Class News

VIEW ALL CLASS NEWS

Today's Featured Biography

 
Renee Smith

I went straight to UCSB from high school and was totally enchanted with Santa Barbara, especially after my father passed in 1989. Having no "home" to come back to in San Jose, I stayed in SB, eventually graduating with a BA in English Literature (and 4 years of Biz Econ/ Accounting!). I picked up sailing in a class at UCSB and raced on a local team for over 12 years, taking first place in the King-Harbor race and San Diego Yachting Cup among others.

I worked at KTYD and KRUZ radio and started volunteering on event committees in 1993. In 1999, I co-chaired a gala event and raised a staggering $100,000+ for the charity. It was then that I decided to ditch radio sales and venture out to event planning.

In the early dot.com days, I got a taste of the travel bug. From China to Australia, France, Mexico and throughout the USA, I ran expansive trade show programs. In 2001, I started my own meeting planning business, RSVP Events.

In 2005, 2006 and 2008 I was blessed with three children (girl-boy-girl) but in 2009, I lost my mom just before Christmas. I had lived in a fabulous house in Summerland, CA (Santa Barbara) with sweeping ocean views just 3 blocks from the beach for over 17 years, but the house was getting too small and I wanted to move closer to my sister who is still in San Jose.

In 2012, we picked up shop and moved to El Dorado County. What a change from Santa Barbara! We now live on five-acres in a small, rural community in the Sierra with 1 dog, 2 cats, 3 chickens and 5 goldfish. We're looking to complete a perimeter fence this winter so we can add a handful of goats to the mix next year.

Two years ago, I started a non-profit, The Ocean Festival, Inc. and produce an annual beach festival in Santa Barbara to educate the public on the ocean's preservation, protection and recreation. My goals is to mimic this festival along the California coastline and raise money for underprivileged kids to experience the ocean in ways they could never afford.

I work as the Director of Meetings for CA Newspaper Publishers Assn in Sacramento and still maintain my own event planning business. Last year, I took my oldest daughter with me to a meeting in Tokyo; next year I'm hoping to drag the family to Milan for the next international conference.

Having basically lived in SB "exile" for the 27 years, I am utterly amazed at how many people from Branham live nearby in Sacramento, Folsom, EDH, Elk Grove, and Pollock Pines! I'm looking forward to reconnecting at the reunion this year. Please email me if you have questions about the upcoming 30 year reunion event. See you there!

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES