SAG-AFTRA New York Welcomes Members to its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting

NEW YORK (Jan. 22, 2014) — SAG-AFTRA N.Y. is now open!

Today, SAG-AFTRA officially opened its New York office, marking its arrival at One Lincoln Plaza, 1900 Broadway. This new space, across from Lincoln Center, serves as one of two national offices and houses the New York Local. The new location brings together all staff who previously worked in two locations since the March 2012 merger.

National President Ken Howard was on hand for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. He said, “This is terrific for all SAG-AFTRA members in New York. I am so pleased to share in this special day. Welcome to your new office!”

“Since the merger in 2012, we have integrated all of our operations and procedures, but we still ran our operations out of two different offices. With this great move, we have now combined those offices and streamlined services for our members. It’s not the old SAG office or the old AFTRA office, it’s our new SAG-AFTRA office.” said New York Local President Mike Hodge.

National Executive Director David White said, “New York Local members and staff, this is your new space and we are here to welcome you. We are all very proud of what we have accomplished with this attractive new workspace, and of what the space will allow us to accomplish.”

Jae Je Simmons, Executive Director of the New York Local, said, “I know our New York staff members are thrilled to be in one office, and we are all especially pleased to have the whole team together in one efficient space that better serves our members.”

Also attending the ribbon-cutting were New York Local leaders, including Jay Potter, New York Local First Vice President; Jim Kerr, New York Local Second Vice President; Maureen Donnelly, New York Local Third Vice President and SAG Foundation Treasurer; Robert Newman, Vice President, Actors/Performers; and Rebecca Damon, National Board and SAG Foundation Board member.

Designed by the firm of AREA Architecture, the SAG-AFTRA New York office is built to reflect the values of the organization, promoting collaboration and communication among staff and members, while incorporating functional elements for optimal productivity and comfort.

Those in attendance toured the new creative space in the center of a culturally vibrant neighborhood. The dedicated staff and members of the New York office look forward to continuing their vital presence in the media and labor industries to insure that actors, broadcasters, sound recording artists, and all other SAG-AFTRA members receive the highest level of service, befitting the union’s home in the Big Apple.

High Resolution Photo Links of Office Space and Ribbon-Cutting
Conference room: http://www.sagaftra.org/1900-broadway-interior-1
Meeting space with view of Lincoln Center: http://www.sagaftra.org/1900-broadway-interior-2
Break room: http://www.sagaftra.org/1900-broadway-interior-3
Office cubicles: http://www.sagaftra.org/1900-broadway-interior-4
Main reception: http://www.sagaftra.org/1900-broadway-interior-5
Office space: http://www.sagaftra.org/1900-broadway-interior-6
National Executive Director David White, National President Ken Howard, New York Local President Mike Hodge and New York Local Executive Director Jae Je Simmons: http://www.sagaftra.org/ny-ribbon-cutting-01
National President Ken Howard and New York Local President Mike Hodge: http://www.sagaftra.org/ny-ribbon-cutting-02
New York Local President Mike Hodge with members: http://www.sagaftra.org/ny-ribbon-cutting-03

About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents more than 165,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.

Follow SAG-AFTRA on Twitter (twitter.com/sagaftra) and Facebook (facebook.com/sagaftra).

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