Kara Whittington
From advertising, digital media strategy, and project management to social media marketing and promotional partnership development, I am a marketing and communications specialist, seasoned nonprofit arts administrator, and independent museum and performing arts professional. I also dabble in the for-profit sector with additional background in residential real estate sales marketing and project management.
Currently, I am taking on select short-term and long-term consulting projects in marketing, partnerships, and beyond for organizations of all types and sizes. Have an opportunity, project or idea that I can help support? Let’s chat about it! Contact me here.
photo by Kara's high school swimming buddy, the talented Mary Briemle at Bettina Crawford Photography.
My Story
A native Californian, I was born Kara Michelle Grizzell and raised in a creative, musical family. Starting at the young age of 2 1/2, my mother, Janet (Dill) Grizzell, taught me "Twinkle, Twinkle" on the violin (yes, a 1/16 size violin), beginning my life long love of music. In addition to playing the violin, piano, and French Horn, I was fortunate to work for over eight years as a studio and professional singer in Los Angeles, following in the footsteps of my father Earl Grizzell, a jingle writer and producer. Some of my best musical memories include premiering living jazz legend Wynton Marsalis' epic work "All Rise" at the Hollywood Bowl with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, under Esa-Pekka Salonen on September 13, 2011—not only my birthday, but also just two days after the 9/11 attack on the United States. Singing the national anthem at the Hollywood Bowl with full orchestra and gospel choir that day was truly unforgettable, as was recording the piece at Warner Bros. studios the following week.
I continued playing the violin through college, and combined my interests in music with business administration, receiving a B.A. in Music Industry Studies from California State University, Northridge—a unique degree combining musical studies with business courses including business law, management, and organizational behavior. Applying my degree I launched a successful career in the non-profit arts, working with a myriad of organizations in the fields of marketing, communications, advertising, box office/ticketing, program management, analysis, and as a consultant for more than 15 years in Los Angeles and San Francisco primarily. Read more about the companies and clients I've worked with here and review some of the projects I've worked on and produced here.
I’m blessed with a supportive husband and two delightful daughters, who we are working to raise as good humans.
The Team
KATHRYN BOOTH
Kathryn is an art historian turned Social Media and Digital Marketing professional. She got her start in the Bay Area at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and after 5 years as their social media manager, she decided to branch out and consult with a variety of brands to help tell their stories. She’s since worked across hospitality, consumer goods, and tech. If she were an artist (preferably in the renaissance) Instagram would be her medium. She is able to strike the right tone while delivering powerful results for both large brands to smaller nonprofits. She now lives in Los Angeles and is determined to find the best croissant in the city.
ANDREEA WEHRLI
Andreea Wehrli is a marketing professional with over a decade of extensive experience in integrated marketing communications and brand development across financial services, asset management, and media. She has focused on maximizing ROI, reaching brand growth, and leading successful marketing and PR campaigns across all channels. Andreea has been working with Kara Whittington since 2017 as an external consultant focusing on campaign execution, market research, client deck reporting, and media proposals. Recently she graduated from the Oxford Digital Marketing: Disruptive Strategy Programme from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. In her free time Andreea enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 year old son, and also traveling to new destinations exploring new cultures and cuisines.
KALIE SOUKNARY
Kalie Souknary is a Content Marketing Consultant and Podcaster from Houston, TX. Her specialty is providing valuable content across Social Media channels for the brands and organizations she works with. She enjoys every part of content creation, from the strategy to execution. Her passion comes from her everlasting curiosity in Brand Voice, Brand Management, and Community Engagement. When she’s not working with brands, you can usually find her playing one of the six musical instruments she’s mastered!
SARAH OWENS
Sarah Owens is a Fundraising, Membership, and Marketing professional with over 15 years of nonprofit experience in the Bay Area. For the past four years, she has led the Membership Department at the Exploratorium, managing the acquisition, retention, and stewardship of 15,000+ households. Throughout her career, she has guided the strategy and execution of both large and small-scale fundraising campaigns targeted towards all levels of giving—from one-time donations to ongoing, committed donor relationships. She is a trained scuba diver and loves to take cooking classes all throughout the Bay Area.