The granada theatre welcomes new board members
Janet Garufis and Stephanie Nicks Join the Granada Theatre Board of Directors
For Immediate Release
SANTA BARBARA, CA – OCTOBER 23,2023 – The Granada Theatre is thrilled to announce the addition of two exceptional women to their Board of Directors, Janet Garufis and Stephanie Nicks. Their passion for the arts and their outstanding professional backgrounds make them valuable additions to The Granada Theatre team.
“With the exciting 100th anniversary of the theater coming up in 2024, we look forward to collaborating with Janet and Stephanie to advance the theater’s mission and create unforgettable experiences for the community.” shares Palmer Jackson, Jr., Chairman of The Granada Theatre.
With over 50 years in the banking industry, Janet Garufis began her career as a teller at Security Pacific Bank, now Bank of America, and climbed the ranks to lead the retail, commercial, and private banking divisions. Holding B.A. and M.A. degrees from California State University Northridge, she later pursued a Ph.D. at U.C. Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. Ultimately, her journey led to Montecito Bank & Trust in 2004. In 2006, she assumed the role of CEO & President and later became Chairman of the Board in 2017. Janet is actively involved in various non-profits and industry associations, including chairing the Santa Barbara Symphony Board of Directors and serving on multiple boards. Her accolades include awards like Santa Barbara Woman of the Year (2017), and American Banker’s 25 Most Powerful Women to Watch (2015, 2017), to name a few.
Stephanie Nicks is a versatile professional with a rich background in print and film production, fashion, and marketing. She has made significant contributions to various organizations throughout her career, including serving on the Board of Trustees at Laguna Blanca School from 2011 to 2019, where her leadership skills helped rebrand the school’s marketing and attract new students and donors. As the Co-Owner and Executive Producer of Concrete+Clay LLC, she successfully produced films for fundraising projects, leveraging her expertise in film production to create impactful content.
The 2023-24 Granada Theatre Board of Directors includes: Palmer Jackson, Jr. Chairman, F. Robert Miller III, Vice Chair, Roberta Griffin, Treasurer, Merryl Snow Zegar, Secretary, Sarah Schlinger Chrisman, and Yvette Birch Giller, At Large Members and Tariqh Akoni, Leslie Bains, Dan Burnham, Brooks Firestone, Rick Fogg, Janet Garufis, Charles C. Gray, Jamie Maguire, Stephanie Nicks and Maria Schmidt.
For more information on the theater and its upcoming shows, please visit www.granadasb.org.
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About The Granada Theatre
Built in 1924, and celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, The Granada Theatre has been integral to Santa Barbara’s arts and entertainment landscape for a century. This state-of-the-art venue with 1,500 seats boasts a legacy of hosting world-class performances and is home to eight resident companies. Notably, in the mid-20th century, The Granada Theatre served as a Warner Bros movie palace, hosting exclusive screenings of cinematic classics like “Gone with the Wind” and “Guys and Dolls.” Over the years, it has welcomed an illustrious array of 20th-century luminaries, including Charlie Chaplin, Fred Astaire, Henry Fonda, Yo-Yo Ma, Steve Martin, and the Berlin Philharmonic, among others. The theater is a historical icon that speaks to the central role live performing arts play in defining the communal life of Santa Barbara and the Central Coast region.
For more information on The Granada Theatre, please visit www.granadasb.org.
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The SBCPA, a privately-funded 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1983, is dedicated to providing best-in-class production, sales and administrative support to arts organizations from throughout the Santa Barbara region, including its Historic Theatre District partners (Lobero Theatre and the New Vic Theatre) as well as its eight resident companies (CAMA, Music Academy of the West, Opera Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Santa Barbara Symphony, State Street Ballet, Theater League and UCSB Arts & Lectures).
The SBCPA’s most visible service is operation of The Granada Theatre. Purchased by the SBCPA in 2003, restored and reopened in 2008, The Granada Theatre has state-of-the-art electrical, sound, lighting and fly systems, large and up-to-date dressing rooms, as well as contemporary audience amenities. By providing a world-class venue with skilled house management staff, production staff, marketing and ticketing services staff, the SBCPA is making it possible for many of Santa Barbara’s finest performing arts organizations to present their programs with the highest level of contemporary production support and audience comfort. For more information please visit www.granadasb.org.