Regional Associations


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State and regional exhibitor organizations that meet certain defined criteria may use the NATO name, and may appoint representatives to sit on the NATO Board of Directors.  NATO oversees a state and regional unit task force, where the leaders of the state units join with NATO executives to share information and coordinate policy. The task force meets three times each year – including a full-day issues summit in Washington.  NATO assists our state and regional organizations with legislative tracking services and issue development, but the local organizations and volunteers manage policy issues in state capitals and municipal governments.

State and regional NATO units serve a vital role, in part because state governments routinely consider a plethora of issues with direct potential impact on exhibition.  In recent years the range of challenges (or “negative legislation”) includes disability laws, admissions taxes, sales taxes, film rental taxes, minimum wages, overtime, child labor, soda syrup taxes and other food and beverage taxes, building codes, movie start time legislation, gift certificate regulations, ratings codification and enforcement proposals and obscenity laws to name a few.  Less frequently, state governments consider “positive legislation” that can provide significant benefits to cinema operators.  Most states, for example, have approved legislation over the past few years to outlaw the use of recording devices in theatres – a fundamental tool in the fight against movie theft (“piracy”).

Whether working for or against specific policy proposals, the NATO state and regional units serve the exhibition industry in a number of ways.  Some associations employ local lobbyists in state capitals, while others have paid executive staff that helps to monitor legislation.  All units, of course, benefit from the efforts of NATO member volunteers who watch out for relevant governmental policy proposals.

If you work in exhibition and are not familiar with your local NATO organization, I encourage you to reach out and get involved.  The map above (click on the map to enlarge it) depicts the state and regional organizational structure.  For contact information, please write to NATO at nato@natodc.com, or call us at 202-962-0054.

Alabama

NATO of Alabama
Contact:
Southeast NATO (AL, GA, FL, NC, SC)
Belinda Judson, Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Alaska

MPEX of Washington, Alaska and Oregon
Bruce Gardiner, Executive Director
12040 98th Ave. NE, Ste. 101
Kirkland, WA 98034
(425) 823-9456
bruce@gardinerlaw.com

Arkansas

NATO of Arkansas
Contact:
South Central States NATO (AK, LA, OK, TX)
Rein Rabakukk, Executive Director
P.O. Box 200815
Arlington, TX 76006-0815
(817) 226-1690
scnato@earthlink.net
www.scnato.org

California

NATO of California/Nevada
Milt Moritz, Executive Director
11661 San Vincente Blvd., Ste. 830
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 460-2900
office@natocalnev.org

Colorado

Contact:
Rocky Mountain NATO (CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)
Belinda Judson, Acting Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Connecticut

Connecticut Association of Theatre Owners (CATO)
Doug Murdoch, Executive Director
P. O. Box 1150
Brooklandville, MD 21022-1150
(443) 895-1446
doug@catoonline.org

District of Columbia

Contact:
Mid-Atlantic NATO (DC, MD, VA)
Doug Murdoch
Executive Director
PO Box 1150
Brooklandville, MD 21022
(410) 252-5010
doug@midatlanticnato.com

Florida

Contact:
Southeast NATO (AL, GA, FL, NC, SC)
Belinda Judson, Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Georgia

Contact:
Southeast NATO (AL, GA, FL, NC, SC)
Belinda Judson, Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Idaho

Contact:
Rocky Mountain NATO (CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)
Belinda Judson, Acting Executive Director
3982 Powell Road, #202
Powell, OH 43065
(202) 962-0054
Rocky Mountain NATO

Illinois

NATO of Illinois
Contact:
Mary Ann Frank, Executive Director
603 Rogers St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(630) 968-1600
www.natoillinois.com
mfrank@classiccinemas.com

Indiana

Theatre Owners of Indiana
Contact:
Belinda Judson, General Manager
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Iowa

North Central States NATO (IA, MN, NE, ND, SD)
Contact:
Jeff Logan, President
209 N Lawler Street
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 996-9022
Jeff@LoganMovie.com

Kentucky

NATO of Kentucky
Contact:
Mid-States NATO (KY, OH, TN, WV)
Belinda Judson, Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Louisiana

Louisiana Association of Theatre Operators
Shane Morrison, President
Contact:
South Central States NATO (AK, LA, OK, TX)
Rein Rabakukk, Executive Director
P.O. Box 200815
Arlington, TX 76006-0815
(817) 226-1690
scnato@earthlink.net
www.scnato.org

Maine

Theatre Owners of New England, Inc. (MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Contact:
Dan Vieira
Theatre Owners of New England
221 East Main Street, Suite 203
Milford, MA 01757
Office :  (508) 478-8663
Mobile: 617-413-6584
Email: danv74@yahoo.com

Maryland

Contact:
Mid-Atlantic NATO (DC, MD, VA)
Doug Murdoch
Executive Director
PO Box 1150
Brooklandville, MD 21022
(410) 252-5010
doug@midatlanticnato.com

Massachusetts

Theatre Owners of New England, Inc. (MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Contact:
Dan Vieira
Theatre Owners of New England
221 East Main Street, Suite 203
Milford, MA 01757
Office :  (508) 478-8663
Mobile: 617-413-6584
Email: danv74@yahoo.com

Michigan

NATO of Michigan
Jack Schick, Executive Director
121 W. Allegan Street
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 482-9806
jschick@karoubassociates.com

