Staff

Since its inception, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles has been a primarily all volunteer organization. Many dedicated individuals gave freely of their time to build it - and still do. As the organization's footprint has grown each year, there is an increase in the administrative work that needs to be done to maintain it - not to mention, to grow it. In July 2020, ADSLA hired its first Administrative Coordinator to help us accomplish, not only some of the day to day tasks involved with running a non-profit organization, but also to bring many of our wishlist projects to fruition. Jessica Rivas Acuña was our first internal employee.

Jessica Rivas Acuña, Box Office Coordinator

Jessica Rivas Acuña was a second year M.A. Candidate in the Heritage Conservation program at USC (writing her thesis on the post-war growth and its built environment in Norwalk, California) when she first came to work for the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles in July 2020as Administrative Coordinator. She now works events as the box office manager. Her academic and professional background lies in California history with an emphasis on the late 19th century. Her other research interests include domestic architecture and the promotion of interdisciplinary perspectives when studying the built environment. She previously worked at Heritage Square Museum for ten years during which time she held various positions including Education Manager and Director of Programs & Operations. Jessica is “excited to apply my years of non-profit experience to an organization that has a strong history of working for the historic preservation of buildings throughout Los Angeles.” She added that she “looks forward to learning more about how the Art Deco movement developed and manifested in the built environment of the LA area.”

Margot Gerber, Executive Director

Margot Gerber is the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles’ first Executive Director. In 2005 she became active in leadership roles in the organization. She served as board Vice President for several terms, before being voted into the office of President in 2017. In 2023, the board voted to make her the organization’s first Executive Director.

As a member of the preservation committee, she was instrumental in campaigning for historic cultural monument status for the Hollywood Reporter building, as well as the Pico Union Comedy Club and Green Animal Hospital, Hoffman Candy Factory, Silberberg Building and Fairfax Theatre (all six are now local landmarks). Margot founded the ADSLA film and lecture series that formerly took place for over a decade at the Egyptian Theatre and enjoys producing immersive vintage events, tours, Cocktails in Historic Places (TM) meetups and more for the organization. In November of 2023 she joined the board of ICADS, the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies. She also sits on the preservation committee and board of Hollywood Heritage. She speaks for buildings, since they can’t advocate for themselves and is a big proponent of adaptive re-use!

Margot had a long career in film marketing primarily in the world of theatrical exhibition (aka movie theaters) working in film distribution, marketing, event production and publicity for films and festivals. Prior to that she worked in film production and advertising. She has a degree in Film & Television Production from UC San Diego.