The results of the 2022 Animation Guild Officers and Executive Board election are in. IATSE Local 839 announces that three of five Animation Guild Officers won re-election this round, including Business Representative Steve Kaplan, President Jeanette Moreno King and Recording Secretary Paula Spence.
“It is an incredible honor to be reelected as TAG’s Business Representative. The election results show the membership stands behind the work that we have put into growing the footprint, and therefore the strength, of the Local,” says Kaplan. “I welcome the new Executive Board members in their leadership positions, and I look forward to working with them towards continuing the work of organizing the animation industry.”
This has been a busy year for TAG, buoyed by the return of interest in unions from today’s working generations. The Guild has helped organize animators, artists and production workers at high profile studios like Bento Box, Titmouse and ShadowMachine as well as crews working on hit series The Simpsons, Family Guy, Solar Opposites and Tooning Out the News.
“We accomplished much during the last three years: organizing production staff, expanding to a national union, big gains in our last contract negotiations — and all during a pandemic and social and political unrest,” notes Moreno King. “The fact that I get to keep representing this amazing community for another three-year term with an Executive Board that is 75% women is a career high. I am looking forward to continuing the fight for respect for all animation workers.”
The following Guild members were elected as officers, all ran unopposed:
- President Jeanette Moreno King
- Vice President Teri Hendrich Cusumano
- Business Representative Steve Kaplan
- Recording Secretary Paula Spence
- Sergeant-at-Arms Danny Ducker
The following 11 Guild members were elected to the Executive Board, in order of vote count:
- Carrie Liao, Story Artists at Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Ashley Long, Supervising Director
- Roger Oda, Visual Development Artist at DreamWorks Television
- Mairghread Scott, Animation Writer/Executive Producer
- Candice Stephenson, Lead Look Development Artist at Nickelodeon
- Alex Quintas, Storyboard Artist at Titmouse
- Madison Bateman, Co-Producer/Head Writer at Disney Television
- Brandon Jarratt, General Technical Director at Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Justin Weber, Animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Erica Smith, Background Painter at Disney Television
- Marissa Bernstel, Storyboard Artist at Bento Box Animation
The following three candidates received the most votes and are therefore appointed as Trustees:
- Carrie Liao
- Ashley Long
- Roger Oda
Officers and Executive Board members will be sworn into office on December 6, 2022, when their three-year term will officially begin.
The ballot count was overseen by the AAA on November 12, 2022 and the results were certified on November 12, 2022.
Learn more about The Animation Guild at animationguild.org.
