Ambassadors
The Ambassador Program includes a diverse group of local artisans, non-profit organization representatives, and community members with a desire to honor Dana Point’s history and local charm with positive and memorable experiences and events for residents and visitors.
Maria Elena Banks
Maria Elena has always had a passion for the arts, especially music! She has helped organize many events in Dana Point and looks forward to being even more involved.
Alicia Erlinger
Alicia is a long time Dana Point resident, educator, theatre maker and advocate. She previously served as a Board Member for Dana Point Coastal Arts and Dana Theatre Company. Professionally, Alicia is a CUSD teacher and was awarded Theatre Arts Teacher of the Year by OC Music and Arts Administrators. Additionally, she has produced original plays, directed at the Long Beach Playhouse, and appeared on stage at South Coast Repertory.
Natalie Hribar-Kelly
Natalie has been an art teacher at Dana Hills High School since 2004. She holds a Master in Fine Arts degree from CSULB and a Bachelors of Fine Arts from UCLA. She has participated in numerous group shows, solo art exhibits, and juried exhibitions. She led the large-scale mural at Salt Creek Beach and prides herself in making opportunities for students to show their artwork at school and in the community.
Ashley Keene
Ashley is a local mix media visual artist and designer who has created art her entire life. Growing up near the beach, her artwork is heavily influenced by the local surf culture and ocean vistas, inspiring an array of bright colors that give her artwork a surreal and dreamlike ambiance.
Karin Schnell
Karin has been involved in arts her whole career, from museums, arts education, art festivals, and public art. She serves on the Board for the Dana Point Arts Alliance, Dana Point Symphony, and Dana Point Sister Cities.
Alex Wilson
Alex works for Southern California's flagship PBS station, PBS SoCal. fostering relationships with many of California's most prominent arts institutions as a consultant and advisor. Alex will be leveraging his knowledge and experience in arts management and his relationships with artists and institutions to help bring new arts programming and events to the city.
Jennifer Keil
Jennifer has a Master of Arts in Public and Oral History. She founded 70 Degrees to archive, preserve and exhibit cultural institutions. She is the director at the Moulton Museum, a non-profit that she helped establish in 2022.
Anthony Small
Anthony is a local musician, arts advocate, Dana Point Times columnist, and Dana Point Sister Cities Ambassador of Music. In 2023, he was named by the California Arts Council and Arts Orange County as recipient of an Individual Artist Legacy Fellowship, a lifetime achievement award.
Dana Yarger
Dana is a long time art industry veteran having been a gallerist, art publisher, art collector, exhibition curator, noted trainer in the psychology of art acquisition process, author on art valuation, art collector's buyer/advocate and agent for artists.
Nancy Jenkins
Nancy has always been interested in the arts since her mother taught her art when she was young. Her ultimate goal is to help and support students and artists. Currently, she is taking several jewelry classes at Saddleback College.
Laura Smith Hatch
Laura grew up in Pensacola, Florida and attended law school in New Orleans - two cities known for their rich culture and music. She is committed to cultivating and preserving arts and culture in the city and making it a special place for both residents and visitors.
Bob Zasa
Bob is an active member of the Dana Point Community. He is a Board Member of the Dana Point Symphony and also a member of the President's Circle of Casa Romantica in San Clemente. In Apil 2022, Bob formed Dana Point Sister Cities International with the mission to advance Dana Point as a global city.
