AFTRA Hires Rebecca Faez as National Director of Administration and Human Resources

Union Announces Other Recent Key Staff Hires and Appointments

LOS ANGELES (March 10, 2011) --- The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 professional performers, recording artists and broadcasters – today announced that Rebecca Faez has been hired to serve as National Director of Administration and Human Resources. Faez will assume her duties on March 14, and will be based in the Los Angeles national headquarters of AFTRA. She joins several other recent hires and appointments.

Faez succeeds former National Director of Administration Terry Walker in overseeing AFTRA’s administration and ensuring the effective interplay and functioning of AFTRA’s infrastructure, operations, governance and staffing policies. She will work closely with National Manager of Human Resources RoseAnn Badamo, who is based in New York, and together they will maintain consistent and effective coast-to-coast administration of AFTRA and its human resources policies. Faez will report to National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Rebecca to the National Staff of AFTRA at a time when this union is growing, changing and evolving into the 21st century,” said Hedgpeth. “I am confident that members, staff and this organization as a whole will benefit tremendously from the considerable experience and great talent she brings to this position.”

"I am thrilled to be joining the AFTRA family after many inspiring years at The Paley Center during a time in which the media landscape forever changed the concept of our communications business,” Faez said. “As AFTRA represents a strong union with a clear vision and goals for its members and staff, I am eager to join the team during this innovative time. I am motivated by sharing my knowledge, passion and creativity to this inspiring organization.”

Faez comes to AFTRA after 12 years as the Director of Administration & External Relations at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. In that role, she led operations, developed and oversaw the public visitor programs and directed all human resources policies for the Paley Center. Among her many accomplishments at the Paley Center, Faez implemented green initiatives and eco systems in the Paley Center’s offices and public areas, led capital projects and represented the Paley Center at all presentations before the Beverly Hills City Hall’s planning and architectural commissions. Prior to her work at the Paley Center, Faez served for eight years as the Theater Operations Manager for the Directors Guild of America’s Theater at DGA’s headquarters in Hollywood, following four years in the DGA’s Credit Approval Department.

On Feb. 17, AFTRA welcomed Andres Puerta to the National Staff in the position of Senior Strategic Researcher. Based in the New York National office of AFTRA, Puerta reports to National Director of Organizing Phil Denniston. Puerta earned his Bachelors at William Paterson University, and received his Masters in Labor Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He comes to AFTRA after 10 years of organizing experience, including leading campaigns and conducting strategic research for organizing initiatives, on behalf of the District Council of Carpenters in New York City. Additionally, Puerta developed and taught a Labor History course for union carpenter apprentices and, more recently, is an adjunct lecturer in labor studies at the City University of New York.

On Feb. 14, AFTRA Detroit members welcomed Janette Rook as the new AFTRA National Representative/Detroit Local Executive Director. Rook brings many years of experience with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to her work on behalf of AFTRA members. As a Local Representative at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, she represented 3,300 Detroit-based flight attendants in disciplinary matters, government affairs, contract administration, grievances and created and presented member communications and educational programs. Rook has also served as Master Executive Council President for nine locals of Northwest Airlines flight attendants across the country, where she served as official union spokesperson and chief executive officer supervising the business and managerial functions of the union, member mobilization and as the chair of the negotiations committee. Rook received her Bachelors in Spanish and Sociology, in addition to post baccalaureate training in union leadership, organizing and grievance representation.
Finally, former AFTRA National Board Secretary Carol Keenan-Kohl has been promoted to the position of National Manager of Governance. Keenan-Kohl is based in New York and her responsibilities include oversight of AFTRA’s governance and election cycles, ensuring that governance matters of the Locals are recorded and updated and ensuring that AFTRA follows all requirements of the Constitution, Convention directives and National Board rules. She will work closely with General Counsel Tom Carpenter to ensure that the union’s governance functions are consistent with both the AFTRA Constitution and applicable law.

About AFTRA
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, are the people who entertain and inform America. In 32 Locals across the country, AFTRA members work as actors, broadcasters, singers, dancers, announcers, hosts, comedians, disc jockeys, and other performers across the media industries including television, radio, cable, sound recordings, music videos, commercials, audio books, non-broadcast industrials, interactive games, the Internet and other digital media. The 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists of AFTRA are working together to protect and improve their jobs, lives, and communities in the 21st century. From new art forms to new technology, AFTRA members embrace change in their work and craft to enhance American culture and society.