Board Member Spotlight: Robyn Ritter Simon

Robyn Ritter Simon is a seasoned business and civic leader with more than 20 plus years’ experience as an advocate, executive and mentor in Los Angeles. Robyn recently completed a yearlong project with the launch of her 50th Birthday Blog, a daily memoir chronicling life’s muses from her 49th Birthday leading up to her 50th birthday which she just celebrated in April.

You can read Robyn’s life lessons and postings on her website's blog http://robynrittersimon.blogspot.com/ and learn about her triumphs, passions and her commitment to run the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon, which she completed.

Robyn began her professional career as a broadcast journalist for the NBC affiliate in Palm Desert, CA specializing in politics.  She was the producer and host of an award winning public affairs program titled “Robyn Ritter Reports”  before returning to Los Angeles where she free-lanced as a journalist for the ABC affiliate in Santa Barbara and then eventually for Los Angeles’ public access station Channel 35.  She is a powerful public speaker with the ability to energize any audience she is invited to speak in front of www.RobynRitterSimon.com Robyn holds a Master’s Degree in Broadcast Management from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from San Francisco State University.

Robyn’s association with the National Women’s Political Caucus began more than a decade ago when she ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council.  NWPC endorsed her candidacy and a partnership was cemented and continues strong today. She has remained a committed advocate for women pursuing careers in politics and has served as the past President of NWPC LA Westside and as a NWPC State Board member as VP of Communications.  Under Robyn’s tenure at both the state level and locally, membership sky rocked, NWPC’s visibility grew, and a monthly statewide Newsletter, The Caucus Connection was created and produced monthly by Robyn as well as a monthly electronic newsletter for NWPC LA Westside.  In addition, Robyn is credited with launching and co-managing LA Westside’s’ Calendar project for three consecutive years.  The NWPC Remarkable Women calendar recognizes outstanding women leaders and serves as the groups signature fundraiser for NWPCs Political Action Committee.  Robyn was a calendar honoree in 2009.  She was also nominated for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women of Achievement Award, and received the 2010 SHero Award from her State Senator Curren Price.

In addition to her passion to elect more women and achieve NWPCs goal of 50/50 by 2020 Robyn is a seasoned public affairs and communications executive. She served as CEO of the Century City Chamber of Commerce and as Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. While at the LA Chamber she also managed and led the well-respected Leadership LA program which aims to train future civic leaders. She herself is a graduate of the New Leaders Project, a program sponsored by The Jewish Federation www.NewLeadersProject.com.

Robyn was appointed by former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn to the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission serving as a commissioner from 2001 – 2005.  Robyn is recognized as an education reformer from her earlier work galvanizing her neighborhood to make a difference at the local public school.  As co-founder of the Beverlywood Moms, she coordinated and implemented a successful, precedent-setting grassroots effort, recruiting neighborhood families to support Canfield Avenue Elementary School in West LA. Robyn recognizes the immense importance education contributes to our community. The groups work was extensively profiled in the LA Times!

While Robyn’s talents are well documented, the work she is most proud of accomplishing is that of mother to her three sons, Brandon, Harrison, and Spencer and her marriage to high school sweetheart Brian Simon.  She credits motherhood and her family for fueling her passion to be the best woman she possible can be, and for that she is eternally grateful.