Board Members

Toni Kellenberg is a LPAPA Artist member and joined LPAPA's board of directors in 2013, and has served as President since 2014. She has been a LPAPA volunteer since 2007 and has served on the Invitational Planning Committee since 2013. As LPAPA's social media director, Toni works across all social media platforms to connect LPAPA, and its Members, to the global art community. As President, Toni's focus has been to grow membership, raise awareness of LPAPA's mission, and gain support to sustain LPAPA's future. Toni was honored with the Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts 2019 Art Star Award for Arts Leadership. She and her husband Steve live in Laguna Beach, and have a passion for land conservation and collecting plein air art.

Harry Bithell specializes in Laguna Beach homes for sale and the Orange County real estate market.  He has been on LPAPA's Board of Directors since 2011, and he and his wife Suzi are passionate plein air art collectors. In addition to serving on LPAPA's board of directors, he volunteers with the Laguna Beach Rotary and helps to present their annual car show.

Jackie Demee is a Regional Sales Office Supervisor for BNY Mellon Wealth Management. In this role, she is responsible for office management, coordination and implementation of local marketing events and support of the Regional President and Senior Directors.  Jackie joined the firm in 2013 and has more than seven years of experience in the financial and professional services industry, specializing in commercial real estate and wealth management.  Jackie received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine. She joined LPAPA's board as an Ex Officio in an advisory role in 2017.

Steve Dicterow is a business and community leader, City Council member and former three-term mayor of Laguna Beach. He has been deeply involved in Laguna Beach civics and arts, and many non-profit organizations. He joined LPAPA's Board of Directors as an ex officio in 2016, and brings his 12 years of experience on the Laguna Beach City Council and his private sector experience in business development, financial management, and strategic planning and operations, as an Advisor to help guide LPAPA's future.

Debra Huse is a contemporary American Impressionist painter and is the owner of the Debra Huse Gallery in Balboa Island, California. Debra joined LPAPA's board of directors in 2013 and serves to facilitate Member painting and mentoring events. She enjoys working in oils and is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, the American Society of Marine Artists, Laguna Plein Air Painters and Pastel Society of America. She enjoys painting on location and has painted in many plein air events across the country. Debra Huse has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine, Plein Air Magazine and Art of the West Magazine.

Jeffrey A. Pierce, MBA is Vice President/Investments at Stifel. He began his career in 1980 with San Francisco-based Sutro & Co.  His love of art began during this period while visiting the Lower Nob galleries along Sutter Street.  In 2013, LPAPA board member Mary Linda Strotkamp introduced Jeff to the organization.  Since that time, the Hansen/Pierce Wealth Management Group at Stifel has been a sponsor of the annual LPAPA Plein Air Painting Invitational.  Jeff holds a BS from Arizona State University and a MBA from the Paul Merage School at the University of California, Irvine.

Jeff Sewell is a LPAPA Signature Artist Member and multi-year Invitational participant. He joined LPAPA's board of directors in 2013 and currently serves as its Director of Education. Jeff was instrumental in developing LPAPA's Plein Air Project, a four part youth education program designed to integrate with 4th Grade studies of California history.

A recognized authority on California Impressionism, Art Historian Jean Stern has extensive experience in the field as an author, curator, lecturer, and teacher. He has been the executive director of the Irvine Museum since its inception in January 1993, and has established a national presence for the Irvine Museum in the fields of California Art and History through a noteworthy international series of books, exhibitions, lectures, articles and video documentaries. He has written or contributed to over twenty-five books on California art. He is an artistic advisor to LPAPA and its annual Invitational "Best of Show" judge.