New Directors at Elings Park

Larry Tsoumas recently moved from Chicago to head marketing for Santa Barbara’s renowned Four Season – Biltmore. He has directed sales and marketing for a number of the world’s top hotel companies, including Sofitel, Mandarin Oriental, Taj, The Peninsula, and Ritz Carlton. He lives in Montecito.

Byron Elton was vice president and general manager of KEYT-TV in Santa Barbara from 1995-2000. Since then he has worked for AOL Media Networks and Univision Communication, Inc. Mr. Elton is current president, CEO, and chairman of the board of Carbon Sciences, Inc., a leader in the technology of gas-to-liquid conversion in small to medium-sized petroleum fields. He lives in Santa Barbara and is active in the Mormon Church.

Both Tsoumas and Elton are enthusiastic about the service Elings Park provides to children, youth and families through its management of one of Santa Barbara’s treasures: the largest privately managed park and open space in the country. Mr. Tsoumas adds that he enjoys the opportunity to walk his two yellow Labrador retrievers in the beautiful park setting.

About Elings Park

More than 40 years ago, the founders of Elings Park had a unique vision for a spectacular site: to provide recreational facilities in an exceptional setting for the benefit of all citizens of the Santa Barbara area. As part of their plan, they insisted the park would be created, maintained, and operated without taxpayer dollars. The Elings Park Foundation now takes on that role.

From the beginning in 1965, park founders—under the leadership of Jerry Harwin—knew this spot, halfway between Goleta and Carpinteria, would be ideal for the recreational needs of a highly active community. Indeed, today the 230-acre park provides a place for sports and athletic endeavors for people of all ages, from all neighborhoods, and from all walks of life. It also serves as a model for other communities, demonstrating that a nonprofit foundation can operate an extraordinary park with earned revenue and donations and without reliance on government funds.