2013 EAL/LA Leadership Council Co-Chair election time is here! If you are a registered member of ealla.org you will receive an email with a link to VOTE. Wanna know who’s running? Read more about the candidates below.
For election schedule and position descriptions, please read: http://ealla.org/leadership-council-call-for-co-chair-applications-2013/
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Executive Co-Chair Candidate
Christa Lorenz, Assistant Director of Stewardship, University Advancement, University of Southern California
I joined EAL/LA at the beginning of 2012 during a time of great professional turmoil. I was unsure of what my next professional steps should and would be, and often felt as though I was the only one who was struggling to find the right place for me in the world of the arts. Joining EAL/LA was a turning point for me. The ability to connect with other young professionals at all stages of career growth gave me the confidence and energy to work toward my larger goals.
The executive co-chair position aligns well with two of my current professional goals: first, to broaden my experience in organizational leadership, and second, to connect further with the local arts and philanthropic sectors. I have worked in fundraising for nearly three years and, as I look ahead to the future of my career, am interested in deepening my leadership skills with the hope of taking on an executive director role somewhere down the road. Having the opportunity to collaborate with such a dynamic and exciting group as EAL/LA would be a great first step in that direction. Continuing to learn about the organization as a member of the Leadership Council would provide me with a new and important perspective. I would like to expand the number of professional development seminars throughout the year, keeping a close eye on trends in the arts, philanthropy, and other areas of interest to the membership of EAL/LA. As a member of the current APAL cohort, I have several ideas to improve and strengthen that program, which has already been a significant step in my own professional and personal development. I also want to be sure that we are serving the community of artists within our group.
Our organization already has such a tremendous impact on the lives of so many young professionals in LA, and I would be honored to be a part of the leadership team that will sustain and expand those opportunities.
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Finance Co-Chair Candidates
Thu-Nga Dan, Studio Manager, Matthew Snyder Recordings
During my tenure as the Communications Director for the Grammy Award winning Southwest Chamber Music, I have held many roles that extended beyond my core responsibility of press, donor, and public relations, such as marketing, programming, and concert operations. But one role I have come to appreciate is finance.
As the liaison between the Vietnamese and American artists during the U.S. State Department sponsored cultural exchange, I participated in fund raising, budget negotiations, labor contracts, and disbursement of funds. In these roles, I have learned the importance of finance in keeping projects on a successful and sustainable path. Finance gives project stakeholders the tools to choose among many worthy artistic projects and prioritize the goals of a project given limited resources.
Some of the goals and objectives I hope to achieve as Co-Chair are as follows:
-Develop effective working relationship with chairs and co-chairs of other departments, as finance should liaise with other functional areas in order for the organization to operate effectively.
-Learn about the EALA’s budgeting process and help find ways to develop a budget that fits in with organization’s long term and short term strategic goals and current operations.
- Learn about EALA’s accounting systems and process and help find ways to make data collection and reporting requirements efficient while still capturing the necessary level of detail.
I believe I am the right fit for the role of Co-Chair of Finance at EALA. I have the right blend of experience to be able to contribute to the group, but there is still much I could learn in working with the Chair of Finance. As an aspiring leader in the field of non-profits arts management, I am looking to develop wide range of skills that will allow me to be a well founded and effective leader.
Laura Sardisco, Social Media Consultant, Independent
My current position as an independent Social Media Consultant is demanding, it requires a high-level of performance and constantly being on top of the latest trends of our digital age. However, it is not entirely fulfilling, because my true passion is in the arts, especially the business of the arts.
Due to my participation in the 2013 APAL Cohort, I have had the opportunity to find an amazing mentor who has inspired me to take business courses. She has made me realize the importance of business and financial acumen to the future of our field. With her encouragement, I have been taking finance and accounting courses at Wharton School of Business.
The abilities and skills that I have gained at Wharton would greatly benefit EAL/LA; they include: accrual accounting, analyzing financial statements and disclosures, preparation of fiscal reports, evaluating present value techniques, capital budgeting principles, asset valuation, evaluating the operation and efficiency of financial markets, evaluating the financial decisions of firms, and calculating derivatives.
This position as Finance Co-Chair is an opportunity for me to apply my understanding of finance by learning how to navigate through all aspects of an organization’s budgetary workings. I am also hoping this position will place me among a group of like-minded peers while challenging my professional skill-set, ultimately making me a more resourceful and flexible member of the arts community. I also hope that this position will help me increase my professional relevance, and lead to a transition from the independent media into a theatrical institution.
