Meet Your New Local Executive Director

Greetings with some very good news!
 
Following an extensive search and interview process over the past several months, we are pleased to announce the appointment of our new Local Executive Director—attorney Susan Nelson of Vernon, CT, who will officially assume the position on March 1.  Susan met several members of our local search committee during her recent interviews here and had a chance to meet others at last night’s Local Board meeting. She will replace our outgoing Associate Executive Director Julie Wood who had generously extended her tenure to help with the selection process, the hiring of other new staff, and to facilitate the transition.
 
Susan emerged as the Local’s and National’s top choice following an extensive search conducted by SAG-AFTRA’s National Human Resources Department in consultation with our own search committee, which reviewed the applications of several candidates. Susan was one of three finalists interviewed by a smaller group of search committee members, joined by Associate National Executive Director Mathis Dunn, Executive Director of HR and Administration Martha Holdridge, Julie Wood and Dona Sommers from the New England Local office.
 
Susan currently serves as counsel to the Connecticut State Employees’ Association, SEIU Local 2001 in Hartford, CT, a position she has held since 2008. In addition to her critical experience and skills with collective bargaining and labor relations, Susan also has strong background in human resources, organizational development, training, government and politics—all and all, a great fit for the challenges and opportunities we face here in New England. With her excellent communication skills, we believe she’ll be a “quick study” as she learns more about our industry and local.

We look forward to introducing Susan – and other new staff members—at our next Annual Membership Meeting, scheduled for April 1, 2013.

In unity,

Paul Horn & Doug Bowen-Flynn
Co-Presidents, SAG-AFTRA New England Local