Judy Dlugacz founded Olivia in 1973 with the goal of creating visibility and freedom for lesbians everywhere. From the company's beginnings as a groundbreaking women's music label, to its transformation into the world's premier lesbian travel company, Dlugacz's vision and dedication have helped to create a diverse, compassionate and welcoming community worldwide.

Dlugacz has been an advocate and activist since her teenage years. She was living in Washington, D.C., when, in 1973, a friend suggested that she start a record company specializing in female artists. Over the next 20 years, Olivia Records became one of the industry's leading small labels. Dlugacz produced some 40 albums and sold more than 1 million records, tapes and CDs by artists such as Cris Williamson, Meg Christian, Teresa Trull and Linda Tillery. She also produced hundreds of concerts and events across the United   States, including two sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall.

In 1990, Dlugacz combined two of her passions - music and travel - by hosting Olivia's inaugural "concert on a cruise." Response was so positive that she founded Olivia Cruises & Resorts, a company offering vacations exclusively created for women. Since then, Olivia Travel has taken more than 150,000 women on over 170 trips, and the company has become the world's premier provider of cruise, resort, adventure and luxury vacations for lesbians. Thanks to a sincere passion, spirit and love for people, Dlugacz and her company have created memories and magic for women around the world.

Dlugacz's work as a community builder and respected LGBT advocate has earned her the Lifetime Achievement Award from Out and About magazine and accolades from the National Women's Music Festival, the Bay Area Community of Women and other organizations. The San Francisco Business Times named Olivia one of its Top 100 Women-Owned Businessesand One of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area, Both the San Francisco Golden Gate Business Association and Ernst & Young have honored her as Entrepreneur of the Year in their separate annual award ceremonies. Girlfriends magazine recognized Dlugacz as president of the longest standing lesbian company in the world, and she and the Olivia story have been featured in national publications such as Advocate, Curve,Out & About and People.

Most recently, she has been named to President Obama's LGBT Leadership Council and is very active in 2012 Obama Re-Election Campaign activities.
 

In addition to her travel-related achievements, Dlugacz earned multiple Cable Car Awards for Best Albums and a Bay Area Music Magazine Award for Best R&B album by Linda Tillery. She also produced two one-hour music video documentaries widely shown on PBS: "The Changer: A Record of the Times" and "Olivia's 15th Anniversary Video Special." Dlugacz co-produced an HBO comedy special featuring comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer, as well.

Since the company's earliest days, the Olivia family has prioritized giving back, both to the communities it visits and to deserving individuals worldwide. After an earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, Dlugacz helped found the LGBT Haiti Relief fund of the Red Cross, which allowed the LGBT community to speak with one voice as they donated to help the people of Haiti. To date, the fund has raised well over $250,000. Dlugacz has built additional community ties through Olivia's support of many non-profit organizations, including: Arcadia Women's Health Center, Dade Human Rights Foundation, GALA Choruses, GLAAD Media Awards, Human Rights Campaign, Lamda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Lesbian Community Cancer Project, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, Mautner Project, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, National Organization for Women, National Women's Music Festival, New York Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center, Outfest, Rainbow Community Center, Trevor Project and the California Alliance for Pride and Equality.

The third piece of the Olivia trilogy, building upon Dlugacz's success in the music and travel industries, will be a residential development in southern California. Currently in the planning stages, Olivia Living will be an active adult resort retirement community located on 10 acres in the Palm Springs area.

Dlugacz spends her free time gardening, golfing, music and collecting art. She also enjoys writing and is at work on a book that chronicles 40 years of lesbian culture through the lens of her Olivia experiences. The New York native splits her time between the San Francisco Bay area and Washington,  D.C.


MEDIA CONTACT
Catherine Boire
T +1 707 255 5997
E cbpr@olivia.com