Being a part of EAL/LA has connected me to a larger community of Arts Administrators and non-profit professionals. As I advance in my career, I hope to deepen these connections and continue to meet creative individuals who are also dedicated to the arts. In addition, I would like to grow with EAL/LA over the long haul and serve the next generation of young emerging leaders.
Some specific goals and objectives I hope to achieve as Finance Co-Chair is to help guide EAL/LA thru the next chapter of its grow, especially should we transition out of fiscal sponsorship.
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Development Co-Chair Candidates
Serena Johnson, Administrative Assistant, Glendale Arts
I am interested in the Development Co-Chair position at EAL/LA. Since I have been involved with ELA/LA the organization has provided me with invaluable support, as well as an ever-growing skill set for success as an arts development leader. I hope to use these skills in a leadership position at EAL/LA. I am deeply passionate about the arts and through my work in arts development I hope to help the arts flourish in our communities and to facilitate the necessary resources for them to thrive.
I would excel as the Development Co-Chair. I love building relationships, both within and outside of the organizations where I work, and I thoroughly enjoy working in a team atmosphere. I have a deep passion for the arts, and a desire to facilitate the network, infrastructure and resources for them to thrive. I am a proactive, creative, problem solver, and I am constantly looking for new opportunities to collaborate and to grow.
This position would be a phenomenal growth opportunity for me professionally and personally. While I have worked on development projects in the past, I have never served as a project leader for arts development. As a co-chair, I would look forward to overseeing projects from beginning to end. I hope to learn the intricacies of how development works from a managerial perspective. On a personal level, this position would provide me an opportunity to assess my strengths as well as my weaknesses in a new context. Though this position, I hope to both serve EAL/LA and personally grow as a as a well-rounded arts development leader.
As the Development Co-Chair, I hope to develop a solid infrastructure for continued funding of EAL/LA. I will work toward achieving ELA/LA 501 (c) 3 status, as well as continually pursuing grants and other funding opportunities for the program. I will consistently work to solve problems in an effective and collegial atmosphere and continue to bring new and imaginative ideas to the table.
I am completely committed to devoting my time and energy to bringing opportunities to EAL/LA. I hope to continue to provide stellar workshops and seminars and help emerging professionals gain the tools they need to go out and support the arts in their community.
I am excited for my continued journey with EAL/LA and hope it will be as your new Development Co-Chair.
Jina Chung, Grants Coordinator and Curatorial Liaison, Mount St. Mary’s College
To make art accessible and engaging for urban environments like Los Angeles, it is imperative that civic and community leaders create cultural programs that promote inclusivity and artistic collaboration. I believe the mission and vision of Emerging Arts Leaders/Los Angeles (EAL/LA), which is to foster creativity and enrich the city’s cultural landscape, provides aspiring arts leaders with the training and supportive network they need to create and implement innovative arts programming for diverse audiences. As the Development Co-Chair, I will have the opportunity to not only contribute my skills and knowledge to fulfill EAL/LA’s mission and fundraising goals, but I will also have the chance to learn from and work closely with other arts leaders passionate about creating an engaged arts community in Los Angeles.
My current position as the Grants Coordinator and Curatorial Liaison at Mount St. Mary’s College (MSMC), a liberal arts college serving low-income students from diverse backgrounds, has helped me build a strong foundation in individual and institutional giving. Annually, I prepare nearly 80 letters of inquiries, proposals, and reports to support a variety of funding needs, including the College’s art gallery and student scholarship support. In addition to grant writing, I also lend my creative talents to manage the Friends of the Doheny Mansion (foDM) membership program. Under my leadership, I re-designed foDM brochures and implemented a new direct mail campaign, which enabled me to raise $7,450 in less than a year. Recently, I challenged and inspired my team to leverage social media and new technologies as means to raise the College’s fundraising capacity. As a result, the College is working on integrating Square, an app for credit card transactions that I recommended, as a way to accept and solicit donations at special events and donor visits.
