Charlene Achki-Repko | Photo by Stephanie Kleinman

A native Californian, Charlene Achki-Repko, graduated from USC’s Marshall School with a BA in Business, Management and Finance. A first job in “advertising” lead to a long and accomplished career in publishing/media, beginning in advertising sales and marketing. Over the years Charlene held varied management roles with Dow Jones and Co., The Wall Street Journal and Hearst, a leading global, diversified information, services and media company. During her tenure at Hearst Magazines, one of the world’s largest publishers of magazine media across all platforms, she worked on the launches of several new magazine brands including, SmartMoney, a joint venture between Dow Jones and Hearst, Food Network Magazine, O, The Oprah Magazine, HGTV Magazine among others as well as many cross platform/cross brand initiatives for corporate advertisers.

Throughout her career she was actively involved and lead many industry organizations and served to advocate for the magazine media industry within the evolving media landscape. Charlene has served on the Facing History and Ourselves Advisory Board since 2009. The mission of FHAO is to use the lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate; helping students connect choices made in the past to those they will confront in their own lives. Now more pressing than ever.

After retirement, she has also been able to engage in the arts, a lifelong passion, more fully and currently serves on the boards of the Music Centers Center Dance Arts, American Dance Movement and Everybody Dance LA! where she is the Chairman of the Board. Her recreational outlets include painting, tap, tennis and golf, travel and of course enjoying all forms of dance!