Kathy Etemad Hollinger is Director of the Office of Motion Picture and Television Development (MPTD). MPTD is the District government agency that works to position the capital at the forefront of the film and video industry's diverse business development opportunities. This is achieved by the promotion of the District as the venue of choice in the US and abroad for projects from feature films to still photos - as well as other visual forms that advancing technology enables.

 

Hollinger is responsible for initiating and implementing production-related programs which drive revenue and stimulate employment opportunities for local businesses and residents. She acts on this by maintaining close working relationships with government officials, community leaders and film and television production executives in an effort to promote targeted incentives and minimize delays that could impact attractive production locations and/or schedules.

 

Prior to joining MPTD, Hollinger worked as senior director of Government and Public Affairs for Comcast of the District. Hollinger served as representative on behalf of Comcast to the Office of Cable Television, Executive Office of the Mayor, Council of the District of Columbia and all government agencies on business, entertainment and cable-related issues. She was also charged with increasing the visibility and presence of the company and its brand within the District’s footprint.

 

Under her leadership, Comcast received the “Business of the Year” award from the DC Chamber of Commerce in 2004, and “Champions of Excellence Award” in 2005 by the US Conference of Mayors. During her time at Comcast, she was recognized as one of “2008 Most Influential Minorities in Cable,” a roundup of cable’s most diverse power brokers and inspirational leaders working in the cable industry.

 

Prior to joining Comcast of the District in 2003, Hollinger served as Chief of Staff for Washington, DC, Councilman Kevin P. Chavous. She took that position in 2000 after working as campaign press director and then director of communications for Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis.

 

A 1992 graduate of American University, Hollinger then pursued a master's in public communication and public policy from George Mason University in 1996. Prior to earning her masters, she worked abroad in Barbados, West Indies, to help spearhead “The Signal Project,” aimed at cultivating women’s physical and moral health education programs.

 

Ms. Hollinger, a graduate of Leadership Greater Washington (’04) and her husband, Anthony Hollinger (LW ’06) live in Northwest Washington with their 20-month-old son, Bijan.