The skills and projects I developed in my current position, however, would not have been as successful and strong if it weren’t for several staff mentors who took the time to work collaboratively with me on various projects. By listening to constructive criticism and seeking expertise outside my field helped me realize that projects are strongest when tasks are properly delegated. EAL/LA’s organizational structure provides mentorship, feedback, and accountability that truly promotes and fosters effective leadership. Specifically, I would like to help build a strong corporate sponsorship program and conduct prospect research to look for new funding opportunities for EAL/LA’s programmatic initiatives. Since fundraising for the arts is challenging in today’s tough economy, I believe working with individuals with varied fundraising experience will help me better understand art administration and management.
The visual arts truly possesses the potential to foster powerful conversations between unique and diverse groups. It would be a privilege to bring my skill set to EAL/LA’s Development Co-Chair position and work collaboratively with the leadership council to strategically plan and implement fundraising initiatives that will help support innovative events and programs to create an engaged arts community in Los Angeles.
Leslie Fraser, Art Specialist, Kidspace Children’s Museum
As a pre-professional in arts administration looking to get into the field I reached out to museum and arts professionals for informational interviews and anyone that could act as a resource on my own. I never belonged to an organization like EAL/LA where the network is provided by professionals in the field intending to provide the networking opportunities through organizational leadership. I really like that aspect of EAL/LA. I want to bring more opportunity to the organization to help train young professionals in their career as the Co-Chair of Development. There are so many of us in a mass network ready to help each other, I really want to make sure the funds are there to ensure success in our professional journey together.
My proposal writing skills secured Kidspace Children’s Museum’s participation in a high profile arts event that included grant money funding. In addition to proposal writing and grant management skills I plan major events for Kidspace Children’s Museum. Such events include our Noon Year’s Eve Celebration where up to 2000 guests bring in the New Year with a balloon drop at 12:00pm December 31st, toast with apple cider, make noon year’s popper crafts and enjoy performances by mainstream performing artists in the children’s entertainment industry. I currently manage a grant from the City of Pasadena for Kidspace to contract and facilitate productions by performing artists for our monthly Free Family Nights bringing 700+ guests during the school year; 1700+ guests during the summer months for the last five consecutive seasons and work closely with our development department to ensure we receive it and keep its integrity each year.
The opportunity to fundraise with EAL/LA and gain fundraising and grant writing/development experience is valuable to all of us in the arts. I believe strongly that development brings a backbone to any non-profit organization and while I have worked alongside our development team, I want more experience in development and fundraising as Co-Chair of the Development Committee. I want to help bring professional development to young and rising arts professionals and gain the experience to go on and create more arts opportunities to young adolescence and children throughout my career.
As Co-Chair I want to help create a community of dedicated patrons who understand the importance of what we do at EAL/LA and remain a part of the community for years to come. In the development community I think it is very important that we host donor thank you events to encourage more involvement in the organization and understanding of what we do for current and potential donors. I think it is important that the development committee continue to bring more grant funds and outside sources into the EAL/LA community to provide professional development programs as they have been which I have found valuable in my career and to make sure that the EAL/LA community is a stable one for both professionals and donors alike.
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Communications Co-Chair Candidates
Paul Kadzielski, Organizer, Nationbuilder
I am interested in the Co-Chair position because I am deeply passionate about the arts. Too long have arts organizations from a lack of leadership. I would like to become part of the change in this system that EAL-LA has begun and make arts leadership a desirable, practical, and admirable career choice once again. The work that EAL-LA has done to build a community of qualified, caring, and valuable leaders is impressive and it would be my goal as Co-Chair to further this mission and put Los Angeles back on the map as a global arts capital with world class leadership.
An essential element of this growth is proper education in effective communications and robust interactions with the existing arts community. I would do this by hosting workshops focusing on community organizing and development as well as engaging the leadership of key institutions such as LACMA. My experience working in communications for a variety of entities gives me a unique perspective that I plan to share with others. Being a Co-Chair of the Emerging Arts Leaders would provide a pathway for my career to grow in the artistic space of LA while developing the community itself.
As a native Los Angelino, artist, and a professional organizer I have worked at the intersection of my passions for years but never felt that the arts community in Los Angeles was a true community until meeting Ryan. His vision to unite, empower, and grow the bonds between artists and the arts organizations of the city has been an inspiration and I look forward to having the opportunity to work together.
David G. Marks, Photo/Video/Social Media Professional, Freelance/Independent Consultant
When I was first introduced to the Programming Committee in early 2012, I knew right away that EAL/LA was a savvy, friendly, supporting group of arts professionals. The intentions of the group were clear: to connect people and offer great opportunities for those looking to expand their horizons in the arts. EAL/LA did as much for me and I soon landed my first museum job shortly after joining the group. After gaining professional experience and participating in various aspects of EAL/LA, I would like to join as Communications Co-Chair and help others to find this group as rewarding as I have.
