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. 

Open Letter from Robyn Ritter Simon

Greetings Kate,

Thanks for writing about an issue near and dear to me. As a former candidate for the Los Angeles City Council in 2001 & 2009 (5^th District), I am one of the brave women who did put it all on the line to run for an office I believed I could bring value to. As a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, an active community member, a parent, and a passionate champion of more women in office, I applaud you for covering what our political landscape will sadly look like come 2013.

All the women you spoke with and had comment in your article are friends, colleagues and supporters of mine. I have spent a dozen years involved with and serving as a Board member with the National Women’s Political Caucus, a group committed to recruiting, training and supporting more women to run for office. The obstacles are huge for a candidate running in Los Angeles, money probably being the most challenging. Second, is that women still carry the primary responsibility of their families and are unwilling to jeopardize their family for the grueling scrutiny that accompanies a candidate on the campaign tail. I might also point out, that women don’t always support other women and it’s terribly frustrating.

Several of the women you quoted or write about in your article are in office because the women’s community backed them wholeheartedly, and not because they were female, but because they were the best candidates in their respective races. However, many of them do not stay true to the core values that helped elect them which included a commitment to more women in office. They do not mentor women in their communities to fill the pipeline when they move on, thus leaving a void when a seat becomes available. It is a recurring theme and one that now presents us with the possibility of no women on the LA City Council, a town that prides itself on being inclusive and progressive. Where will my voice be on the council?

NWPC’s mission is 50/50 by 2020, 50% men, 50% women representation in all branches of government by the year 2020. We will not achieve this goal at the rate we are progressing. This being said, I will continue working tirelessly to support women candidates with my energy, experience, money and encouragement that while the road may be brutal, and it is, the outcome of having her voice in the political dialogue, is well worth it.

Thanks again for writing an article that speaks volumes to me. 

Go To Robyn's Blog