JOAN LAWTON
Founder and President

Since 1993, Joan served as Vice President and Director of Qualitative Research for Erlich Transcultural Consultants, a cross-cultural marketing research and consulting firm in Los Angeles. She was the primary project director for ETC’s health-related projects.

Before and throughout those years, she volunteered in several capacities at the Academy of Magical Arts (Magic Castle), a private club in Los Angeles devoted to the continuation and preservation of the art of magic. She is also one of the founders of the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History. In addition, she has more than 30 years experience in education, business administration, public and media relations including development, production and coordination of seminars, conferences, trade shows, sales meetings and theatrical and special events. She has been the executive producer of fund raising events for Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Rehabilitation Institute of Santa Barbara.

After founding SWAW, her interest in assisting the military was increased when the grandson of one of her best friends in Ohio was station in Twenty-Nine Palms. Her home became the California home for him and his Marine friends. She’s also close to Board member Ray Lane’s family. Their son, whom she has known since his birth, has served several tours in Iraq.

Joan’s love of live theatre stems from her first exposure to it at the age of six. She was the neighborhood kid who threw a blanket over the garage door in order to produce plays. Eventually (and after many years), her love of theatre solidified via her college years and her friendship with Broadway star, Lee Roy Reams. A by-product of that friendship was her development of late-night, Magic Castle parties for the casts of shows playing in Los Angeles. She lists among her favorites “Barnum,” “My One and Only,” and “La Cage Aux Folles.”

Ms. Lawton received her B.A. in English/Theatre/Journalism from the University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music where she also participated in post-graduate studies. Ms. Lawton continued her post-graduate studies at UCLA. She holds a State of California Standard Teaching Credential and certifications from the Center for Early Education and Reiss-Davis Child Study Center.