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PROFILE OF LAURA KATH
Since 1989, Laura has owned Mariah Marketing, her
consulting business that offers comprehensive marketing, special event and
writing services. Laura specializes in "unlocking the mysteries of
communication" to achieve profit and success for a diverse service-oriented
clientele. Prior to the emergence of Mariah Marketing, Laura was Vice-President
Sales & Marketing for Vintage Hotels in Santa Barbara. She also served as the
first Director of Sales for the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce/Conference &
Visitors Bureau from 1985-88. Previous hospitality management positions included
the Canyon Resort in Palm Springs, Radisson Hotels in Kansas City and
Louisville, as well as hotels in her native Michigan.
 Dynamic
communication through writing and broadcasting are Laura's distinctive
talents. She is co-author of Fun with the Family in Southern
California (Globe Pequot Press, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2000, 1998) and The
Family Adventure Guide: Southern California (Globe Pequot Press,
1995). Laura is the author of Forest Lawn: The First 100 Years (2007); 100 Years in the Life of Forest Lawn Illustrated (2007); NALMCO: Golden Reflections (2003);
Weasku Inn: Oregon’s Legendary Rogue River Resort (1998); The
Upham Hotel: Celebrating 125 Years of Santa Barbara Hospitality
(1996); A 50-Year History of CUPA--The College & University Personnel
Association (1995); Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks: A Place for the
Living (1994); Elvis Presley's Graceland: The Official Guidebook
(1996, 1994); MGM Grand Commemorative Book (1993) & San Ysidro
Ranch: A Century of Legendary Hospitality (1992).
Laura’s by-line appears in numerous periodicals and she also serves
as Editorial Director of the Custom Media Group in Santa Barbara. Over
the airwaves, Laura worked as a part-time announcer from 1990-95 on
101.7 FM K-LITE (KSBL) Radio Santa Barbara; hosted the internationally
syndicated smooth jazz program Soundscapes (1994-95) and was as the
“Great Escapes” correspondent from 1995-2004 for Elmer Dills’ Good Life
Show on 870AM KRLA Radio in Los Angeles. She is the host of Escapades on
www.TravelHubRadio.net and contributes to
ForbesTraveler.com.
The first inkling of Laura’s communications career began when she requested a
typewriter from Santa at age five. A glimpse into her future hospitality career
appeared at age seven when she began playing "restaurant" instead of "house"
with her tea set. In 1982, Laura graduated with honors from Michigan State
University with a Business Administration degree in Hotel-Restaurant Management
and Tourism Marketing.
Laura’s professional affiliations include membership in the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association; Society of Incentive Travel Executives and Meeting Professionals International. Laura is one of the founding board members of the Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association and the Santa Barbara Book & Author Festival. Laura is a member of the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau/Film Commission, Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce, Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce, Solvang Chamber of Commerce and Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club-a philanthropic community group.
Since 1983, Laura has served as a volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation. In
1998, she was honored with the Mary G. Kendall Award for Outstanding Service and
in 2005 as a “Community Hero”. Laura is Past President of the Santa Barbara
Branch, serves on the Board of Directors; originated a self-help group for youth
and was a Camp Esperanza counselor for kids with arthritis from 1989-94. Her
leisure pursuits include travel, aqua aerobics, reading and music. As the lyrics
from the Lerner & Lowe song say, “Like the wind they call Mariah, (Laura) blows
the stars around and sends the clouds a-flying" with her positive energy and
joyful celebration of life.
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