HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., June 16, 2016 – The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum (HBISM), a popular surf history and cultural attraction located downtown in Southern California’s iconic beach city fondly known as Surf City USA,® announced that Diana Dehm has been appointed as its Executive Director.
“This move is an important step to ensure that the museum, its programming, and its day-to-day operations are moving the museum’s mission dynamically forward,” said Brett Barnes, HBISM Chairman of the Board. “Diana is an innovative leader and change agent. Her passion for Huntington Beach, surf culture and our oceans, coupled with her strong experience with successful partnerships, sports, and sustainability, will help us to lay a strong foundation for future success.”
Dehm has served as interim director since January 2016. Her passion and love of the ocean as a sailor, diver, stand up paddle boarder, and childhood surfer, has led her to the HBISM. Dehm is the founder and CEO of Sustainable Business Partnerships, and serves as host of Sustainability News & Entertainment Radio in Los Angeles. Previously, she has worked as an innovation consultant for Fortune 500 companies and non-profits, a Partner with ERM in Irvine, Calif. as well as Vice President with Haley & Aldrich in Costa Mesa, Calif. She is also the founder of the Trash On Your Back® 5 Day Challenge in Huntington Beach, which was a finalist for the 2013 NASA/SSV Showcase of Solutions for Planetary Sustainability. Dehm gave a TedX Youth Talk that reached youth worldwide with her positive message about the innovation in sustainability while creating our zero-waste world. For the last three years, she has served as an advisory board member of the Green Schools National Conference and the CA EEI, and a host of sustainability and renewable energy conference and board panels. Dehm earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass.
“I’m very grateful to be part of such an important cultural and community icon in Surf City USA,” said Dehm. “The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is the heart and soul of our great city, and the go-to place for locals and visitors to learn about world surfing culture. HBISM is where the history and future of surfing collide and where visitors may run into famous surfing champions and legends. Surfers of all levels will leave with a smile, feeling stoked and inspired.”
Dehm will focus on engaging the power of surfing to innovate, influence, promote, and educate the public on the opportunities to change the world and impact ocean sustainability.
About Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum
The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is a 501-C (3) organization, dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of surf history, culture and community engagement. The Museum is located in Downtown Huntington Beach at 411 Olive Ave. It is open daily from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., except Mondays. For more information, contact HBISM at 714-960-3483 or visit www.surfingmuseum.org.