Ellen Pensky Mcgraw

Ellen Pensky McGraw is a distinguished Cal Poly alumna whose career blends Journalism, Marketing, and Public Relations. She honed her journalistic skills working on the Mustang Daily newspaper and as editor of the Outpost monthly magazine, experiences that laid the foundation for her multifaceted professional career. Ellen founded BumbleBee Marketing Services nearly 25 years ago. Under her leadership, the agency became a trusted partner for major tech clients, specializing in B2B demand generation, public relations, digital marketing, and events. Her work has won many awards and in 2020 was honored as Pleasanton’s business of the year. Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Ellen has been a dedicated mentor and advocate for Cal Poly’s journalism program, serving on the advisory board for ten years, helping to facilitate special events like 100-year Mustang Daily, 50-year KCPR anniversaries and Jim Hayes Symposium. Although she loved working on those events, Ellen’s most treasured project on the advisory board was the founding of the mentorship program designed to match students with mentors who would meet regularly and share their “real world” experience. In 2024, Ellen sold her successful company and turned her focus to creating and implementing women’s wellness programs through events, podcasts and articles to help other women advocate for their health. She sits on several boards and shares her skills and expertise in her local community.  She and her husband Jim live in El Dorado Hills when not visiting their daughter who is a lawyer in San Francisco and son-in-law.