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 ten years at Fielding, she has spearheaded transformative engagement strategies that have consistently driven year-over-year growth β most notably, in 2021, she led the institutionβs largest global web series resulting in historical attendance and engagement. 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 βclassic hitsβ and βoldiesβ 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. Laurenβs 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 βoften cited as a turning point in the pro-heirloom movement.β 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. Jerrolβs 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 childrenβs books. Formerly a syndicated columnist for ParentClick.com β with regional affiliates throughout California, Arizona, Washington D.C., Nevada, and Texas β Leslie has also published more than 250 βCocktail Cornerβ columns exploring the world of wine and spirits, as well as hundreds of humor columns for regional publications.
Director, Social Media
Claudia Dunn
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 bachelorβs 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.
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, 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 worldβs 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. Anaβs 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.
Member at Large
Judith Smith-Meyer came to UCSB from provincial South Pasadena in the fall and winter of record El NiΓ±o rains in 1983 and thoughtΒ sheβdΒ 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 outΒ of school, and for five years in Santa Barbara public schools when her kids went to grade school.
SheβsΒ 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.
SheβsΒ 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.