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Today's Featured Biography

Elizabeth Boze Thomas

Lifted from a work bio: Elizabeth worked for 10 years in the entertainment and fine arts world. She worked for Walt Disney Productions for nearly five years in their direct marketing department promoting children’s record, book, toy and film product. She promoted films and television shows for film producers such as Peter Guber and Sam Gellis, and the Magnum P.I. television series. She worked with fine artists such as Jean-Pierre Trevor and Dario Campanile, and helped the careers of several fine artists who graduated from working at the Walt Disney Studios to develop fine art careers. She promoted the first exhibit of 25 of Australia’s finest artists in the United States at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, and was publicist for the Los Angeles Ballet.

In 1978, Thomas and a partner built a state-of-the-art video stage and recording studio in Burbank. The cream of the music industry used her studio to develop their acts, such as the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, Sissy Spacek for “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” David Gates, The Cars, Devo, Elton John, and Doc Severenson’s Tonight Show Band. The Grammy Awards held their Musician of the Year awards banquet at the studio. During this time she co-produced a video production with Elton John (Visions) that was nominated for a Grammy Award and won a BAFTA award for best video (1981).

Thomas married, had a son, and sold the studio business. She then pursued a career in public relations and marketing. She began as an account executive for a small PR firm and managed PR and promotions for six Marriott Hotel properties around the world (Maui, Mexico, Athens, Rome, Cairo, Kuwait). She moved on to become the PR director for an advertising agency, servicing a variety of health care and consumer product companies.

At Golin/Harris Communications, she supervised the worldwide promotion of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Her work to open the Los Angeles Metro Blue Line (L.A.’s first light-rail train system in nearly 40 years) included coordinating with agencies and school districts in thirteen cities, six law enforcement agencies, Los Angeles County government, and two transit authorities. Efforts resulted in immediate attainment of ridership goals, and positive community reception of the new rapid transit system. In addition, she oversaw the implementation of a $6 million charitable campaign for Mattel Toys that benefited six national charities. Other clients included retailers such as The Wherehouse, Silo Consumer Electronics, Baskin Robbins, and Hugh’s Supermarkets.

In the early 1990’s, Thomas was executive director of the Irvine Education Foundation, developing private support for public schools. She led the effort to organize the Orange County Public Schools Fund (for which she was recognized in 1994 as one of Ten Women Making A Difference in Orange County) and serves on a variety of volunteer boards that support efforts to improve public education in California. Her efforts increased participation and funding by more than 250 per cent. The IEF (now known as the Irvine Public Schools Foundation) is the largest foundation of its kind in California.

At Creamer Dickson Basford (now Euro RSCG/Magnet Communications) she helped launch the firm’s West Coast operation working closely with agency CEO Jean Farinelli. She supervised the Franklin Quest and Franklin Covey Company programs (that included extensive national lifestyle consumer research), the Association of International Auto Manufacturers industry promotional efforts, the launch of Motor Vehicle ATMarket, and product launches for Heinz Foods and Price Pfister. She also supervised the Country Harvest Buffet & Bakery account, Post Cereal’s Western States introduction of Cranberry Almond Crunch Cereal, and Comcast Online Community Relations program, among others. She became a vice president and counseled client teams in five offices across the U.S.

She left Euro RSCG/Magnet Communications after five years in 2001 to take care of unexpected family obligations, but continued to provide management consulting on a variety of communications and development projects. She was retained by Cohn & Wolfe public relations (a division of Young & Rubicam) to train mid-level executives in the art of business development. In addition, she counseled the Cancer Foundation of New York City and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in Orange County regarding fund development challenges.

Then, through a mutual acquaintance, she was introduced to the owner/designer of Junior Drake. She supervised several marketing initiatives, and then was asked to serve as CMO/COO of Junior Drake in 2003. She increased sales nearly 400% and made the company profitable. After nearly four years with Junior Drake, she continued in the fashion accessories business and currently holds the license from British designer Zandra Rhodes to develop handbags and small leather goods.

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