Board chairwoman hired as Laguna Dance Festival’s first executive director

Laguna Dance Festival founder and artistic director Jodie Gates announced Tuesday that volunteer and board Chairwoman Joy Dittberner has been hired as the festival’s first executive director.

Dittberner brings to the position 23 years of experience in business development, marketing, sales and professional relations, having worked in the pharmaceutical industry.

She moved to Laguna Beach in 1999 with her husband, Tom Peters, and served for eight years on the board of directors for Friendship Shelter, a self-sufficiency program for homeless adults. She worked as volunteer coordinator for the Laguna Dance Festival for four years before joining the board, serving as vice chairwoman for one year and as board chairwoman for two years.

“Joy is just the person for the job, having worked as our de facto director for several years,” Gates said in a statement. “She has great leadership skills and knows what needs to be done and how to do it. This position allows us to recognize and legitimize the hundreds of hours Joy pours into serving the festival.”

Laguna Dance Festival’s mission is to support the dance creation and education.

—Kathleen Luppi