a resident of Flushing for nearly 30 years, joined the electrical union training program as an apprentice after graduating from Brentwood High School on Long Island. He became a journeyman electrician in 1977, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. In 1992 he was elected to serve in the Assembly representing the 25th District.

He serves as the president of the New York City Central Labor Council, an umbrella organization of unions representing more than 1.5 million working men and women, and has also been a Business Representative of Local Union 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO.

McLaughlin also serves as a board member of United Way of Greater New York, a member of the Honorary Advisory Board of Transitional Services of New York, a non-profit mental health agency based in his Flushing district; a board member of the New York City Council on Economic Education; a member of the advisory committee of the Flushing Beacon Center; and a member of the Board of Directors of the Queens Women’s Center.

McLaughlin served as Pension Director of the electrical industry, where he was responsible for securing pension benefits for 3,000 senior citizens. He was also active in his community as a member of the Board of Directors of the Queens Overall Economic Development Corporation, a member of Community Board 8, and an officer of a local little league.