A partnership with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Southern California Class of 2013
Naresh Amatya
Santa Monica
Manager of Transportation Planning
Southern California Association of Governments
Naresh Amatya is the manager of transportation planning at the Southern California Association
Governments (SCAG). Amatya is primarily responsible for the development and coordination of
the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). RTP is a state and federally mandated plan that
provides the vision and framework for the long term investment in transportation infrastructure in
the Southern California region. Prior to joining SCAG in 1998, Amatya worked in the private
sector on a number of transportation system improvement projects, including re-alignment of
Route 30. He also has extensive experience in Southern California land planning and
development. He was primarily responsible as a project manager for preparation and
coordination of feasibility studies, specific plans, general plan amendments, and zone changes.
Amatya holds a master’s degree in both urban planning from the University of California, Los
Angeles (UCLA), and in civil engineering from California State University at Fullerton. Amatya is
a registered civil engineer in the State of California.
Shad Balch
Los Angeles
Environment & Energy Policy Specialist
General Motors Co.
Shad Balch is an environment & energy policy and communications manager at General Motors
(GM). Before joining GM in 2007, Balch worked for more than 10 years in various public affairs
positions in California government, including the administrations of two governors, two
secretaries of state and attorney general. Most recently, Balch was vice president at the public
relations firm MSL Group in Los Angeles. Outside of the office, Balch is an avid motor sports
enthusiast, having competed regularly for more than 10 years in professionally-sanctioned offroad desert races in Southern California, Nevada and Mexico.
Tricia Carey
Seal Beach
Assistant Director of the Contracts and Purchasing Division
Port of Los Angeles
Tricia Carey has worked for the City of Los Angeles since 2001. She worked as a legislative
analyst in the Office of the Chief Legislative Analyst where she developed legislative proposals,
and provided objective, analytical advice to the City Council on citywide policy and legislative
matters. In 2008, she was promoted to senior management analyst in the Office of the City
Clerk where she was responsible for budgeting, accounting, financial management, and
personnel administration for the city clerk, the mayor's office and the City Council. Carey is
presently the assistant director of the Contracts and Purchasing Division at the Port of Los
Angeles where she is responsible for the Port's procurement and contracting activities, and the
Small Business Enterprise Program. In addition to working for the City of Los Angeles, Carey
owned a small business for several years, and her family currently owns a small business in
Orange County. Carey currently resides in Seal Beach with her husband and four-year old
daughter.
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350 S. Bixel Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 | T 213.580.7524 F 213.580.7511 www.leadershipnetwork.org
Benny Chacko
Buena Park
Assistant Director, Information Technology
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Benny Chacko is the assistant director for the Communications and Fleet Management Bureau
at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. In this capacity, he oversees information
technology for the Bureau and is responsible for managing and implementing several
technology projects that directly impact field operations for the Deputy Sheriff. He has more than
15 years of experience in the IT Sector, of which 10 years have been in public safety between
the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Fire Department. Benny has an MBA in
finance from California State University, Fullerton and a B.S. in computer engineering from the
University of California, Irvine.
Jeff Daniel
Huntington Beach
Director of Sales
Southern California Division, Unified Grocers
Jeff Daniel is the director of sales for Unified Grocers Southern California Division, a $4 billion
company headquartered in Commerce. Unified, which celebrates its 90th Anniversary in 2012, is
the largest wholesale grocery company in the western United States. Daniel has been at Unified
for 15 years and has held various positions in the organization. Prior to joining Unified, Daniel
worked for Fritz Companies in Los Angeles, one of the largest customs house brokers in the
world. A native of Southern California, Daniel graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills in
1996 with a bachelor of science in classical management and international business. He also
holds a certificate from the food industry management program at University of Southern
California’s Marshall School of Business. He is the proud father of two sons, Alec, a senior at
Cal State Long Beach, and Nic, a middle school honors list student in Huntington Beach, where
Daniel resides.
