DGA National Executive Director Jay D. Roth recently announced the promotion of Kathy Garmezy to the position of Associate Executive Director for Government and International Affairs. "Kathy's work on behalf of the DGA in the area of government and international affairs has been dedicated and tireless. Her recent work on Internet theft has helped educate and focus the membership on these critical policy issues," said Roth. "Kathy has done an excellent job for the DGA over her 13 years with us and I'm proud to recognize her important contributions on behalf of our membership with this promotion."
Responsible for the Guild's federal, state and international legislative and governmental work, Garmezy serves as an advocate for the Guild and its members on key issues such as intellectual property, copyright and anti-piracy protections; federal and state incentives for runaway film and television production; and issues relating to the protection of DGA members' creative and economic rights. Garmezy also coordinates and manages the work of the DGA Political Action Committee (PAC) and DGA PAC Leadership Council. In the international arena, Garmezy works on Guild-related policy issues before various international and governmental bodies such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the EC (European Commission). Current policy priorities include directing the Guild's efforts to fight digital theft and building coalitions internationally and within the entertainment industry.
Before joining the DGA, Garmezy served as the Executive Director of the Artists Rights Foundation. Previously, Garmezy was Executive Director of the Hollywood Policy Center, the education arm of the Hollywood Women's Political Committee, and headed the Los Angeles office of the Labor Institute of Public Affairs, a television production unit of the AFL-CIO. In Washington, DC, she worked on the domestic policy staff of Vice President Walter Mondale; the national staff of the U.S. Conference of Mayors; and the national campaign staff of Senator Edward Kennedy in his campaign for President. She received her B.A. magna cum laude in history and religion from the University of Rochester and her M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Chicago.
