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Julie Buckner – Chief Executive Officer
Julie Buckner is owner and chief executive officer of InYoga Center, a yoga studio and boutique in LA's San Fernando Valley.  Uniting and bringing into alignment her entrepreneurial endeavors, dedication to service and commitment to personal and spiritual growth, Julie opened InYoga in April 2010. The Center is the product of Julie’s experience in two distinct and seemingly divergent disciplines -- politics and yoga. With both businesses blossoming, Julie is cultivating a symbiotic relationship between communications consulting and yoga practice – strategic savvy and steady mind.

While running InYoga, Julie also continues to work in politics and public affairs.  Julie has 20 years experience in business management, strategic planning, corporate communications and marketing; her expertise is in California politics and policy.  Along with partner Celia Fischer, Julie founded Laurel Canyon Media Group in 2008; Julie is LCMG’s president.  Julie and Celia have worked on campaigns at the national, state and local levels on behalf of myriad candidates and clients, including President Bill Clinton, California Senator Barbara Boxer, LA City Controller Wendy Greuel and former LA Unified School Board Member Marlene Canter, among many others.  Julie is recognized as an accomplished strategist and spokesperson for corporations and executives, political campaigns and candidates, and public officials at the national, state and local levels.  She has appeared on national TV, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, and numerous local TV and radio news & public affairs programs.  Over the years, Julie has been a go-to source for print and online media; she’s been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, People, Newsweek, Time, Los Angeles Times, Calbuzz, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee and the San Jose Mercury News.

Julie began her yoga journey in 1989 while living in New York as a college student; over the years, she has studied Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Anusara and other forms of yoga in Washington DC, the San Francisco Bay area and throughout LA.  In addition to her daily yoga practice, Julie enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, rock climbing, interior design, and fashion (shoes, especially).  An LA-native and original Valley Girl, she is a cum laude graduate of UC Berkeley, and has two sons, Sawyer and Mays. Her home, children’s school, yoga studio and consulting firm are all within walking distance.  She received her 200-hour RYT certification at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement with master teacher Annie Carpenter in SmartFLOW Yoga.

InYoga Center and Laurel Canyon Media Group are co-located in Valley Village, CA.

Kelly Simonsen – Chief Operating Officer
Kelly Simonsen is InYoga Center’s chief operating officer. Kelly oversees all day-to-day business, financial, human resource, design and marketing operations for InYoga.  With a background in strategic communications and project management, Kelly is uniquely suited to run InYoga.  She is multi-talented, multi-tasking and dedicated to InYoga’s growth and success.

Prior to joining InYoga, Kelly was an executive with GolinHarris, a national public relations firm. At GolinHarris, Kelly’s work focused on the areas of healthcare, environmental and energy issues.  Kelly and Julie have a strong working relationship and deep friendship. In 2006, Kelly helped Julie start-up and launch another business, Collabor8: Julie Buckner & Associates, a communications and public affairs consulting firm.

Kelly has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Pepperdine University. She studied International Relations in Florence, Italy her sophomore year, and served as president of Phi Sigma Tau, the Philosophy Honors Society. Kelly’s interests and talents are many – culinary adventures, new & emerging technologies, graphic design, tennis and photography. Julie introduced Kelly to yoga when they first worked together, taking classes at Angel City, Rising Lotus and Black Dog, and privates in Julie’s home. Before InYoga opened, Kelly practiced at Center for Yoga, walking distance from her home in Los Angeles.

Erin O’Bright
Erin is one of the first people you’ll meet at InYoga. She has been involved with InYoga since its inception, and she was instrumental in helping to get our doors open. In addition to working the front desk, Erin also has the responsibility of managing InYoga’s facilities. Erin grew up in Orange County and graduated from Golden West College. Also a friend and neighbor of Julie’s, Erin has been practicing yoga steadily and seriously for the last four years. Erin has a background in personal fitness, as a trainer and leading “mommy & me” programs in the park. Erin lives with her son, Braden, in Valley Village – and she knows almost everyone in the ‘hood.

InYoga's supportive, friendly staff also includes Kelsey Adams, Hannah DeRemer, Chrissie Endler, Anna Frazier and Whitney Kaufman.  They’re amazing!