Dawn Knepper is a supporter of the Laguna Beach Community Foundation Professional Council and serves on the Professional Council Committee.

How do you define success within your line of business?

I am a litigator, so a part of this involves successful outcomes at trial or in court for my clients.  However, about half of my practice is advice and counsel work, helping employers with day to day issues that arise in managing people.  Success for me in this area is being able to understand the dynamics of that specific business, and help anticipate and deal with sticky issues so that the workplace can be a productive and enjoyable environment.

As a Labor & Employment Law Attorney, what do you enjoy most about having a nonprofit as a client?

Nonprofits are no different than my other clients in that they have a business to run and employees to manage, but there is a mission at the core of all of the activity.  It is fulfilling to help nonprofits towards their mission, and feel that I am contributing toward it as well.

You are involved in community work.  What type of personal rewards do you get from your community service?

I enjoy working in the community, trying to identify needs, and a solution, and providing a resource with other contributors that does not have a price tag to it.  At the same time, performing community work provides an opportunity to see things from a different viewpoint, and see what it is like to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Our favorite authors tend to influence the way we live our lives and our philosophies. Who is your favorite author and how has this person influenced you?

I can’t say I really have a favorite author.  I am an avid fiction reader, and love to experience new insights and  stories from a variety of sources.  I’m reading one of Barbara Kingsolver’s novels now, and have read several others by her in the past.  I enjoy the escape of sinking in my beach chair in the sand and taking in a story.

Where are you from and what is your favorite thing to do there? What do you love most about Laguna?

I am a native of San Antonio, Texas, home of the friendliest folk and the infamous Tex-Mex.  When I’m in San Antonio, I love to partake in both, as well as catch up with my family and friends.  Floating the rivers on a hot summer day or visiting Schlitterbahn, a world famous water park where I met my husband, Kurt, are also at the top of the list.

While Texas is near and dear to my heart, I feel like I’m meant to be in Laguna.  My family can’t get enough of its beaches, clear water, and ocean life.  I can often be found on a run down the beach or on my paddleboard. The people are engaging and fascinating.  I find myself talking incessantly about the wonder of being part of this town and area.  I feel more like I am part of a community more than I have ever felt before!

If you are interested in joining the Professional Council, please contact Rachel Lindsay at 949-715-8223 or via email at [email protected].

LPAPA was founded in 1996 by five of the area’s talented and passionate plein air painters and advocates. This group came together with a dream to preserve the history of the plein air movement of 19th century California, to support the tradition, as it exists today, and to foster a network among plein air painters nationwide. Today, LPAPA’s membership has grown to nearly 400 artists spanning the US, Canada, South America, Australia, and England.

LPAPA provides opportunities for established and emerging artists to show their work, by serving members through mentoring and business development consultation, by offering educational opportunities for the community such as lectures and demonstrations, and by partnering with local schools to create art education programs to benefit our youth.

While plein air painting has deep roots in Laguna Beach, this cultural facet of local history is easily lost without events such as the annual Invitational to bring the community together to celebrate and learn about this art form.

There are four main impacts the Invitational has in the Laguna Beach community. First, this event raises awareness for the plein air art movement. With more than 1,500 attendees across all events and festivities, the Invitational has proven to be a critical megaphone for sharing plein air art with the world.

Second, the Invitational creates community in Laguna Beach, and tangibly connects people with place. Lectures and community conversations create an ongoing salon of art appreciation, Laguna Beach history, environmental awareness, and more. Art sales from the Invitational spread plein air art and the Laguna Beach landscape in homes and galleries across America.

Finally, this event supports local and national artists by connecting collectors with their work, and showcasing their art. Support for this event directly impacts artists living and working in and around Laguna Beach who are dedicated to experiencing and depicting its natural beauty.

LPAPA is deeply grateful for the support of the Laguna Beach Community Foundation and its Members. Please visit lagunapleinair.org or lpapa.org for more information.

Contributed by Toni Kellenberg, Social Media Director and President of Laguna Plein Air Painters Association