As Communications Co-Chair, I would bring my 8+ years of marketing experience to the table and put it to good use, especially my previous year of work, managing the digital presence of the Petersen Automotive Museum. There, I was able to more than double our social media numbers, increase engagement, launch the museum’s official Instagram account, as well as develop and launch a Webby-nominated website as part of a collaborative team.
The collective knowledge base that continues to be refined by the talented and capable people of EAL/LA would be a great resource to continue my professional development. I am confident in my abilities to use and adapt to current and new digital platforms, but having access to a team and structure that encourages that exploration would surely boost my skill set and therefore, the capabilities of EAL/LA. For the duration of the position, I would help the group gain more followers, create content that would inspire and invite participation, as well as evaluate current digital resources for any improvements, including formatting and copy-editing of standard forms. As a technophile, I would also jump at the chance to research and implement cost-effective means of improving any hardware and software setups currently being used for purposes such as archiving and communications.
Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to continuing collaboration with EAL/LA, whether as Communications Co-Chair or otherwise.
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Marketing & Membership Co-Chair Candidates
Eric Brown, Communications Coordinator, Center Theatre Group
While most of the boys in my neighborhood gathered at the park after school to play basketball, I spearheaded a Phantom of the Opera fan club, inspired by my first visit to the Ahmanson Theatre in 1991. We began with three members, but after a strategic campaign targeting other “geeks” in the community, we grew by 67 percent — a modest success, to be sure, but the five of us were proud to belong to such an exclusive group.
That experience taught me an important lesson: Nothing feeds the soul or brings people together quite like a work of art. I would be privileged to serve the leaders guaranteeing that arts lovers have reason to come together for many generations to come.
For this reason, I am writing to express interest in becoming the Emerging Arts Leaders/Los Angeles Marketing & Membership Co-chair, a position I learned about from my friend and colleague Maria Paredes, the forthcoming EAL/LA Development Chair. If elected, I would bring the following qualifications to this position:
- Ability to plan marketing campaigns and conduct public relations research.
- Skilled writing that targets specific audiences and pursues strategic objectives.
- Leadership and project management experience.
- A positive, can-do work ethic.
In my day-to-day work as the donor communications coordinator for Center Theatre Group, I create content to attract prospective donors and encourage sustained giving. Serving as the EAL/LA’s marketing and membership co-chair would give me a chance to apply these skills and build others not currently in my job description. In my recent graduate studies, I learned the ins and outs of planning a communications campaign, from researching target publics to developing strategy to evaluating results. Most of my work at CTG focuses on tactical implementation, and I’m eager to take on increased responsibility to support the Los Angeles community of emerging arts leaders.
As co-chair, I hope to develop strategies that encourage current members to continue and increase their involvement with EAL/LA, to help emerging arts leaders throughout Los Angeles become more familiar with EAL/LA’s mission and programs, and to increase brand awareness of EAL/LA in ways that attract potential funders and partners.
My résumé follows and details further my qualifications for this office. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Abegail Baguio, Administrative Assistant/Assistant to the Associate Vice President of Membership, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
“Metropolis Los Angeles, is, in most respects, the national leader in arts and culture.”
-LA2050 report by the Goldhirsh Foundation
I am interested in applying for the Membership and Marketing Co-Chair position for EALLA. My genuine interest and active involvement in the arts, and nearly seven years of experience in working for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art encouraged me to apply for the position. I am fortunate to be part of a major cultural institution, and my experience has afforded me a 360-degree perspective—from the inner workings of the department, budget management, marketing, supervising volunteers, to communicating with over 60,000 members—to planning events and managing benefits.
Because of my different roles, I have a broad understanding of how the entire museum functions. Furthermore, I have established successful working relationships with my colleagues because I regularly work cross-departmentally with marketing, development, education, operations, and curatorial. In spite of a title change or a promotion, my role has continually expanded and has provided me with the comprehensive knowledge and understanding of how to manage a successful and efficient organization.
