SAG-AFTRA announces George Heller Memorial Award recipients

SAG-AFTRA has finally revealed the recipients of the prestigious George Heller Memorial Award gold cards, which recognise exceptional contributions to the guild and its members. The award, presented every two years at SAG-AFTRA’s national convention, will honour Sheila Ivy Traister, Michele Proude, Janice Pendarvis, and Stacey Travis this year. The National Honors and Tributes Committee members from around the country selected the honorees.

Sheila Ivy Traister, a former National Board Member of SAG-AFTRA, has dedicated over 44 years to the labor movement. She has served on the SAG-AFTRA National Board, as president of the Colorado Local, and is currently a member of five national committees. Traister’s focus has been on promoting inclusiveness within the industry and the labor movement, expanding equal opportunities for performers, including those who are Asian American, Pacific Islander, and performers with disabilities.

Michele Proude, the SAG-AFTRA National Vice President for Mid-Sized Locals, has a long history of service on local and national committees. She has also served as the New England Local president. First elected as the national vice president of the mid-sized locals in 2019, Proude secured her third term in 2023.

Janice Pendarvis, the SAG-AFTRA National Vice President for Recording Artists/Singers, is a dedicated singer and voice actor. She has been a staunch advocate for singers both legislatively and within the union, with a focus on creating more union work for SAG-AFTRA members in the recording industry. Pendarvis is currently serving her second term in this national vice president role.

Stacey Travis, a former SAG-AFTRA National Board Member, has been involved in union service for over three decades. First elected to the SAG Board in 2008, Travis has been a tireless advocate for removing ages and birthdates from IMDb. She also works to ensure members are well-informed about contract changes and opportunities, and she contributes to driving SAG-AFTRA’s legislative agenda in California and Washington, D.C.