Meet Diane Strand | Serial Entrepreneur, TV Show Executive Producer, Speaker, Bestselling Author, and Nonprofit Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diane Strand and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diane, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
As a nonprofit founder, I/we have a mission in helping provide career pathways in the arts. We have programs that work with 3 year old’s through senior citizens and mainstream through special needs. One of our programs is a Title 17 program that works with adults with autism , learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. We help dreams come true by providing HOPE which I define as Helping One Person Everyday. We share the arts to the community through a variety of pathways. Our first of it’s kind News and Information magazine style TV show broadcasted to 2.4 million people, our Radio News Community update broadcasted on 102.5 The Vine, Our Live Theatrical Productions, Our Haunted Studio event, and our 3 day world renowned Digital media Festival DigiFest Temecula.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a multi award winning Executive Producer at JDS Studios and the TV show Spirit of Innovation, the first Riverside County local news and information program. I’m the majority owner of JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc / JDS Actors Studio and the founder of nonprofit JDS Creative Academy. I’m a bestselling author on entrepreneurship and Breaking into the Industry as an Actor. I provide pathways and career opportunities in the visual, performing and digital arts. My passion for Workforce Development in the arts, led me to write two approved curriculums for video production. One is a Title 17 program designed for adults with developmental disabilities. The other is a California State approved apprenticeship program for college graduates. These programs provide Hands-On training along with paid supported internship opportunities, designed to break down barriers to gainful employment in video production, post production and acting. I create programs and continue to create new programs that teach K-12 students the value of the arts and creativity, our Calif approved curriculums meet the VAPA requirement in the public school system. My prior career life holds credits from A-List shows like; General Hospital, Friends, Veronica’s Closet and building the high-def control room at Staples Center, for the last 17 years Diane has been a successful entrepreneur of her own, a multi-award-winning production company, working with clients like Abbott Vascular, City of Temecula, Cal State San Marcos and United Healthcare Services to name a few. I have launched over 100 video and acting careers into the mainstream entertainment and video production industry.

Leaving my successful career in the Entertainment Industry to become an entrepreneur in 2003, was a leap – but I knew I was packing my own parachute, so I had faith because I was betting on myself and my partner for life and now business, my husband Scott Strand. I came home from working in reality television, missing dinner, bath time and putting my 2.5 year old to bed, again. My husband who was a working actor who went back to school to finish his BA degree in Film and TV was about to graduate from CSUN said to me what if…. What if we sold the house, you quit your 6 figure job and we start our own production company. I turned and looked at him and said YES! The next day I handed in my notice, we sold our house in LA and within a month moved to North County San Diego and started our Production Company. Today we run an award winning production company, an Actors Studio that has launched over 100 acting careers, and a million dollar nonprofit Creative Academy. I am a serial entrepreneur, a speaker, a two time best selling author (working on my third) and a nonprofit founder. Our production Company is a multi award winning company.

In my Entrepreneurial career I have done this leap several times. I see what I want it to look like at the end, and I start taking the next step that’s in front of me, sometimes making my mess my message, but the HOW reveals itself along the way. For me the keys to being successful is showing up, saying yes, creating the momentum, and enjoying the ride. The magic happens when you step outside your comfort zone.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Temecula Wine Country, Old Town Temecula, Pechanga Casino & Resort. Temecula is a beautiful city fresh and new with traditional historical ties. We have a wonderful active family community, a thriving business community, and views, shopping, dining, and so much more.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am who I am because of my partner in Life and Business Scott Strand. I am grateful for my JDS Creative Academy board of Directors, and my staff and team as I refer to them as our #JDSFamily. I am a true believer in mentors, coaches, masterminds and collaborative work. My community is amazing, I couldn’t have grown my businesses like I have without being a member of the Temecula Valley Chamber, and being on the executive board for the Economic Development Coalition, and being a part of the Riverside County workforce Development organization and a board member.

Website: www.jdscreativeacademy.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianestrand/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianestrand/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JDSProductions

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianeStrand.JDS

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SpiritofInnovationNews

Other: https://www.jdsactorsstudio.com; https://www.jds-productions.com

Image Credits
#JDSFamily