Victor Dominguez
La Mirada
Executive Director
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles-Weingart East Los Angeles & Southeast Lost Angeles
YMCAs
Victor Dominguez is a native Californian born and raised in Whittier. While working for the Boys
& Girls Clubs of Fullerton, Dominguez earned a bachelor’s degree in both child & adolescent
studies and sociology from California State University, Fullerton. Dominguez is currently the
executive director for both the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA and Southeast Rio Vista
YMCA. Previously Dominguez was the executive director for the YMCA of Greater Long BeachFairfield Family YMCA Branch. Dominguez has been a national trainer for Boys & Girls Clubs of
America, training adolescents in the country on how to become leaders in their communities,
and educating them on drug and alcohol prevention. Dominguez is chair of the White Memorial
Medical Center Leadership Board, president of the Huntington Park Kiwanis Club, commissioner
of the City of Huntington Park Health and Education Commission, and a member of many other
city-wide organizations. Dominguez is married to Kristina, a school psychologist, and has two
beautiful children Jacob, 13 months and Lila, 3 ½ years old.
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Rhonda Rene Dowdy
Rancho Palos Verdes
Senior Personnel Analyst
City of Los Angeles, Public Works Bureau of Sanitation
Rhonda Dowdy’s professional experience spans more than 25 years in the areas of business
and community development. She brings more than 20 years of human resources experience
with the City of Los Angeles. Dowdy has worked for the Bureau of Contract Administration, the
Los Angeles Police Department, Recreation and Parks, Department of Water and Power, Public
Works Bureau of Sanitation and has taught internationally. She continues to serve her
community in the areas of mentoring, leadership and development.
Norris Farrell
Lake Elsinore
Divisional Compliance, Safety & AP Senior Manager
Walmart
Norris Farrell began his Walmart career as a manager-in-training in Lake Elsinore in 1997. In
1999 he was promoted to store manager of the facility in Yucca Valley. During that time he
served on the board of directors with the chamber of commerce. In 2001, Farrell was transferred
to a store in Riverside and continued as a store manager until 2005. At that time he transitioned
into a market level position overseeing the automotive departments throughout multiple
buildings in San Bernardino and Riverside County. In 2007, Farrell transitioned into the role of
an environmental compliance manager covering Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and
Riverside Counties. In 2011, Farrell transitioned into his current role as divisional manager of
compliance safety and asset protection within the logistics division covering California, Nevada,
Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.
Richard Gayton
Studio City
Senior Portfolio Manager
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc
Richard Gayton joined Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. as a financial advisor in 2005. His practice
focuses on clients who have sold businesses or inherited substantial money, professional
investors and foundations with a liquid net worth of $3 million or more. He works closely with
Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. (OAM), the Alternative Investments Group, a division of
OAM, and the Municipal Capital Markets Group as well as the clients’ tax and legal advisors. He
began his financial career in 1985 at Merrill Lynch and joined PaineWebber in 1990. After
PaineWebber was acquired by UBS, he remained with the company. During his 15 years at
UBS, Richard co-founded and was senior portfolio manager of the Private Asset Management
Group, with about $300 million of assets under management as of 2005. Gayton was recently
appointed as chairman of the Board of Directors at Food Bank of Southern California. He is also
a board member of the Salvation Army and a member of the Los Angeles Committee on
Foreign Relations. Richard earned his B.A. in history from the University of California, Berkeley.
He currently resides in Studio City with his wife and two sons.
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Shane Murphy Goldsmith
Los Angeles
Co-Chair of the Board of Directors
PATH Ventures
Shane Murphy Goldsmith is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of Liberty Hill programs,
including the Wally Marks Leadership Institute for Change, the Fund for Change, and
collaborations with community organizations under Common Agenda. She also oversees Liberty
Hill’s operations and finance departments. Goldsmith came to the Liberty Hill Foundation from
PATH Ventures, an affordable housing development agency, where she was the executive
director. She previously served on City Councilmember Eric Garcetti’s staff for four years
overseeing a variety of field and legislative projects including housing, economic development,
the city budget, public safety and LGBTQ issues.
