DSS - Sue Swan and Kathy Winterhalder with Robert Redford - 2006-07 Season

An All-female Undertaking: The Distinguished Speakers Series of the Southern California

When two enterprising Californian women come together, innovation is bound to happen. Sue Swam and Kathy Swan Winterhalder proved just that when they conceptualized a groundbreaking show.

“Being inspired by a speakers series in San Francisco, my sister Sue and I realized there was a void in Southern California,” Kathy shared in a recent digital chat. While the south had its share of entertainment — choirs, orchestras, plays, and comedy clubs — there was no platform dedicated to the voices of eminent thinkers, political figures, and renowned celebrities of the age. The sisters saw their calling.

DSS - Cristina Mittermeier and Kathy Winterhalder - 2022-23 Season

Embarking on this journey during a transitional period in their lives, they launched a speakers series in Southern California, marking its inception at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium 28 years ago. Their debut lineup? Names as illustrious as First Lady Barbara Bush and Apollo 13 commander, James Lowell, Jr. Kathy reminisced about the time she fetched Lowell from LAX, only to have her car break down — and the astronaut fixed it.

Two years in, the dynamic duo, then in their thirties, introduced the series at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Their collaboration with the revered Dalai Lama in their third season turned out to be a pivotal moment, propelling their venture to greater heights and new cities like Thousand Oaks. This season, the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach joins their repertoire.

DSS - Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin - 2019-20 Season

“185 illustrious speakers have graced our stage,” Kathy said, listing luminaries like Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden, along with notable figures like Maya Angelou and Colin Powell. Thomas Friedman is set to return next May.

Both sisters, San Diego State University alumni, combined their unique backgrounds to carve this niche. While Kathy's expertise lay in business marketing and non-profit, Sue’s forte was television and film. Their combined skill sets provided a potent combination for success.

DSS - Brooke and Lauren's Girl Scout Troop with Doris Kearns Goodwin - Cookies for the Troops - 2006-07 Season

The legacy continues with Kathy's twin daughters, Lauren and Brooke, joining their all-female enterprise. Both having gathered extensive experience in their respective fields, Lauren in journalism and Brooke in finance, Kathy expressed her pride and joy in working alongside her family.

Like many businesses, the Distinguished Speakers Series faced challenges during the pandemic. Yet, the resilience and ingenuity of these women ensure the venture’s continuation. Their 2023-24 season, set to commence at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on September 18 at 8 pm, will kick off with actor Goldie Hawn, followed by the inspiring Liz Cheney in January.

DSS - Misty Copeland and the Boys & Girl's Club - 2022-23 Season

For those interested in attending, season tickets begin at $590. Discover more on their website, www.speakersla.com.

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Kari H. Sayers BIO

With a BA in English and an MA in linguistics from California State University, Long Beach, Kari Sayers went with her husband to Saudi Arabia, where she first worked as a music teacher at Riyadh International Community School and then as a journalist for the English newspapers the Saudi Gazette and the Arab News as well as in-flight magazines. When she returned to Southern California, she taught literature, college composition, and English as a Second Language at Marymount California University in Rancho Palos Verdes, while freelancing as a theater, classical concert, and opera reviewer for local newspapers and magazines in the Los Angeles area.. In addition to authoring the novels Roses Where Thorns Grow, Under the Linden Tree, and the soon-to-be-released Justice for Lizzie, all published by Melange Books in Minnesota, she is the developer and editor of the anthology Views and Values, published by Cengage. Now widowed,. Kari lives in the Los Angeles area.