Nathaniel Applefield Hired as AFTRA National Representative and Executive Director of the Portland Local

LOS ANGELES (May 04, 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 Nathaniel Applefield has been hired to serve as AFTRA National Representative/Local Executive Director of the AFTRA Portland Local. Applefield assumed his duties on March 31, and he is based in the Portland Local of AFTRA.

Applefield will administer the daily operations of the AFTRA Portland Local office and working closely with AFTRA Seattle Executive Brad Anderson and the Seattle office staff, he will oversee and coordinate AFTRA’s Portland organizing initiatives which are designed to increase work opportunities for AFTRA members living and working in the Pacific Northwest. Applefield will also serve as the primary staff liaison for all AFTRA-covered production in the Portland area including locally produced commercials, audiobooks, non-broadcast/industrial videos, video games as well as two AFTRA-covered scripted prime time series currently in production in Portland: TNT’s “Leverage” and “Portlandia,” which airs on the Independent Film Channel, and enhancing AFTRA’s relationships with the community of talent agents and representatives in the Portland area. His responsibilities will also include working with Seattle Executive Brad Anderson on negotiations and contract enforcement for the AFTRA-KGW-TV bargaining unit.

“Nathaniel joins our staff at an exciting time in AFTRA’s evolution from a service union model to an organizing union model,” observed National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth. “His passion for social justice and the arts, enhanced by his extensive campaign experience and his deep relationships with industry and labor groups in the Portland area are an incredible asset to AFTRA. I’m confident that Nathaniel will provide outstanding support and guidance to our members in the Portland area and be a resource to the Portland production community. I am very pleased to welcome him to the AFTRA staff.”

"I'm very excited to be joining the AFTRA team,” said Applefield. “Portland is home to such amazing talent, it will be a pleasure to help build the Local and expand employment opportunities for actors, recording artists and broadcast professionals in the Pacific Northwest."

Applefield comes to AFTRA with years of experience working as a campaign organizer, manager and consultant for a variety of organizations and political campaigns, including Oregon State and United States Senate candidates. Most recently, he spent the last two years as a general consultant for WinOR Consulting, providing strategic consulting for progressive candidates and organizations. Applefield earned his Bachelors in Physics and Philosophy from Lewis and Clark College in Portland.

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.