After stints at DreamWorks and U.S.C., Erin Preuss and Christina Murphy formed L.A. Glam with a focus on nonprofit programming.
Erin Preuss and Christina Murphy are old college friends—but not in the traditional sense. Preuss began her career at DreamWorks SKG, where she planned movie premieres, press junkets, and promotional screenings. She then moved to her alma mater, the University of Southern California, where she focused on events such as football tailgates, pep rallies, recruiting and alumni functions, homecoming, and commencement. That’s where she met Murphy, who has more than a decade of experience working with individuals, nonprofits, educational institutions, and corporations, handling events ranging from festivals for 75,000 to intimate dinners for high-profile guests. In addition to her work at U.S.C., Murphy has produced events for the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and U.C.L.A. chancellor Gene Block.
After independently choosing to leave the school, Preuss and Murphy came together to launch event production and management firm L.A. Glam earlier this year. The new company produces all types of events, with a focus on targeted, message-focused events for nonprofit organizations.
“It’s one of our greatest strengths and what we really love doing,” Murphy says. “We want to help our clients with decor, catering, and other aesthetics but, ultimately, we want to produce an event that allows the organization to best communicate its message to the attendees.”
Preuss adds, “It’s a rare opportunity to have a room full of people who are interested in your organization and willing to listen to the story of its mission. For most nonprofits—particularly in today’s economic environment—when they commit resources to an event, they need to know the event is going to raise funds, build a coalition, and inspire people to get involved in meaningful ways.”
Wendi Littlefield, associate vice president of communications at Starlight Children’s Foundation, knows Murphy from her work for the charity and plans to hire L.A. Glam for future work. “Christina is hyper-organized and a fantastic leader who guides her team with a firm but motivating hand,” Littlefield says. “Most of all, she understands that an event in its most valuable and effective form is as an ultimate opportunity for a high-touch relationship-building experience between an organization’s leadership and its constituents.”
