Patti Gribow Profile
As the newly-elected president of the Palm Springs chapter of Women in Film and Television, local TV personality Patti Gribow brings more than 30 years of experience in television, stage and screen to the position.
Gribow is the host of the “The Patti Gribow Show” and “Patti Gribow’s RoundTable,” where she has delved into the most pressing issues facing the Coachella Valley over more than 200 episodes. Her shows also feature discussions with community leaders, influencers and celebrities. In addition to her hosting duties, Gribow is also CEO of Gribow Entertainment and president of Imprint Media Productions, a production company that produces infomercials and digital media for website. Gribow has produced more than 300 infomercials for clients across the nation.
Gribow got her start at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music in the early 1970s, where she was recruited to become captain of the Golddiggers, Dean Martin’s handpicked group of young women who sang and danced on a variety of shows and on national tours. She worked with the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra in an era Gribow describes as “unbelievable.”
Gribow was involved with the Golddiggers for about 15 years and also guest starred on shows such as “Charlie’s Angels,” “Happy Days” and “Fantasy Island.” In the 80s, Gribow had a one-woman show and sang at President Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, an event she considers her greatest honor.
Gribow lived in Los Angeles with her husband, attorney Dale Gribow, and their daughter, but a life-altering diagnosis forced the family to carefully consider their values and where they wanted to raise their daughter. They moved to the desert, where Dale’s family maintained a home and Gribow’s parents had moved to. After moving to the Coachella Valley and watching her daughter make a full recovery, Gribow found her way back to entertaining. She became the host of the McCallum Theatre and eventually launched “The Patti Gribow Show.”
In addition to her involvement with PSWIFT, Gribow has been a lifelong advocate for women. She’s received honors such as the “Women Leaders Forum 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award,” an “Athena Award for Entrepreneurship” from the City of Palm Desert, the “George Berkley Palm Desert Citizen of the Year” award and the “2011 Women of Distinction in the Arts” award. This fall, Gribow will receive the “2012 Sycamore High School Distinguished Alumnae Award.”
Gribow is also a member of the President’s Circle of Women Leaders Forum and the Board of Councilors of University of Southern California School of Theater.
For more information on Gribow or her production company, visit www.PattiGribow.com or www.ImprintMediaProductions.com.
Pattie Daly Caruso Profile
Pattie Daly Caruso, a distinguished television personality and sought-after host, is a PSWIFT board member and also hosts the desert’s longest running television talk show. Her show, “Valley Views,” celebrates its 18th season of covering the Coachella Valley’s people and events this fall.
Caruso got her start in North Carolina at the tender age of 17. She hosted her own radio show, “Pat’s Platter Party,” and later attended the Pasadena Playhouse. In addition to running PDC Entertainment, her production company, and hosting “Valley Views,” Caruso also anchors a number of television specials in the desert, including Cord Media’s “New Home Television,” which aired throughout Southern California.
Caruso’s golden personality led her to become the face of “Out of the Box” gold store in Palm Desert, where she represents the store on billboards, ads and television. It’s her involvement with numerous local non-profits, though, that lets her heart of gold shine through. Earlier this month, Caruso hosted the London Calling Fashion Show Benefit at Spotlight 29, an annual event by the Theresa A. Mike Foundation that raises money for student scholarships. Caruso is also involved with organizations such as Gilda’s Club, the American Cancer Society and the Ronald McDonald House, to name a few.
Her tireless work has led to an impressive list of awards, including honors such as “Television Woman of the Year,” “First Lady of the Desert” and “Desert Woman of the Year.” Palm Springs Women in Film and Television named Caruso “Desert Diva” in 2008 and Desert Samaritans named her “Good Samaritan of the Year” the following year.
As an accomplished media professional, Caruso recognized a need for women in the industry to be able to connect with one another. This need led Caruso to found Media Mavens, a group which provides a monthly opportunity for local women in the media industry to network.
