IEMA And VSDA Engage Stuart Spencer As Federal Lobbyist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ENCINO, CA (February 21, 2006) - Stuart Spencer has been engaged by the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA) and the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) to jointly represent their associations before Congress and federal agencies.
Spencer was most recently principal and general counsel of the Stanton Park Group, of which he was a founding partner. During his stint with the bi-partisan lobbying firm, he represented a variety of technology and health care clients. From 1996-2003, Spencer worked for U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter (NY), eventually rising to chief of staff and minority staff director for the Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process of the Rules Committee. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Tulane Law School.
"We are very pleased to have an individual of Stuart's caliber representing us in Washington," said IEMA President Hal Halpin. "He brings an impressive breadth of experience, knowledge of the Hill, and understanding of the legislative process to the position."
"In retaining Stuart, VSDA is recognizing a strategic goal of having a full-time Washington, D.C. presence before Congress and the executive branch," VSDA President Bo Andersen noted. "With the variety and gravity of federal legislative and regulatory issues our industry faces, including piracy, scrutiny of entertainment marketing, and calls for censorship of entertainment products, our members cannot afford for VSDA not to be fully engaged virtually every day in Washington."
"This is a great opportunity to work with a dynamic industry," Spencer stated. "Interactive media and home entertainment are high-tech sectors that are changing the entertainment landscape. I look forward to being part of the team that works with policymakers to support the continued innovation and growth of this industry."
Established in 1997, the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA) is the non-profit U.S. trade association dedicated to serving the business interests of leading retailers that sell interactive entertainment software (including video and computer games, multimedia entertainment, peripherals and other software). Member companies of the IEMA collectively account for approximately seventy-five percent of the $10.2 billion annual interactive entertainment business in the United States.
Established in 1981, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) is the not-for-profit international trade association for the $24 billion home entertainment industry. VSDA represents more than 1,000 companies throughout the United States, Canada, and other nations. Its members operate more than 12,500 retail outlets in the U.S. that sell and/or rent DVDs, VHS cassettes, and console video games. Membership comprises the full spectrum of video retailers (from single-store operators to large chains), video distributors, the home video divisions of major and independent motion picture studios, and other related businesses that constitute and support the home video entertainment industry.
For more information, please contact:
Heather Ellertson, Dir. of Marketing & Sales
Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA)
203-761-6183 or heather@iema.org