Elsie served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Environmental Lighting for Architecture from 1983 until her retirement in 2009. ELA produces an outstanding and versatile outdoor product line, as well as high quality custom lighting. To compliment the capabilities of ELA they added Fundidora Cal, S.A. de S.V. an aluminum foundry in Baja. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors of both Corporations.
Elsie Dahlin was born in Northern Ireland. Elsieâs family came to the United States, settling in Altadena. The first boy Elsie met was Gene Dahlin, who lived just around the corner. When she was nineteen, they married, and have since raised two children. Elsieâs seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter are now her greatest pride.
Elsie jumped right into business before finishing school. Her first position was at the Pasadena Jr. Chamber of Commerce. In the mid-seventies, Elsie became a partner, and later sole owner, of a start-up company, which manufactured tuna processing equipment for firms such as Star Kist, Van Camp and BumbleBee. In 1981 she was one of seven industry participants, and the only woman, asked by the U.S. Department of Commerce to join a Trade Mission to South America. After selling her company, Elsie began her involvement with ELA in 1983. According to her, manufacturing is manufacturing.
1987 brought two milestones for Elsie, YWCA Woman of Achievement and she began her involvement with NEWH when she filled several positions on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Founding Chapter before serving two years as President of the chapter, and three years as Founding President of NEWH, Inc. Elsie brought her formidable management skills, as well as her ability to keep a diverse group of busy volunteers working toward a common goal to NEWH.
Elsie Dahlin was our 1994 Woman of the Year because she is a true role model for us all. In 1998 she received the Los Angeles Founding Chapter Woman Award of Excellence and in 2007 the Wilson and Associate Point of Excellence recognition. She exemplifies the professional woman who balances business with family, ability with humility, and tenacity with grace (and loves golf).
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