Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/48976
WELCOME VALERY "VAL" KOTIK joined SAG in July as director, Residuals Processing, Trusts & Estates. Kotik has more than 10 years of work experience in the financial services industry, operations and call center management. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Cal State Northridge. PROMOTION TOM HIGGINS has been promoted to executive director of the AFTRA Boston Local and SAG Branch. Higgins succeeds longtime AFTRA/SAG Boston Executive Director Dona Sommers, who is retiring aſter 21 years of service with the unions (see page 70). Higgins has served as the Local's broadcast director since 2000, and as assistant executive director since 2007. Prior to starting at AFTRA Boston, Higgins worked as a staff coordinator at the Service Employees International Union Local 285. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. BONNIE CHAVEZ has been promoted to assistant general counsel, Legal. Chavez began working at the Guild in August of 2007 as counsel in the Legal Department. She held that position until her promotion on August 1 this year. Chavez has a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish literature from UCLA, a master's from the UCLA Graduate School of Urban Planning and a juris doctor degree from the UCLA School of Law. STAFF MILESTONES Congratulations to our Screen Actors Guild employees who reached a milestone in the third quarter of 2011. Reaching the 10-year mark are Linda Isrel, Veronica Akhtar and Richard Baldwin. Sharon Morey, Kristin Wolf, Rashan Hall, Michelle Kortland, Katie Watson, Jenn Heater, Ka'Coyia Whitiker, Bernadine Goldberg, Cedric Stephens, Herlinda Torres and AC Liu marked five years of service. HONORED DUNCAN CRABTREE- IRELAND, SAG's deputy national executive director and general counsel, has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 Los Angeles County Bar Association's Charles R. English Spirit Award. In a September 17 ceremony aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Crabtree-Ireland received the award in recognition of his efforts to promote the bar's interests and for being an inspiration to its members. PAMELA GREENWALT, SAG's executive director, Commu- nications, has been elected a vice president of the International Labor Communications Association Executive Council. This is the second time that Greenwalt will be serving on the council, which is a governing board that sets policy, direction and strategy for the organization. SAG's communications efforts have been recognized by Graphic Design USA magazine at its annual American Graphic Design Awards competition. Of more than 8,000 entries submitted in July, SAG won in the categories of Publication Design, for the 2010 Fall/Winter issue of Screen Actor; Sales Promotion, for the SAG Production Center marketing campaign; and Internet Design, for the SAG Production Center at SAG.org/ProductionCenter. Screen Actors Guild was also honored by Office Depot for its environmental initiatives. The Guild was one of 25 nominees chosen for the Leadership in Greener Purchasing Award for its track record of buying environmentally responsible products. IN REMEMBRANCE GIL CATES, Directors Guild of America secretary- treasurer since 1997, former DGA president and past dean of the School of Theater, Film and Television at the University of California Los Angeles, died October 31 at age 77. "Gil was a great friend and a big help to me as I navigated my early days as president. He was helpful and wise and was quick to offer invaluable advice," said SAG President Ken Howard. "He was a tremendous force in entertainment labor and will be missed." Cates produced 14 Academy Awards shows and numerous films and television movies, including Oh God! Book II, I Never Sang for My Father and The Last Married Couple in America. WORK THE PERK: Member benefits are a terrific way to save money on everything from phone service to travel to gym memberships. Check out Member Perks! on page 74 and also log on to SAG.org and look for Deals and Discounts under the Member Services tab for more. Show your card and save! 32 SCREEN ACTOR - Fall 2011 SAG.org Robert Hale/DGA