POSITIONS:
CEO of Spohn Ranch, Inc.
CEO of Action Park Alliance, Inc.
CEO of Blue Star Donuts Los Angeles
Past President of Entrepreneurs’ Organization Los Angeles
EXPERIENCE:
25+ years in skatepark/ action sports industry, 2-time
President of Los Angeles Chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization
SKILLS/EXPERTISE:
Leadership, business operations, insurance and risk management, finance and accounting, skatepark programming and operations, cost estimating, municipal bidding, project management, logistics, HR/ compliance, event production
Kirsten is Southern California born and raised. While attending Venice High in the early ‘90s she and her brother Mark befriended their new neighbor Aaron Spohn, joining him in his relentless pursuit of skating and building ramps at his house.
It wasn’t long before that house transformed into a community dubbed “Spohn Ranch”. And with
ambition and drive, it wasn’t long before Kirsten transformed from one of Aaron’s first employees into the CEO/CFO that would help Spohn Ranch, Inc. evolve from a small family business into an award-winning, nation-wide design/build firm with 50 employees and over 1000 parks constructed. In 2002, Kirsten and Aaron recognized a need in many cities for professional skatepark management, and they founded Action Park Alliance (APA). The APA operates skateparks nationwide, creating safe and thriving community spaces where skaters of all ages can hone their skills, participate in events, buy skateboard supplies, or just hang out with their mentors.
Intimately involved in the action sports industry for 20+ years, the breadth of Kirsten’s experience is vast. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from UCLA, she has developed expertise in every facet of skatepark design, construction and operations. Kirsten oversees all financial, legal and administrative matters, ensuring her design/build team can focus on what they do best – design and build. This includes review and execution of contracts, insurance certificates, cash-flow management, payroll, HR, invoicing and sub-contractor documentation.
Kirsten’s current and former clients include municipalities throughout the United States, the U.S. Military, ESPN X-Games, NBC’s Dew Tour, Red Bull, the City of Los Angeles, Vans Triple Crown, Virgin Airlines and the Gravity Games, among many others. Groundbreaking projects include designing and building the world’s largest action sports facility for the Boy Scouts of America and the design and construction of the world’s first portable bowl for professional competition.
Kirsten is the glue that holds the company together. While under her leadership, Spohn Ranch has earned a number of awards and industry recognition, including being named to Inc. Magazine’s list of 5,000 fastest-growing private companies 5 years in a row.
Kirsten has twice served as President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization, an internationally renowned association of successful business owners. Through this affiliation, she is able to interact with many of the world’s top minds on a regular basis, leveraging this knowledge of business best practices to every project Spohn Ranch undertakes.
Kirsten has recently entered the retail food space. She is the CEO of Blue Star Donuts, Los Angeles – the Los Angeles franchise of the Portland gourmet donut chain known for cutting edge creations such as its Blueberry Bourbon Basil donut. She currently oversees two locations and the business continues to expand.
Kirsten has been happily married to Jeff for 5 years. They enjoy traveling to Greece every year, tending their vegetable garden and cooking its proceeds, and spending time with their dogs and cats.
