Santa Barbara Zoo Names New Board Officers
Kelly Magne Jensen founded Jensen Audio Visual in 1997. The firm specializes in the design, sales and installations of commercial audio visual and surveillance systems, and provides AV rentals for hotels, weddings, and corporate events. Her relationship with the Zoo began in 1997, when she became the chair of Dignatarios, a Fiesta celebration that is a major fundraiser for the Santa Barbara Zoo. She has worked on every Dignatarios since, and in 2007 was named La Presidenta of Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Jensen has served on many local boards, including the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Carriage and Western Arts Museum, the Junior League, and St. Raphael School. A native of Mukwonago Wisconsin, she received her BS degree in Business Economics from Marquette University and her MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin.
New Board Members, Elected To Six Year Terms
John Dixon has been co-owner of Tri-County Produce with his father, Jim Dixon, since 1985. The Milpas Street store has received the “Best of” award from the Santa Barbara Independent for years, and was honored with the Spirit of Service award from the City of Santa Barbara for their “Where’s Your Bag” campaign. Dixon is a graduate of Dos Pueblos High School and Santa Barbara City College, and has been very involved in community leadership. He was a founding director (1999) and past President of the Santa Barbara Police Activities League (PAL) and is a current board member. He has served on the board of the Casa Esperanza Homeless Center since 1999, and is a member of the Milpas Action Task Force, and on the board of the Milpas Community Association. He received the Citizen of the Year award 2004 and the Independent’s Local Heroes award in 2010, in addition to many other community awards and recognitions. Dixon became involved in the Zoo by attending Zoofari Ball.
J. Terry Schwartz is head of the Litigation Department at Price, Postel and Parma LLP, the oldest law firm in Santa Barbara (founded in 1852). He specializes in complex business litigation, as well as construction, employment, and environmental disputes. He received his B.A. in Political Science from UCSB and his J.D. from UCLA Law School. Schwartz previously served on the Zoo Board of Directors from 2004 to 2010 and was its president 2007 to 2009. Schwartz has served on many other non-profit boards including the Santa Barbara Historical Society, Laguna Blanca School, and as President of the Board of the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara. He has also served on the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Amethyst Ball Men’s Committee for many years, including co-chairing it.
Barbara Smith has worked professionally as a teacher, editorial assistant, newspaper columnist, and fundraiser. She served on the boards of the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, the Pasadena Junior League and as president of the San Marino Area National Charity League. Since moving to Santa Barbara in 1998, she has been active with the Music Academy of the West, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Women’s Board and the CAMA Women’s Board. She has worked with the Zoo’s Discovery Pavilion committee since 2009.
Other current Zoo Board members include: Fred Benko; Sharon Bradford, Thomas Caleel, Leigh Cashman, Mindy Denson; Ginni Dreier; Sharon Jones; Carol Kallman; Glenn Miller, MD; David Prichard; Amy Pryor; John W. Russell; and M. Barry Semler.
