Lee Foster, Executive Director.

Lee is no stranger to Hillbarn Theatre.  In addition to being a board member since 1997 she is the co-founder of Barnraising '98, one of the founders of the children's Conservatory and the impetus behind the successful fundraising and revitalization effort. She also grew up at Hillbarn Theatre watching many, many productions after her father, T. Jack Foster, Jr., gave the land to the theatre in 1968. Lee spent 18 years as an executive in marketing and sales in such notable travel companies as Cunard Lines, Seabourn Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Saga Holidays, Silversea Cruises and, for nine-years, Royal Cruise Line. In addition, she headed up the value-priced tour division (operated by Saga Holidays) for the Smithsonian Institution called Smithsonian Odyssey Tours. In her role as Manager of the Smithsonian division she coordinated the efforts to define the market segments, to create product to meet the needs of the defined customers and developed in conjunction with the Smithsonian Associates division the successful marketing mix that thrives to this day. Operationally, she also had overarching responsibility for the reservation and sales function of this product and the day to day operations of the tours including quality levels. Lee's background in marketing and sales of a "service" product--that demands bodies in beds--has great crossover with theatre marketing requiring people in seats. Lee, a finalist for the 2001 Management Center's Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, completed her MBA at the University of San Francisco in May 2002, Beta Gamma Sigma.  She completed the Arts Leadership for the Future in 2002 and the Graduate Arts Leadership for the Future in 2005.  She won the Foster City Honors Award in 2003 and the prestigious 2005 Diamond Awards from San Mateo County's partner ArtShare.

Lee left the Theatre for two seasons during which she was awarded Hillbarn's highest honor: the BRAVO! Award 2008 which was given to her by her arts mentor Nancy Jalonen and Senator Jackie Speier, both BRAVO! Awardees themselves.  She is thrilled to be given the opportunity to return to Hillbarn Theatre in June 2009 and is getting ready for the exciting 69th Season.