Meet Our Board of Directors

President

Hilary S. Lyn, MA, MS, is a development and communications leader who brings over 20 years of experience to her current role as Director of Alumni Relations at Fielding Graduate University. Over the past twelve years at Fielding, she has spearheaded  transformative engagement strategies that have consistently driven year-over-year growth. Before moving into the nonprofit sector, Hilary was an award-winning account executive for the Fortune 500 company Fidelity National Title. Outside of her day job, Hilary champions female entrepreneurship and leadership development as a health, wellness, leadership, and organizational development coach and consultant.

Past President/Director, Membership

Lisa Osborn is a radio broadcaster and entrepreneur. She currently serves as News and Public Affairs Director at KCSB FM 91.9, the community and college radio station at UC Santa Barbara, where she advises student leaders and trains volunteer reporters. She also has a business that does voice-over narrations and produces on-hold messages and audio messaging prompts. Lisa is also executive producer/narrator of Santa Barbara Scenic, a YouTube travel channel spotlighting activities and destinations on the Central Coast. Prior to coming to Santa Barbara, Lisa  anchored news at some of the top news/talk radio stations in Los Angeles. She was also an on-air host (deejay) at a national radio network, playing ‘classic hits’ and ‘oldies’ music on radio stations across the USA.

Secretary

Lauren Bianchi Klemann  is a government affairs and communication professional for the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) representing regional and multi-jurisdictional transportation priority issues. Lauren’s public, private, and nonprofit professional experience spans more than 15 years, having worked for K-12 public education, county government, and the American Red Cross. She has experience and skill in strategic communication and coordination among stakeholders of diverse interests and issues. Lauren graduated cum laude from Westmont College in Santa Barbara with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Religious Studies.  She completed academic programs in the Middle East region, Washington DC, and New York. Active in the community, Lauren currently serves as Past Board President of the Public Relations Society of America, California Gold Coast Chapter and is a member California Association of Public Information Officials

Treasurer

A past president of AWC-SB, Carolyn Jabs has written about families, ethics, environmental issues, and the Internet for almost four decades. In 1984 she published The Heirloom Gardener (Sierra Club Books), a book “often cited as a turning point in the pro-heirloom movement.” Hundreds of her articles have been published in magazines ranging from Readers Digest and Redbook to Self and Working Mother. Her opinion essays have appeared in Newsweek and the New York Times. Carolyn moved to Santa Barbara in 2013. She was an active AWC member when she lived in Toledo, Ohio, and won several Crystal Awards in their annual competition.

Co-Director, Programming

Adept at getting the most out of words and pictures for readers and clients alike, Joan Tapper has sat on both sides of the publishing desk. She was the founding editor of National Geographic Traveler, the longtime editor of Islands, and has since served as editor for several custom publications. As a freelance writer, she has produced numerous features about people, arts, travel, and culture for magazines that range from Santa Barbara and 805 Living to Robb Report and Westways. Her own books include three in the Thames & Hudson Most Beautiful Villages series with photographer Nik Wheeler, two crafts books with photographer Gale Zucker, and a tongue-in-cheek history travel guide, The Wild West on 5 Bits a Day, among others. She is also a sought-after private editor for writers of nonfiction and fiction.

Co-Director, Programming

Jerrol Golden is an accomplished professional with a notable 20-year tenure in the cruise and travel industries, having worked for renowned companies such as Holland America Line, Uncruise Adventures, and TCS Expeditions. As Deputy Director of International Public Relations, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the reputation and global presence of these organizations. Jerrol’s extensive experience in the cruise industry has provided her with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the sector. In addition to her extensive career, she possesses a certificate in the Introductory Sommelier program, showcasing her passion for the art of wine. Furthermore, she is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor, reflecting her commitment to holistic well-being. In addition, she writes stories for the website Quirkycruises.com.

Director, Brand Manager/Editor

Leslie Dinaberg is the Arts, Culture & Community Editor for the Santa Barbara Independent. She was the Managing Editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS for more than a decade. She has written for and edited many national and regional publications, including serving as Editor-in-Chief of Touring & Tasting Magazine, Executive Editor of Sales, Advertising and Marketing Magazine, Managing Editor of Hispanic Business Magazine, and Managing Editor of UC Santa Barbara Magazine. She is the co-author of Hometown Santa Barbara, a regional travel book, as well as author of three nonfiction children’s books. Formerly a syndicated columnist for ParentClick.com — with regional affiliates throughout California, Arizona, Washington D.C., Nevada, and Texas — Leslie has also published more than 250 “Cocktail Corner” columns exploring the world of wine and spirits, as well as hundreds of humor columns for regional publications.

Director, Social Media

Claudia Dunn

Co-Director, Women of Achievement

Brooke Holland is a Public Relations Manager at Visit Santa Barbara, where she maximizes earned media in target markets, as well as generates new awareness and renewed interest in the Santa Barbara South Coast as a travel destination. She also arranges press trips and provides support to travel and lifestyle media. Prior to that role, Brooke served as a staff writer at the Pacific Coast Business Times. She also worked as a reporter at Noozhawk. While there, Brooke was among 21 journalists from around the nation who were accepted into the data fellowship program at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and collateral in communication from Cal State Northridge, where she worked as editor in chief and managing editor for The Sundial. She was also a news reporter for the Santa Barbara City College publication, The Channels.

