ArtsPR Staff & Consultants
Christopher Trela Christopher is an award-winning publicist, writer, photographer, and playwright. He is the President of the OC Press Club, an Adjunct Professor of Public Relations at Chapman University, and an Arts Commissioner for the City of Newport Beach. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Overture Young Professionals (a non-profit arts-specific fundraising organization), Young Singers of OC, and New Voices Playwrights Theatre. Christopher has had more than 1,600 articles published in local and regional magazines and newspapers over the past 22 years. His photos have appeared in the LA Times, OC Register, OC Weekly, OC Metro, and numerous other publications. In 1997, Christopher founded New Voices Playwrights Workshop, a consortium of playwrights, actors and directors that have presented productions at various theaters in OC. Christopher has written more than 20 short and full-length plays that have been produced in New York, Los Angeles and Orange County. For his efforts in promoting new plays and playwrights, the Daily Pilot newspaper named Christopher the Man of the Year in Theatre for 1997. Laura Robinson Laura Robinson has been involved with public relations for the arts over the past four years and has been with ArtsPR since its inception. Prior to ArtsPR Laura was a PR assistant at The Laguna Playhouse. She also interned with OCPR, where she did publicity for The Balboa Performing Arts Theater’s Family Movie Nites. The Orange County chapter of the Public Relations Society of America presented her with a PROTOS Award in 2010 and an Award of Excellence in 2009. She has also been a “Remarkable Woman Honoree” from the National Association of Women Business Owners – OC Chapter. Laura serves on the Board of Directors for Overture Young Professionals, an organization dedicated to raising funds for youth arts programs. Before her career in PR, she experienced the wonderful world of Disney as a Guest Relations cast member and a “Haunted Mansion Maid” at The Disneyland Resort. Laura graduated from Chapman University with a degree in Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in Germanic Studies. She was a member of the Chapman University Tennis Team and the Director of Public Relations for Delta Gamma Fraternity – Zeta Iota. Greg Lipford is a journalist, economist and problem solver with 33 years of experience in the news and communications industry, including 21 years with the Orange County Register and its parent, Freedom Communications. Greg most recently was the Multimedia Marketing Content Manager for the Register. Since leaving Freedom Communications, Greg has been a freelance writer and editor, and has been an consultant with West Third Group, an editorial-services company. Greg has conducted PR campaigns for local businesses and arts groups, and he has a passion for performing himself. As a singer, Greg has been in numerous community musicals and was a member of an international championship chorus in 1990 and 1993. Moving on to acting, Greg has appeared in dozens of performances throughout Orange County. Greg has owned two small businesses along the way. An appreciation for the dynamic artists and entrepreneurs putting tremendous energy into their crafts every day throughout Southern California has drawn Greg to ArtsPR and TrelaVisions. His experience in the business and creative sides of organizations big and small can help organizations do more of what it does best: making lives richer! Meghan Perez Stephanie Leavell
President/Chief Cookie Baker
ctrela@artspr.org
In addition to serving as Director of Communications for The Laguna Playhouse, Christopher has been Director of PR and Publications for Pacific Symphony, Director of Marketing and Development for Balboa Performing Arts Theatre, and PR & Marketing Manager for Discovery Science Center.
Christopher received a 2010 PROTOS Award, and a 2011, 2009 and 2008 Award of Excellence, from the OC Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. He received a First Place trophy at the 2009 OC Press Club Journalism Awards, and several second and third place certificates at the 2010 Journalism Awards. He has won numerous awards for feature and entertainment writing and for photography, but his tastiest claim to fame is winning Second Place at the OC Fair for his chocolate chip cookies.
Account Manager
lrobinson@artspr.org
Stasha Surdyke
Account Manager/LA Region
ssurdyke@artspr.org
Stasha Surdyke initially began her studies as a Journalism major and Music minor at University of Maryland. Stasha shifted gears to follow a life-long dream. She auditioned for the University of Washington’s School of Drama, and was one of eighteen students accepted into the school’s prestigious two-year Suzuki program. She received her BA in Drama and a minor in Communications from UW.
While studying at University of Washington, Stasha honed her PR and marketing skills at Passage Records in Seattle, where she promoted local jazz musicians on a national level. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music and acting career. She performs regularly at local jazz clubs and has appeared in numerous commercials, films and theatrical productions throughout Southern California.
An advocate for Breast Cancer awareness, Surdyke served for several years on the committee for Expedition Inspiration: The Hike For the Cure, the sister organization to Susan G. Komen’s Race For the Cure. She often donates her talents as a vocalist and performer to various charity fundraisers. In addition, Surdyke volunteers regularly to help nonprofit groups that benefit children and arts education.
With her commitment to helping others, passion for the performing arts, love of public relations, and exceptional media savvy, Stasha is thrilled to help lead ArtsPR in its endeavor to provide the highest quality PR service available for arts organizations in the greater Los Angeles area and Southern California.
Greg Lipford
Writer/Consultant
Account Coordinator
mperez@artspr.org
Meghan studied agriculture and theater at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo before returning to OC, where she graduated from Cal State University Fullerton with a BA in Communications. She served as a PR intern at Laguna Playhouse for a year prior to joining ArtsPR. She has experience as a ticket service representative at Laguna Playhouse and spent two years as a sales associate at Anthropologie. Meghan is also an acknowledged Social Media junkie and maintains the social media presence for Laguna Playhouse and other clients.
Editorial Assistant
ArtsPR2@ArtsPR.org
Stephanie graduated from Chapman University in 2011 with degrees in Journalism and French. She has been published as a journalist in several publications, including the Orange County Register, and Chapman University’s student newspaper, The Panther. She got her start in public relations as an intern with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes baseball team (a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers) and also interned for ArtsPR. She currently assists ArtsPR with various editorial and writing projects, including client blogs and website content. She loves to travel, speaks fluent French, and spent five months living in Paris.
Sierra Bowling
PR Intern
Sierra is a senior at Chapman University and will graduate in 2012 with a BA in Communications and minors in Public Relations and Advertising. She recently served as Assistant Philanthropy and Publicity Chair of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority--Epsilon Nu. She has experience in the retail world, and spent a year working at Francisco's Salon, where she maintained their social media presence. Sierra has a love of PR and social media, and is excited to be a part of the ArtsPR team.
Mi Mai
PR Intern
Mi is a sophomore from Chapman University who is pursuing degrees in Public Relations & Advertising and Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. Her first glimpse into public relations was through participation in the 2011 OC Can You Play? campaign for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. Since then, she has worked with the Blind Children’s Learning Center, Zoe Productions, and is currently interning with ArtsPR and BIA/OC. Mi enjoys spending abnormally lengthy hours perusing the wonders of the World Wide Web, and is proud to be a social media addict, a classically trained pianist, an arts and crafts enthusiast, and an aspiring creative.
Justine Volkman
PR Intern
Justine is a sophomore at Chapman University, majoring in Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in Leadership Studies. She is a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America and Chapman Ad Club. Most recently Justine spent the summer as a marketing intern with 5280: Denver’s Magazine, where she fell in love with marketing and gained invaluable experience. Justine is excited to share her skills with ArtsPR and she looks forward to taking away a better understanding of the field of public relations.