NATO of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan
Paul Rogers, President
Contact:
Matt Reiter
P.O. Box 146
Sussex, WI 53089
(262) 532-0017
matt@natoofwiup.org

Minnesota

North Central States NATO (IA, MN, NE, ND, SD)
Contact:
Jeff Logan, President
209 N. Lawler St.
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 996-9022
jeff@loganmovie.com

Montana

Contact:
Rocky Mountain NATO (CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)
Belinda Judson, Acting Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Nebraska

North Central States NATO (IA, MN, NE, ND, SD)
Contact:
Jeff Logan, President
209 N. Lawler St.
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 996-9022
jeff@loganmovie.com

New Hampshire

Theatre Owners of New England, Inc. (MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Contact:
Dan Vieira
Theatre Owners of New England
221 East Main Street, Suite 203
Milford, MA 01757
Office :  (508) 478-8663
Mobile: 617-413-6584
Email: danv74@yahoo.com

New Jersey

NATO of New Jersey
Contact:
Robert Piechota, President
P.O. Box 19
Belle Mead, NJ 08502
(908) 369-6327
Stageten@aol.com

New Mexico

NATO of New Mexico
Heather Allen, President
Contact:
Rocky Mountain NATO (CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)
Belinda Judson, Acting Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

New York

NATO of New York State
Contact:
Robert H. Sunshine
Executive Director, Nato NY
770 Broadway, 7th Fl.
New York, NY 10003
Tel: (212) 493-4065
robert.sunshine@filmexpos.com

Nevada

NATO of California/Nevada
Contact:
Milt Moritz, Executive Director
11661 San Vincente Blvd., Ste. 830
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 460-2900
office@natocalnev.org

North Carolina

NATO of North and South Carolina
Contact:
Southeast NATO (AL, GA, FL, NC, SC)
Belinda Judson, Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

North Dakota

North Central States NATO (IA, MN, NE, ND, SD)
Contact:
Jeff Logan, President
209 N. Lawler St.
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 996-9022
jeff@loganmovie.com

Ohio

NATO of Ohio
Contact:
Mid-States NATO (KY, OH, TN, WV)
Belinda Judson, Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Oklahoma

NATO of Oklahoma
Contact:
South Central States NATO (AK, LA, OK, TX)
Rein Rabakukk, Executive Director
P.O. Box 200815
Arlington, TX 76006-0815
(817) 226-1690
scnato@earthlink.net
www.scnato.org

Oregon

Contact:
MPEX of Washington, Alaska and Oregon
Bruce Gardiner, Executive Director
12040 98th Ave. NE, Ste. 101
Kirkland, WA 98034
(425) 823-9456
bruce@gardinerlaw.com

Pennsylvania

NATO of Pennsylvania
Contact:
Gina Troutman DiSanto, Executive Director
Cinema Centers
502 S. Market St.
Millersburg PA 17061
(717) 692-4744
gina@cinemacenter.com

Rhode Island

Theatre Owners of New England, Inc. (MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Contact:
Dan Vieira
Theatre Owners of New England
221 East Main Street, Suite 203
Milford, MA 01757
Office :  (508) 478-8663
Mobile: 617-413-6584
Email: danv74@yahoo.com

South Carolina

NATO of North and South Carolina
Southeast NATO (AL, GA, FL, NC, SC)
Belinda Judson, Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

South Dakota

North Central States NATO (IA, MN, NE, ND, SD)
Contact:
Jeff Logan, Executive Director
209 N. Lawler St.
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 996-9022
jeff@loganmovie.com

Tennessee

NATO of Tennessee
Mid-States NATO (KY, OH, TN, WV)
Belinda Judson, Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Texas

NATO of Texas
Contact:
South Central States NATO (AK, LA, OK, TX)
Rein Rabakukk, Executive Director
P.O. Box 200815
Arlington, TX 76006-0815
(817) 226-1690
scnato@earthlink.net
www.scnato.org

UTAH

Utah Association of Theatre Owners
Contact:
Rocky Mountain NATO (CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)
Belinda Judson, Acting Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Vermont

Theatre Owners of New England, Inc. (MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
Contact:
Dan Vieira
Theatre Owners of New England
221 East Main Street, Suite 203
Milford, MA 01757
Office :  (508) 478-8663
Mobile: 617-413-6584
Email: danv74@yahoo.com

Virginia

NATO of Virginia

Contact:
Mid-Atlantic NATO (DC, MD, VA)
Doug Murdoch
Executive Director
PO Box 1150
Brooklandville, MD 21022
(410) 252-5010
doug@midatlanticnato.com

Washington

MPEX of Washington, Alaska and Oregon
Bruce Gardiner, Executive Director
12040 98th Ave. NE, Ste. 101
Kirkland, WA 98034
(425) 823-9456
bruce@gardinerlaw.com

West Virginia

Contact:
Rocky Mountain NATO (CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)
Belinda Judson, Acting Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com

Wisconsin

NATO of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan
Paul Rogers, President

Contact:
P.O. Box 146
Sussex, WI 53089
(262) 532-0017

Wyoming

Contact:
Rocky Mountain NATO (CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)
Belinda Judson, Acting Executive Director
750 First Street, NE #1130
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-0054
bvj@natodc.com