MPA Announces Changes to State Government Affairs Team, Strengthening Advocacy Efforts
Patack Retiring After Successful 29-Year Career at the MPA
WASHINGTON – The Motion Picture Association (MPA) today announced key leadership changes on the State Government Affairs team, including the retirement of longtime lobbyist, Melissa Patack.
After nearly three decades at the MPA, Patack will retire from her role as one of the association’s top state policy advocates, most recently serving as Vice President of State Government Affairs for the Western Region. The MPA is deeply grateful for her leadership and expertise on a wide array of policies, from state and local economic developments to legal and regulatory issues.
Arlen Valdivia will move into the role of Vice President of State Government Affairs for the Western Region, and Daphne Sigala Morfin has been hired as Director of State and Local Government Affairs. Valdivia will step into her new role on Sept. 1 and will report to Kathy Bañuelos, Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs.
“Melissa is an exceptional and unyielding advocate for film and television in our industry’s home state of California and across the western region – and her three decades of service will leave a profound and lasting impact for generations ahead,” said Bañuelos. “With Arlen taking on a larger role and Daphne joining our ranks, our team will not miss a beat. We will continue to advance smart policies for our industry and strengthen the voice of our creative community from coast to coast.”
Valdivia previously held the role of MPA Vice President of State Government Affairs, Midwest Region. Sigala Morfin will lead local city and county policy in Los Angeles and manage state advocacy for the Midwest Region. She previously worked in government affairs for Southern California Edison, public affairs at Warner Bros. Discovery, and on Capitol Hill. She joined the MPA on Aug. 17.
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About The Motion Picture Association
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) serves as the leading voice and advocate of the motion picture, home video, and television industries. It works in every corner of the globe to advance the creative industry, protect its members’ content across all screens, defend the creative and artistic freedoms of storytellers, and support innovative distribution models that bring an expansion of viewing choices to audiences around the world. Its member studios are: Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charles Rivkin is Chairman and CEO.
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