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 Art Star Award for Arts Leadership in 2019. She, along with her husband Steve and daughter Katy, live in Laguna Beach, and have a passion for land conservation and collecting plein air art. Toni welcomes feedback, please feel free to contact her at toni@lpapa.org.

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.

Anthony Salvo is a LPAPA Signature Artist Member and multi-year Invitational participant. Anthony has been an avid LPAPA supporter and Mentor Artist. He joined the Board in 2021. Anthony has lived in Southern California since the age of 12. That’s when he discovered oil painting. Always drawing and painting as a young child he knew that art would be his vocation. With an impressive art background spanning over many years, Anthony enjoys plein air landscape painting as well as studio painting. He attended Art Center College of Design where he graduated with honors, receiving a BFA in Graphic Design and Packaging.

.

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. Jeff was recognized for his support of LPAPA and service to the community with LPAPA's 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award. Learn more at JeffSewellArt.com.

Mary Linda Strotkamp and her husband Jay both grew up in Laguna Beach, where she studied fine art both privately and at Laguna Beach High School. After receiving an art Scholarship from the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, she majored in art at U. C. Berkeley. While raising her four children in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she continued her passion for art as a student, painter, teacher, docent, and collector. After returning to Laguna Beach in 2000, she and her husband became active in the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. She has served on the Board since 2008 and served as Vice President until 2021 when she passed the baton to Celeste Gilles. Mary Linda and Jay Strotkamp were presented with LPAPA's "Lifetime Member" award recognition in October 2015.

Tracie Sullivan, an Orange County native who graduated from USC with a bachelors degree in fine arts and art history, is co-owner of Risk Information Inc., a conference and newsletter company based in Dana Point. Tracie has served on LPAPA’s Invitational Advisory Committee since 2017. Tracie, her husband Brian and their three children have always been passionate about the arts, and Tracie and Brian have long been avid collectors of plein air art, especially local Laguna Beach artists.

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 beginning with its inception in January 1993, and now as the Emeritus Director, having 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's Board of Directors.

Rosemary Swimm held the role as LPAPA's Executive Director beginning in 2009. Her current role is as LPAPA's Senior Executive Advisor and, with her extensive history and expertise, continues to help us grow LPAPA into the future. A career woman, with over forty years of professional experience that includes, sales, managerial, creative, and accounting skills. She has owned and operated two successful business-to-business companies, organized large-scale events for arts organizations and nonprofit foundations, and has expertise in sales and direct marketing. A hands-on, no-nonsense professional with effective communication skills and broad knowledge of the arts in both the retail and institutional world. Rosemary is the proud recipient of the Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts 2014 Art Star Award for Arts Leadership. You can contact Rosemary at info@lpapa.org.

Bonnie joined the LPAPA management team in June 2019 as an Administrative Assistant, and quickly grew into the role of Executive Assistant and as of January 2023 holds the role of Executive Co-Director helping to grow LPAPA into the future with a focus on Administration and Member Relations. Her background is in the fashion business with experience in all kinds of retail from Specialty to Department Store. Her time as a Buyer gave her the chance to be creative and sharpen her business skills. In fashion wholesale she worked with small boutique owners in the Art to Wear business. Bonnie is extremely proud of her 3 grown children, that she raised in Laguna Beach, who are quite creative themselves. Feel free to reach out to Bonnie directly at bonnie@lpapa.org, or call the LPAPA Gallery at (949) 376-3635.