With the blessing of the leadership council, one of my first goals would be to redesign EALLA’s logo to have a fresh and modern look, to one that is unique, has wider appeal and will increase brand awareness. LA County is home to 11,235 arts organizations that employ 57,000 arts workers. As the MMCC, I hope to capitalize on these figures by reaching out to organizations and their emerging leaders to increase the membership base and create strategic partnerships and alliances beneficial to all parties involved. Another goal I have is to develop a strategic marketing plan that will help EALLA implement an annual/individual giving campaign to raise funds that will allow EALLA to continue serving the community and its diverse constituencies.
Additionally, hosting an annual fundraiser to further support EALLA’s existing programs, develop opportunities, and provide scholarships for other professional development programs for members is another I’d love to fulfill. Most important, I would like to further membership engagement by ensuring that EALLA amplifies its presence on the web, especially on social media, and deliver relevant content daily so we strengthen, enhance, and maintain our relationship with members. Additionally, I’d like to provide more relevant and applicable development opportunities for members, and plan a monthly cultural/social activity to help members connect with peers in their field.
I know this role would challenge me to grow individually and professionally, and is in tandem with my plans to acquire a Master’s degree either in arts or nonprofit management. Because of my work ethic, creativity, and seriousness that I apply in my current role, I believe I would be an asset to your organization. I work well individually, but also consider myself a team player, and with the help of the leadership council, I know we are very capable of creating a stronger and more sustainable future for the organization, the city, and its emerging leaders.
1 LA2050 report by the Goldhirsh Foundation http://www.la2050.org/indicators/arts-cultural-vitality/
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Programming Co-Chair Candidates
Brandon Turner, Arts and Culture Enthusiast/Advocate, Musician, Composer, Self-Employed Musician/Composer – Part Time-Box Office Supervisor- REDCAT
Why are you interested in this Co-Chair position?
My interest in the Co-Chair position has grown out of a recent shift to a career in arts administration and the search for a position where I will be able to make an impact. EAL/LA has been the place where I have been able to get in touch with my interests and connect with people like myself looking to engage with the arts in Los Angeles. I am interested in taking a leadership role in EAL/LA to continue to build my professional skills and expand the reach of the Emerging Arts Leaders community in Los Angeles. Furthermore, I believe this organization is doing important work for the future of the arts in Los Angeles and I want to be part of moving my community forward.
How would you be a good fit for this Co-Chair position?
I believe I would be good fit for the Co-Chair position because of the professionalism and enthusiasm I would bring to the leadership council. My previous work successes can be attributed to my proficiency in a multiplicity of administrative skills: contract negotiation, clear communication across diverse groups of people, facility and personnel scheduling, public speaking, proposal writing and maintaining a social media presence. My years of training and work as an arts practitioner and administrator have imbued me with a unique perspective of the many sides of the arts field that will be beneficial to the EAL/LA programming. In addition to the previously mentioned abilities, I will bring a tireless work ethic and the necessary sense of humor to the EAL/LA leadership council.
How would this position effect your professional & personal development?
I believe this position would serve as a launch pad for what comes next in my career as an arts administrator. In the work I will do as the programming Co-Chair I will be able to develop a wide diversity of professional development programming that will expand my own knowledge of the arts field. This position will be more than just a resume line, it will be chance to forge long lasting relationships with other arts professionals locally and beyond.
What are some specific goals and/or objectives you hope to achieve as a Co-Chair?
As the programming Co-Chair I would like to continue the series of professional development workshops that have been working so well for our community. I would like to work with other leadership council members to develop programs that increase the overall reach of EAL/LA and encourage cross-sector networking and partnerships. I would like to propose several programs that partner with organizations that are considered creative but not necessarily “Arts-centric” to build relationships and additional skills for the ever-changing professional arts landscape. Additionally, I would like to work with the membership co-chairs to reach out to more arts practitioners to offer professional development programming. Artists often have a stage to advocate for the power of the arts but don’t always know how to contribute to the conversation.
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At Large Member Candidate
(Open position)
There is no declared candidate for the At Large Member Chair. This portion of the ballot will be available for write in candidates only. Only votes for registered EAL/LA members will count. Voting can only be made by EAL/LA members. You can register for membership at the top of the page.
Write in candidates are free to campaign on their own for a seat with no candidates. EAL/LA will accept applications for write in campaigns and will post them to the website within two days of submission. The Leadership Council will not change the voting form once voting commences. Write in candidates who win the membership vote must be approved by a majority vote of the LC.
For any questions regarding EAL/LA voting rules and procedures, please contact info@ealla.org.
