It's always interesting to have one of our members be our speaker, giving their "craft talk".
Today we learned a lot about Leslie Mogul, who was raised in Baltimore, has spent several years in Miami, New York, Philadelphia (where she and her husband raised two sons), and San Diego, now happily settled in Laguna (and close to the Irvine Rotary Club!).
Growing up in a family of jewelers and having a mother as an accountant, Leslie learned her sales and marketing skills early. Earning a Marketing degree in Miami, she spent several years in Philadelphia, working for the Penn Central Railroad, creating fun promotions for trips between Washington DC and New York (including fashion shows and historic storytelling).
When the Pennsylvanian railroads merged, she had the fun task of gathering all the old signage and memorabilia and actioning it off - dining car silverware and all. Having to tell the residents of the small towns that their train service was being discontinued was not such fun, however, since most of the towns in the East were built along the railroad tracks.
Back to university for a degree in Communications and Journalism, Leslie became a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and a writer for Ladies Home Journal, followed by several years working in advertising and PR for home furnishings, flooring, and Jeeps, traveling all over the country promoting the products. She then started her own PR agency during "the days of international and national clients and million dollar budgets" which, for Leslie, included Ed McMahon and Juliet Prowse.
After marrying Bill in Philadelphia, they owned a stained glass studio and production factory that provided glass to Atlantic City casinos and churches. They also renovated a 150 year old apartment building on Philly's famous South Street, and owned a historic home once famous for slave running.
Moving across country to San Diego, Leslie created a marketing and PR agency for Scripps Health, representing 15 hospitals and clinics and 2,600 doctors. She then created her own agency, doing PR, Marketing, and now Fundraising for other major healthcare organizations (and earned an MBA in Finance). Bill focused his artistic abilities on hot glass, owning a blown glass gallery and studio in Escondido.
In total, Leslie has helped to raise over $50 million for various non-profit organizations, with her proudest achievement being the $2 million she helped raise to rebuild the Escondido animal shelter after it burned down.
Always wanting to live by the beach, Leslie and Bill now live in Laguna Woods, where they enjoy golf, horseback riding, tennis and walking. Bill makes sculptural jewelry and Leslie is in charge of fundraising at the Laguna Playhouse (and several of us have enjoyed a number of plays there!).
Leslie and Bill also own a plot of land in Mexico so perhaps a new adventure awaits them there - and in the meantime her fundraising talent can help us raise funds for the dental clinics and school projects we participate in every year!
