Jan began her career on her father's award-winning weekly newspaper in California followed by a stint at a well-known literary agency in Hollywood, representing authors, screenwriters and actors for motion picture companies.
In the late 60's she worked as the Public Relations Liaison for CBS Cinema Center Films in NYC, in the early 70's, she served as the first official public relations director of historic Ford's Theatre, followed by 15 years as the public relations director for WETA TV and Radio, the third largest public broadcasting station in the United States. As WETA's public relations director, Ms. Du Plain secured success in extensive press coverage on Washington Post TV Week front page cover stories, hosted numerous special events to launch new productions and spear headed Washington, D.C. publicity efforts for the world premiere of documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns' multiple award-winning TV series, The Civil War.
From 1975-1978, Du Plain launched the first Office on Women for the National Council on Alcoholism and served as the primary spokesperson for the organization. While leading the organization, she developed state, local and international chapters, initiated U.S. Congressional hearings, lectured and worked with such luminaries as Oscar-winning actress Mercedes McCambridge, Joan Kennedy (Senator Ted Kennedy's wife), Senator Harold Hughes (creator of the National Institutes of Health, Mental Health and Alcohol & Drugs) and Susan B. Anthony (grandniece and namesake of the famous suffragist).
In 1995, she opened Du Plain Global Enterprises, Inc, an international Public Relations and Special Events company that represents a variety of media and cultural organizations. She served on the executive team which launched Cultural Tourism DC's (Ctdc) inaugural PASSPORT DC, a month city-wide cultural celebration of Washington's international and diplomatic community and continues in the role of Embassy Liaison today. The State Department is a strategic partner and PASSPORT DC is now listed as one of the most popular events in the nation's capital by Events USA. For almost 10 years, she recruited the 20 embassies that participated in the Embassy Chef Challenge and will be responsible for relaunching and recruiting embassies for the International Children's Festival in 2018. She also currently serves as the Embassy Liaison for the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, participating in the 300 international events that are mandated by congress annually, including Winter national, their most popular annual signature event featuring over 30 embassies.
Jan received several awards including the National Press Club's highest service award (Bernie Krug Award), several Vivian Awards in appreciation for her excellent service with the International Correspondents Committee at the National Press Club and the 2012 Alice Paul Award, Women & Politics Institute, School of Public Affairs, American University. She currently serves as the National Press Club's Vice-Chair, International Correspondents Committee and as the Diplomatic Liaison for The American News Women's Club.
The Gallup Leadership Institute presented Jan with its Excellence Award in 1998, and commended her for being a powerful networker, hailing her "ability to connect just the right person with just the right talent to make just the right contribution" They extolled the impact of her work, noting, "With her help, alliances are forged and progress is made"
Jan Du Plain is a member of Protocol & Diplomacy International-Protocol Officers Association, Capital Speaker's Club, THIS for Diplomats and Welcome to Washington International Clubs, to name a few.