May 9, 2019
Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America (DGA) National Executive Director Russell Hollander today announced that Celeste Drake has joined the DGA as Executive in Charge of Government Affairs.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Celeste to our executive staff,” said Hollander. “Her extensive labor union, legislative and trade expertise make her uniquely suited for this role. We look forward to putting her broad experience to use advocating for our members on the critical policy issues that impact their creative and economic rights.”
Drake is responsible for the Guild's federal legislative and governmental work, serving as an advocate for the DGA and its members on key issues such as: intellectual property, copyright and anti-piracy protections; pension and health; and issues relating to the protection of DGA members’ creative and economic rights. Drake will also coordinate and manage the work of the DGA Political Action Committee (PAC) and DGA PAC Leadership Council.
Previously, Drake was the trade and globalization policy specialist at the AFL-CIO. In that role, she advocated for reforms to U.S. trade policy to create shared gains from trade on behalf of working families.
Drake has testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, various House subcommittees and the U.S. International Trade Commission, and made presentations before the European Union’s Economic and Social Committee. Prior to her work at the AFL-CIO, Drake served as legislative director for Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), legislative counsel for Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), and clerk for the Honorable David R. Thompson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Drake has a Juris Doctor, a Master of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles.
She reports to National Executive Director Russell Hollander.