Activating the Power of the Arts for the Benefit of the Community
LBCAC
Board Of Directors
+ Advisory Board
Below you will see our Board Of Directors and our Advisory Board personnel. Please take a moment to acquaint yourself with the people whose passion for our Cultural Arts Center make it a reality day in and day out.
The LB Cultural Arts Center is a beacon and catalyst for advancing art appreciation, enhancing the quality of life, and promoting civic and cultural development. The arts center contributes to Laguna Beach and the surrounding community through its exhibitions and events.
LBCAC | Board of Directors
Jeff Yoder - In a career that has spanned more than 30 years in high-tech ventures from medical devices to fiber optics to finance software, Jeff is an accomplished entrepreneur and sales and marketing executive with strong operational management skills. Jeff has been a principal at several start-up companies in Silicon Valley that have been sold and/or gone to IPO. Jeff has worked directly with major venture capitalists and VC organizations, including Mark Cuban, securing funding and defining strategic direction for these companies. Jeff is currently a private VC investor in individual start-ups and diversity funds such as Calvia, INC. and is an investor/partner at Astia Angels. Jeff’s philanthropic work has included working closely with local and global nonprofits.
Austin Barrow - Laguna Beach Arts Commissioner. Chief Operating Officer for the Crystal Cove Conservancy. Although most people told him an art degree would never take him that far, he has found that the combination of creativity and collaboration is an additive source for all organizations. With a couple of (ahem) decades of education and nonprofit work under his belt, Austin looks forward to bringing his operational experience to this growing organization. Before joining the conservancy Austin served as President/COO for the Murphy Arts District in El Dorado, Arkansas. He was a fellow founder of the nonprofit which he led to creating a six-city block, multi-venue arts district with multiple stages, restaurants, heritage parks, and children’s playscape. Building the organization from the ground up he developed a specialty in organizational structure, development, and historical renovation. Austin earned his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas (Woo Pig Sooie!) in 2008 and went on to become a professor of the theater before taking on an executive management role in nonprofits. He lives in Laguna Beach with his wife and two children, and they are even more excited than he is, “Daddy works so close to the beach. We can visit every day!”
Jason Feddy – Singer/songwriter and guitarist from Leeds, England. Jason is the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance “Artist of The Year” 2019/20. A central figure in the music scene of Laguna Beach, curating and producing the city’s numerous outdoor music series. His album of songs from the plays of Shakespeare and the show, “Shakespeare’s Fool,” recently presented at the LBCAC, are critically acclaimed. Jason is the maily KX-FM’s morning deejay. He has opened for Neil Young, Tears For Fears, The Cranberries, John Martyn, and Joe Cocker at venues such as The London Palladium, The Albert Hall and Glastonbury Festival. With six albums of original songs in his catalog, Jason performs solo and with two tribute bands, The Beatroots (Beatles) and Mad Dogs & The Englishman (Joe Cocker). Jason is OC Music Director for Music In Common, a nonprofit that brings together youth from diverse backgrounds for songwriting and performances. He wrote 14 songs for “Three’s a Crowd,” a play written by and starring comic Rita Rudner, which opened in 2018 at Laguna Playhouse and ran Off-Broadway in New York City in summer 2019, with Jason as musical director and performer. He is cantor/soloist (song leader) at Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach and Jewish Collaborative of OC.
Mark Dawson – a longtime resident of Laguna Beach, moved to the community with his family in the early 1960s and grew up immersed in the town’s coastal lifestyle. His early years were shaped by long days on the sand, playing volleyball on local beaches, and eventually running Laguna’s volleyball tournaments—experiences that rooted him deeply in teamwork and community. He earned a computer science degree from UC Irvine and went on to found Knowledge Quest, an innovative e-learning software company whose interactive learning products were used by Fortune 100 clients and bundled with major technology products, including Intel’s. Throughout his career, Mark has continued to explore emerging technologies with a creative lens. He is especially passionate about using augmented reality to spotlight artists, deepen engagement with the natural world, and create immersive experiences that blend art, place, and environmental awareness. Looking ahead, Mark is committed to applying his technical background and creative instincts to inspire the next generation. He is particularly interested in developing innovative tools to create immersive experiences that help young people understand, appreciate, and act on environmental issues, both locally and across the globe.
Danielle Roedersheimer - new Board Of Directors Member. Welcome Danielle.
Joe Mauthe - new Board Of Directors Member. Welcome Joe.
LBCAC | Advisory Council
Paul Freeman: A strategist, project manager, speaker and writer who has worked with firms, non-profits and agencies; for developers, environmentalists and universities; and in Africa and Asia on multinational observation and technical assistance missions. He then managed media and events for the 1989 Nobel Peace Laureate, the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Paul has worked with companies such as South Coast Plaza, institutions such as University of California, and government agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development. Paul is a former member of the Fairfax County, Virginia School Board and served two terms as mayor in Laguna Beach, California. He has an abiding interest in the game of Go.
Steve & Beth Wood: Founding Member of the iconic surf band Honk, produced over 25 IMAX award winning documentaries for MacGillivray Freeman Films. Steve has tremendous experience in all aspects of film and music production.Along with his ultra-talented wife Beth, have toured the world and performed to countless audiences.
