Member Spotlight: Ellen Mason

Written by Georgellen Burnett.

Ellen Mason is the Communications Manager for the Texas Cultural Trust, a statewide arts advocacy organization. The Texas Cultural Trust advocates for the arts as a vital part of the Texas economy and an important part of preparing a 21^st century workforce. The Texas Cultural Trust is not a government organization but a public/private partnership with a managed endowment. The Trust advocates to stakeholders such as the Legislature, major corporations such as Exxon Mobil, and the general public about the importance of the arts in Texas pointing out that the arts account for $4.6 billion of taxable sales per year.

As Communications Manager, Ellen writes press releases, newsletter articles, marketing material, and social media to inform the major stakeholders of the importance of the arts in Texas. Ellen has been in WCA for approximately four months and enjoys Careers over Coffee. She joined to take advantage of the community of like-minded professionals across a broad spectrum of industries. She especially likes the fact that WCA is a women’s organization and allows her to network with other women in her field. Ellen uses WCA to stay connected in Austin which although it is growing she still feels has a small town feel where knowing people is important.

Ellen loves her job which she has held for eleven months after taking a sabbatical to have her second son. She was glad to be able to go back to work doing something that fulfills her. Ellen has worked in non-profit arts organizations for all of her career, working for One World Theatre and the Austin Lyric Opera previously. Ellen worked for the Grammy Foundation in Los Angles before she moved to Austin. She feels her new job gives her the bigger picture working on behalf of the arts.

Ellen is an avid runner and is currently remodeling her house room by room with her and her husband doing all of the work themselves. “If you’re going to remodel a house with your husband, communication is key,” laughs Ellen. She says demolition work is a favorite of hers for working out any frustrations. “All I need is a good sledgehammer and a wall.”

In addition to her husband, who is from New Zealand, Ellen has two sons, ages four and a half and eleven and a half. Her sons are involved in karate and the eldest is a black belt.

Ellen looks forward to becoming more involved in WCA as she learns more about the organization and committees.