Co-Director, Women of Achievement

Judith Smith-Meyer came to UCSB from provincial South Pasadena in the fall and winter of record El Niño rains in 1983 and thought she’d landed in wet-zone heaven! By way of mechanical engineering, she graduated with a linguistics BA and got her professional clear teaching credential after that.
She currently serves as Director of Marketing & Communications for the Santa Barbara Foundation. Previously, she led marketing for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, did for-profit marketing for a global curriculum website for teachers and did writing and publicity for 10 years in her early career with UCSB Arts & Lectures.
She also taught high school and junior high English and ELD in San Jose, right out  of school, and for five years in Santa Barbara public schools when her kids went to grade school.
She’s proud to serve on the board for AWC-SB and on the board of La Boheme Dance, with whom she also performs and enjoys a deep sisterhood of women dancing outside their comfort zones.
She’s a proud mom of two wonderful young adult men and loves to garden, paddle, hike, travel, and more recently, lift weights, with some yoga, meditation and praying mixed in.

Director, Media

Jennifer LeMay serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Santa Barbara City College Foundation, developing strategies to increase support for the Foundation and its mission of fueling excellence at SBCC by enriching college programs, removing barriers, and empowering students to succeed. Jennifer has worked in the communications field for over two decades. She also served as a faculty member at SBCC in the Graphic Design and Multimedia Arts departments, and is a contributing writer for Edible Santa Barbara magazine. In her free time, she loves watching and photographing birds, painting, and enjoying life in Santa Barbara. Connect with Jennifer on Instagram at @jlemayart.

Director, Hospitality

Ana Papakhian joined Camerata Pacifica as Executive Director in 2023, a new pinnacle benchmark advancing her career in the classical music business. This vibrant chamber music nonprofit is an ensemble of the world’s finest and most personable international artists who present unique concerts, creatively commissioned premiere works, and accessible high definition performances via the Nightingale Channel, an extensive video resource for hospitals and more.  Ana’s major career highlights include tenures as the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for the Music Academy of the West and Director of Communications for The Cleveland Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. She began her professional life singing with the New Orleans Opera, then launched her administrative work in New York City, where she joined the staff of the Piatigorsky Foundation, and subsequently served as Personal Assistant to the legendary opera singer Marilyn Horne, who became her inspirational mentor.

Director, Marketing

Monica Kunz  is a Digital Marketing Communication Professional at Monica Kunz Design. A hybrid marketing, designer-developer with more than 20-years of graphic art, web design, digital marketing and technology experience with both private and nonprofit expertise. Monica’s experience includes a unique blend of technical knowledge, analytical creativity, and artistic talent. Additionally, Monica has served on the Planned Parenthood Central Coast Birds and Bees Bash committee since 2016 and is now the co-chair of the event.

Director, Multimedia

Monie de Wit is a professional photographer and founder of Monie Photography and Airship Rental Studios in downtown Santa Barbara. She specializes in photographing people and events on location or in studio. Her clients include: Cottage Health, UCSB, Lobero Theater, UCSB Arts & Lectures, CAMA, New Beginnings, and Special Olympics. Monie enjoys volunteering for Human Rights Watch, Channel Island Marine and Wildlife Institute, Habitat for Humanity, and Freedom for Youth. In her free time she loves running on the beach, hiking, and spending time in nature with her family, friends, and her adorable dogs Kona and Sparkie.

Director, Community Engagement

Maisee Thao is a higher education professional with over fifteen years of experience in higher education administration and strategic planning, business strategy, and enrollment management. Maisee is currently senior analyst in the Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director’s office at the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) systemwide office helping send 5,000+ students abroad to over forty countries. Previously, Maisee was the executive assistant to the president at Fielding Graduate University and she was the co-founder and marketing director of Girl on Fire, Inc., a racing event company. Masoee has served as a court-appointed advocate (CASA) for children and raised $1,000 to help find a cure for cancer on behalf of the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Maisee received her BA in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a MBA from Washington State, Pullman. A runner and travel enthusiast, Maisee has completed all six World Major Marathons and has traveled to more than twenty-five countries.

Director, Events

After growing up in Anaheim, California, Kim Ofilas graduated from Cal State University Long Beach and delved into a career in communications, specializing in public relations at a Tustin agency. Shifting to the arts,  she became a Digital Media & Publications Manager at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. Later in Los Angeles, she continued her nonprofit journey as the webmaster for the LA Natural History Museum. In yet another career transformation, she then worked in entertainment,  joining Sony Pictures as a Digital Producer.

Seeking a deeper purpose, Kim entered healthcare communications, aiding clinics serving underserved communities for eight years. During the pandemic, she relocated to Santa Barbara, joining Direct Relief in July 2022 as a Communication Manager. Working for this transformative humanitarian organization is a privilege, says Kim, who aims to contribute to their mission long-term.

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