Toni Iseman : Toni Iseman’s history-making 24 years as a Laguna Beach city councilmember is extraordinary were celebrated with recognition for her even longer commitment to environmental service. Her fierce dedication to the Save The Canyon efforts and the 1989 Walk in the Canyon are well known and ever since that time Iseman has been a constant promoter of expanding and preserving open space in and around Laguna Beach.
Karyn Phillipsen: A native Californian and long-time resident of Orange County, Karyn Philippsen’s multi-faceted career encompasses over thirty-years experience in the hospitality industry. She played a major role in the success of such luxury properties as Montage Resort & Spa and Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, and was a key player in the opening of the world class five star Ritz-Carlton/Laguna Niguel. As an influential and active community leader, Ms. Philippsen has served on several non-profit boards, and currently serves in her tenth year as elected president of the Visit Laguna Beach.
Bill Levin: an intellectual property attorney and litigator, expert witness, treatise author, and have also been a successful real estate investor, broker, developer, managing partner, and business owner.
Specialties: Trademark and trade dress litigation, trials, depositions, injunctions, appeals, and expert witness work. Other intellectual property law litigation, including copyright, trade secrets, unfair competition, and false advertising. Managing lawsuits and creating winning strategies, maximizing damages, writing, editing, negotiating, and publicizing and marketing.
Norm Grossman: became involved with environmental issues soon after moving to Laguna Beach in 1978. He joined the Greenbelt board in 1984 and served on the Laguna Beach Planning Commission nearly continuously from 1988 to 2015. Norm has played a role in multiple environmental and land use initiatives, including two on preserving Laguna Beach open space (1998 and 2012), four on redevelopment of El Toro Air Station (1994-2000), and one on growth management in Orange County (1988). He was one of the negotiators involved in purchasing Laguna Canyon in 1990. His professional background is digital engineering, with experience in the aerospace industry and academia.
Joseph Mauthe: Is a Certified Public Account (CPA) and former tax partner with Deloitte where he spent 32 years as a tax consultant and business advisor.
A New Jersey native, Joe relocated to Southern California while serving in the US Marine Corps based in El Toro, CA. A resident of Laguna Beach since 2011, Joe has a Masters of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
Joe enjoys mentoring young professionals, reading, golfing at El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Niguel and traveling with his wife and 3 children.
Joe and his family actively support several non-profit organizations to include The Laguna Food Pantry, The Orangewood Foundation, Servite High School, Loyola Marymount University, Higher Ground Youth and Family Services and of course The Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center.
Josh Wolff: Partner at Wolff Mascaro LLP, advises LBCAC on nonprofit legal matters. Michael and Cathy Conway: CPA accountants, advises LBCAC on accounting and filing issues
Tom Lamb: Tom Lamb is an aerial, landscape and ethnographic photographer. He uses photography as his primary tool, along with pioneering trends in new media. Tom has dedicated his life through the art of storytelling, to creating memorable photographs, championing art and environmental awareness; examining how we interact with the planet’s most valuable but increasingly threatened resources. He is an ecotourism expert and internationally recognized photographer interested in the balance between the natural world and man’s mark on the land. He lives and maintains a studio in Laguna Beach, California. His work is published, exhibited and collected internationally. He serves on various non-profit boards including: the Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Summervail Art Workshop Legacy Project, the Metcalf Cabin Owners Association and the Phen-dey Foundation for Tibetan Culture and the Arts.
Jacques Garnier: is an artist/photographer based in Laguna Beach.. His work has been featured in over a hundred national and international exhibitions. Jacques has extensiveknowledge of LBCAC’s history (Mark Chamberlain, Jerry Birchfield and BC Space Galley).
Cynthia Britton: Cynthia Britain is a founding member of Laguna Plein Air Painter’s Association. She has lived in Laguna Beach and maintained a studio/gallery in Laguna Canyon for over 25 years. Her passion for painting extends to music having deep roots in our community and bringing people together. As a practicing guitarist and blues enthusiast she is supportive of bringing live music in this genre to our Laguna Beach community.
Heather Harless: Lighting Expert: Heather has and continues to work with several university theater programs and event venues as a consultant and engineer for a variety of lighting needs.
Sharon Carton: Sharon serves as LBCAC’s CPA accountant. She received her BBA in Accounting from Western Michigan University - Haworth College of Business, then went on to earn her MBA, Business Administration and Management, General Master of Business Administration (MBA)
As Controller of Mozaik LLC Sharon oversees two other accounting personnel and the office in general. As Controller of Amcor Sunclipse Sharon oversees the financials, payroll, commissions, our two software systems and ensures the office is run effectively and efficiently. Managed Accounting Department for $40 million division.
David Vaughn: Laguna Beach artist and musician who handles the Webmaster duties for the LBCAC. David has pioneered his "Multi-Sensory Fine Art": mixed media artwork featuring original musical compositions that accompany the artwork. He exhibits at his showroom and studio in Laguna Beach which he runs with his wife, Jennifer. David is an active community member who loves helping local businesses thrive. David has exceptional experience in the fine arts, gallery industry, web design. programming, and audio/music production. He has won the Independent Music Award for New Age Album of the Year and his artwork is sought nationwide by art collectors.