Mary Beth Garber, former President of the Southern California Broadcasters Association, former EVP of Marketing Strategy for Katz Media Group, retired from the corporate world in June 2017 to devote her time and talent to professional audio narration and non-profit service.  Since then, she has recorded 30 audiobooks, available on Audible.com.  Ms. Garber serves as Vice Chair of the Equal Access International (EAI) Board of Directors.  She has been on the EAI Board of Directors since 2006.

In June 2018, she was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown and again in June 2023 by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve on and Chair a California Department of Consumer Affairs committee. Ms. Garber also serves on the Boards of Directors of Hollywood Media Professionals and Variety Children’s Charity/SoCal. She is a member of North County Social Club and Newcomers Club of San Dieguito and the Organization of Women Executives.

Her additional leadership and management experience encompasses an array of Media Marketing and Sales as VP/Broadcast Media at Walt Disney Studio’s Buena Vista Pictures, ad agency Chiat/Day, Local and National Radio and TV Sales at ABC and CBS.

 As an educator, Ms. Garber was on the faculty of UCLA-Extension for 10 years, created and served on the SCBA Media Sales course for 15 years, and was a repeat guest lecturer at USC, Pepperdine, CSU Northridge, U of LaVerne and other colleges during her career.  She served on the Board of Trustees of Pitzer College from 2002 to 2006.

Ms. Garber has received industry recognition for her many career and philanthropic achievements, including the “Radio Legend Award” in 2013 and “Broadcaster of the Year” in 2008 by Radio Ink Magazine.  Ad Relief of Greater Los Angeles gave her their Lifesaver Award in 2011.  P.I.R.A.T.E.S (PR alliance of So Cal) honored her for her community service work in 2007.  She was the recipient of the 2000 So Cal Chapter of Alliance for Women in Media Genii Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.  In 2016, she received the Diamond Circle award from the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters for outstanding contributions to broadcasting. In 2017, and for each year since its inception in 1999, until her retirement in 2017, she was named one of Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women in Radio.  She was a founding member and served on the Board of Directors of MIWs (Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio) for 25 years.

Born near Baltimore, MD, as an Army brat she had been in 9 countries on 3 continents by the time she was 9. By now, that’s 5 continents and more than 35 countries. She settled in the San Jose, CA area for high school, moved to the Los Angeles area to attend and graduate from Pitzer College. She married another advertising professional, Steven A. Garber in 1971, who passed in 2012. She moved to Carlsbad in the San Diego area in 2020.

Her greatest joy is her son Greg and his family, including her two grandchildren.  She lives in Carlsbad, CA with her dog, Bogart.