In addition to being one of the most charismatic hosts in the desert, Caruso is also a proud mother and a beaming grandmother. Her daughter, Quinn, is the Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Coburn Communications. Caruso’s son, Carson, is known for hosting the long-running MTV show “Total Request Live” and is currently hosting “The Voice” on NBC.
With the season winding down, Caruso is looking forward to spending time enjoying her grandchildren. Quinn has two daughters: Jaden, 6, and Rinnie, 3. Carson’s son, Jackson, is 3, and Caruso is ecstatic over the upcoming arrival of Carson’s second child this September.
“Valley Views” will return in the fall on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. on KMIR 6. In the meantime, archived episodes can be seen 24/7 at Pattie.tv.
Diane Marlin-Dirkx Profile
Diane Marlin-Dirkx, a board member for Palm Springs Women in Film and Television, has written fashion, home and lifestyle features for a variety of publications, including The Desert Sun and Palm Springs Life Magazine. With such an accomplished writing career, Coachella Valley Weekly is honored to have Marlin-Dirkx as one of our very own columnists.
For 20 years, she has written for The Desert Sun, covering society and fashion for the publication. Her weekly column, “Style Quest,” answered fashion, beauty and style etiquette questions from readers. Marlin-Dirkx’s writing has also been featured in Palm Springs Life Magazine and Desert Magazine. She was also the fashion editor for Season in the Sun, an upscale desert publication that recently went out of print. Most recently, her social events column, “Don’t be Clueless in the Coachella Valley,” is a weekly staple of Coachella Valley Weekly.
In addition to her work in print, Marlin-Dirkx is a successful copywriter, having provided direct marketing, public relations and fashion show scripts for specialty and department stores across the country.
Before writing, Marlin-Dirkx pursued an acting career in New York. She studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse and Lee Strasberg at The Actor’s Studio, but eventually gave up her acting career to become a writer with an impressive career.
Marlin-Dirkx is actively involved with a number of non-profit organizations in the desert. In addition to being a member of the board at PSWIFT, Marlin-Dirkz is also a founding director of ACT for MS, The Friends of the Rancho Mirage Library and Angels Alliance, an auxiliary of Shelter from the Storm. She was also the regional director of the Fashion Group of Palm Springs and Desert Communities for eight years.
Brooke Beare Profile
As an anchorwoman and new mom, it’s hard to imagine CBS Local 2 anchor Brooke Beare has enough free time to sit on Saturday’s press panel at the annual PSWIFT Luncheon. As someone who makes it a priority to make time to give back to the community, though, Beare finds the time to balance work, motherhood and volunteering.
Beare’s career in broadcast journalism was originally a suggestion from her mother, who thought a major in broadcast journalism would be a good way for Beare to combine her passion for journalism and theatre, both of which she was involved with in high school. Her passion for journalism led her to report for two Texas news stations before coming to KPSP Local 2 in 2003 to be closer to her home in San Diego. Within six months of taking the position, Beare met her future husband at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. After trying to balance a commute to a position in San Diego with her home in the Coachella Valley, Beare returned to KPSP Local 2 (now CBS Local 2) in 2008.
Her coverage of the Southern California wildfires in 2007 and her investigative reporting on prostitution in Palm Springs earned Beare several Emmy nominations. Beare and her co-anchor, Kris Long, were also honored as “Anchors of the Year” at the International Hispanic Awards. Beare has had the opportunity to conduct high-profile interviews with subjects such as Arizona Senator John McCain and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
The new mom will celebrate her first mother’s day this Sunday after she and her husband welcomed son Gavin last September.
Beare is also involved with local charities, serving as a board member for Desert Arc, an organization that assists those with developmental disabilities. Beare will also be honored on May 19th at the upcoming “Above and Beyond Awards” hosted by Angel Light Academy. The awards recognize excellence in community leadership and service and Beare will be honored in the media category.
Beare anchors CBS Local 2’s news broadcasts at 5:30, 6:30, 10 and 11 p.m. on CBS Local 2.
