CAPT Board of Directors

The business and activities of the association are under the direction of an elected board of directors, consisting of the state president and the president at each chartered chapter. CAPT's three elected statewide officers, which are listed below, serve as CAPT's Executive Committee.

State President

Eric Soto
CAPT Southern Regional Office/Training Center
13085 Central Ave., No. 7
Chino, CA 91710
(909) 364-2486
eric.soto@psychtechs.net

Eric Soto is a second-generation Psychiatric Technician and CAPT member. At nineteen, Soto began his Psych Tech career in 1998 at Metropolitan State Hospital. In 2005, Eric was appointed Chief Steward for the CAPT Metro Chapter. He was then elected Metro Chapter Vice President in 2008 before serving as Chapter President in 2010. Soto served four consecutive terms as the chapter president. While at Metro, Soto became known for his sometimes militant and relentless representational style. He planned and coordinated numerous picketing campaigns, sometimes in conjunction with other bargaining units when warranted.

Eric was first elected CAPT State President in 2016. Soto has served over a decade on CAPT’s negotiating team, fulfilling a vital role in bargaining four contracts between the State of California and CAPT. Additionally, Eric was instrumental in developing CAPT’s Grievance Manager software and Advanced Steward Training program.

As a devout labor advocate, Soto is constantly seeking ways to improve his skills and ability to better represent his CAPT brothers and sisters, as evident by the continuing education he seeks in Labor Studies.

State Vice President

Paul Hannula
CAPT Atascadero Chapter
4401 El Camino Real
Suite K
Atascadero, CA 93422
(805) 460-6131
captash@psychtechs.net

Paul Hannula started his Psychiatric Technician career path nearly two decades ago. He began as a local Atascadero CAPT Steward early in his career. Since then, he has served as a DSH-A CAPT Vice President and currently is the DSH-A CAPT Chapter President and CAPT State Vice President for multiple consecutive terms. Paul is also a board member of the American Association of Psychiatric Technicians (AAPT) and the Working Assembly of Government Employees (WAGE); he has served on many committees to support the safety of Psychiatric Technicians and advance their profession. He has testified in the State Capitol at hearings, participated in the Safety NOW Napa meeting, Coleman Case raises, OSHA filings, and many other movements that help BU 18 advance safety, recognition, and pay. Paul has made himself available to members locally at DSH-A and to all department chapter representatives statewide, 24/7-365 days a year. He makes himself available around the clock because CAPT members work days, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Paul utilizes nearly two decades of experience and knowledge that encompass multiple contract negotiations, grievances and complaints, representations, classes, seminars, and a long list of training – all to help defend
BU 18 members.

State Secretary-Treasurer

Jaime Garcia
CAPT Coaling Chapter
PO Box 933,
Coalinga, CA 93210-0933
(559) 978-1582 (Cell)
Jaime@psychtechs.net

Jaime Garcia is a first-generation Psychiatric Technician and CAPT member. At 26, Jaime began his Psych Tech career in May 2006 at Atascadero State Hospital. He laterally transferred to Coalinga State Hospital in November of 2006. In 2008, Jaime was appointed as a CAPT Job Steward, then Chief Steward in 2012. In 2013, Jaime was appointed Coalinga Chapter Vice President and was elected Coalinga Chapter President the following year, where he has served four consecutive terms.

In 2018, the CAPT Board of Directors appointed Jaime State Secretary-Treasurer, where he currently serves, assisting the union and advancing CAPT services to its members. Jaime is passionate about solid representation for BU 18 employees. He is straightforward and tackles issues directly. Jaime’s strengths include Skelly hearings, grievance conferences, and contract negotiations. His pursuit of labor knowledge is acquired through labor organization materials, labor laws, and case law, resources he puts into action when representing BU 18 employees.