Ellen Girardeau Kempler
Background
I am an award-winning writer and communications professional. In my 25-year career I directed marketing and public relations for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Canyon Foundation. A layoff inspired me to enroll in a poetry workshop in Ireland and launch my first website, Gold Boat Journeys (Creative Cultural Travel). Since then, I have organized trips around events such as writers' conferences, book and music festivals and literary anniversaries and holidays.
Education
Certification, Amherst Writers & Artists Writing Group Leadership, 2012
M.A., Mass Communications (with distinction), California State University, Northridge, 1995; Thesis: The Role and Practice of Public Relations and Marketing in Museums, California State University, Northridge, 1995
B.A., Literature, University of California, Santa Barbara, College of Creative Studies, 1981
Professional Memberships
American Association of Writers and Writers Programs
Poets & Writers
Poetry Foundation
Academy of American Poets
Amherst Writers & Artists
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
Laguna Poets
Third Street Writers
Dime Stories Orange County
Little Free Library (proud proprietor of LFL #20767, established February 2013)
Blackwater Poets
Freelancer’s Union
Community Involvement
Usher and Merchandise sales, Laguna Playhouse and South Coast Repertory Theatre (2002-present)
Research Committee, Pageant of the Masters/Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach (2007-present)
Host to artists participating in the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, organized by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (1998-present)
Prepare and serve quarterly dinners at Alternative Sleeping Location, Laguna Beach (2012-present).
Garden and event volunteer, Transition Laguna (2009-present)
Mentor to high school girls at Write Girl Los Angeles (2013)
Judge, Alumni Awards, Iceland Writers Retreat, Reykjavik, Iceland (2016)
Boothsitter, Sawdust Festival, jewelers Lorraine Hornby and Hodel McRae, Summer 2015-2016
Judging
International Poetry Contest by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs, a nonprofit organization promoting ocean conservation education, 2016-present
Laguna Beach Library Annual Poetry Contest, 2020
Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific Urban Ocean Poetry Contest, 2019
Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Award 2017, December 2016
Career Positions
Founder, Gold Boat Journeys (2010-Present): Offer services including tour and travel planning, freelance writing, creativity workshops, editing, social media, marketing, photography and communications.
Director of Communications, Laguna Canyon Foundation (2003-2010): Planned and implemented all public relations and marketing activities, including writing and editing all publications.
Communications Director, Laguna Art Museum (1998-2002): Supported the museum’s overall goals and objectives in fundraising, collections, exhibitions, education and recruitment through strategic communications management.
President, News Muse Communications (1995-1998): As founder of this public relations and marketing consulting company, provided strategic planning, research, editing, writing, media relations, advertising, event planning, sponsorship cultivation and budget management for a wide variety of educational and nonprofit clients.
Manager, Public Relations and Marketing, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1994-1995): Directed public relations and marketing efforts to support educational and research activities at this private, nonprofit institution.
Director, Public Relations; Assistant Director, Public Relations; Public Relations Coordinator, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (1987-1994)
Consulting
Copyeditor and Writer, Rancho Palos Verdes Land Conservancy quarterly, Open Spaces (2010-Present).
Writer and Editor, UCI 50th Anniversary commencement with President Barak Obama, 2012; Copyeditor, Impressions/Expressions, UCI Office of Student Affairs; Writer and Editor, UCI Parent Guide 2011.
Part-time Faculty, Business Writing, California State University, Fullerton, Department of Marketing and International Business, Fall 1998.
Panelist, American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, 1995.