"We are thrilled to have Sean Taylor join the Equity family," said AEA executive director Mary McColl in a statement. "His extensive union experience, coupled with a legal career with deep professional roots in the Chicago-area make him the ideal leader for the region."

As central regional director, Taylor will oversee the union's operations in 16 states, including collective bargaining and contract administration. In his capacity as assistant executive director, Taylor will be part of the executive team, working alongside Steve DiPaola, assistant executive director of finance and administration; Tom Carpenter, eastern regional director/assistant executive director; and Mary Lou Westerfield, western regional director/assistant executive director.

All four directors will work closely with McColl and Equity's governing body, led by president Nick Wyman, to implement and support the union's actions and policies in each region.

A seasoned attorney, Taylor spent over 12 years of his professional career in Chicago — first at the firm of Stellato & Schwartz and then in a one-year term as an assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois. Taylor also served as senior counsel for the Chicago Park District, where he helped to develop multi-million dollar budgets and negotiated several different union collective bargaining agreements. Since 2004, Taylor was house counsel for AFTRA and remained in the role for SAG-AFTRA following the 2012 union merger. During his tenure, he served as lead negotiator in numerous broadcast collective bargaining agreements for Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, and held responsibility for the interpretation and enforcement of agreements. In 2005, Taylor was promoted to assistant executive director for AFTRA and retained the title with the merged union.

For more information, visit ActorsEquity.org.