CAPE welcomed Leslie Simmons on October 5 as its new communications & field services director. In her role, Simmons is overseeing the internal and external communication for the union, including member-to-member communication and education, social media, media relations, legislative activity and more. She fills the vacancy left with the departure of Sean Stalbaum.
Prior to joining CAPE, Simmons spent a year working as a freelance communications consultant and writer. From 2009 to 2015, she was a communications executive for the entertainment and media union, SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists).
“I’m so excited to join the CAPE family and bring my communications and organizing expertise to this union,” Simmons said. “I’m enjoying learning about the work our professional members do and I look forward to educating the public on how CAPE members are key to the success of Los Angeles County and its 10 million residents.”
Among her goals is exploring new ways to communicate with and engage the CAPE membership, including stepping up the union’s presence on social media and utilizing those outlets as a way to reach members. Simmons holds a MA in Communication & Leadership from Gonzaga University and a BA in Journalism from Long Island University.
A native Angeleno, she spent 15 years as a journalist in Los Angeles, reporting for several print and online publications, including The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Journal and Inside.com. She is a longtime member of the Los Angeles Press Club and also sat on the board and was president for the Society of Professional Journalists, Los Angeles Chapter. Simmons is also a member of the International Labor Communications Association and teaches a Communication & Social Media course at the annual Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School.
In her spare time, Simmons enjoys outdoor activities including hiking and camping, and has completed 13 marathons. For 25 years, she has been a volunteer zookeeper at a facility dedicated to the preservation of endangered wild cats, including jaguars, leopards and tigers. She can be reached at CAPE headquarters, (626) 243-0340 and via email at [email protected].