Viki Goto
San Gabriel
Associate Director of Development
LA Conservation Corps
Viki Goto is a native Angeleno who currently serves as associate director of development for the
LA Conservation Corps, a 26-year-old nonprofit that provides paid work experience and job
training for young people, ages 14 – 24, who pursue their education while conducting vital
environmental services in their communities. She has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit
and private sectors, including running a service-learning program for high school students at the
Constitutional Rights Foundation, teaching first grade in a public elementary school, and most
recently, managing corporate grants and volunteer projects for NBCUniversal. Goto is an avid
supporter of the arts in Los Angeles and is a member of the Marketing Advisory Committee of
East West Players. Goto holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in
two-dimensional fine arts from the University of Southern California.
Peter Griffith
Long Beach
Communications Director
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Peter Griffith is presently the communications director at the Los Angeles Homeless Services
Authority (LAHSA). As part of the executive leadership team at LAHSA, he’s responsible for
messaging, media relations and public affairs. Previously, Griffith served in key roles including
head of communications and business development for a $440 million health care network of
the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, chief of staff to the CIO of a $300 million
information technology division of Zurich Financial Services, and deputy director of community
relations for the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office in New York. He’s also a volunteer trainer
with EQUIP, a global leadership development organization. Griffith holds an executive master’s
in business administration and management from Saint Joseph’s College and earned his
undergraduate degree from Saint Francis College in New York. He’s passionate about
transformational leadership and seeing the tremendous value it brings to communities,
government and organizations. In his spare time Griffith likes taking scenic drives.
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Dena Hall
Altadena
Principal, Practice Leader
Ryan LLC
Dena Oberst Hall is a principal and practice leader at Ryan, LLC. Ryan is a leading global tax
services firm, with the largest indirect tax practice in North America and the seventh largest
corporate tax practice in the United States. Hall specializes in providing state and local
transaction tax compliance services, business license outsourcing, and exemption certificate
management solutions to corporate clients in the United States and Canada. She is responsible
for the development and growth of Ryan’s tax compliance practice and supervises more than 25
employees in four offices across the country.
Karin Hall
Santa Monica
Karin Hall has worked as the executive director of Heal the Bay, a nationally renowned
environmental non-profit organization. Prior to joining Heal the Bay in 2002 as associate director,
Hall was a senior VP/group account director at several prominent national advertising firms. She
managed high-profile accounts, including Starbucks, Apple, Expedia, DIRECTV, Acura and
Earthlink. As executive director of Heal the Bay, Hall oversees the day-to-day operations of this
$5 million dollar organization with 46 staff and 45 Board members. Hall’s responsibilities include
strategic planning, fundraising, fiscal accountability, public education and outreach programs,
science and policy, and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Hall and her husband Tom, a media
consultant, love to travel, explore, sail, kayak and scuba dive around the world.
Robert Holland
Los Angeles
Partner
Sidley Austin LLP
Robert Holland is a litigation partner in the Los Angeles office of law firm Sidley Austin LLP. His
practice emphasizes civil appeals and writs; real estate finance-related litigation; and complex
commercial litigation on behalf of banks, insurance companies, and other large financial
institutions. During more than 17 years in practice, he has handled dozens of high-profile
litigation matters in federal and state trial and appellate courts in California and across the
country. Before joining Sidley Austin, Holland clerked for the Honorable James R. Browning,
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He received his judicial degree in law from Boalt Hall
School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and his bachelor’s degree from the
University of California, Irvine. He has spent most of his life in Southern California (including
Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County), and currently lives in the Hollywood Hills with his
wife Quinnie and black Labrador Retriever Max.
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Michelle Humphreys
Los Angeles
Senior Financial Analyst
The California Endowment
Michelle Humphreys is a senior financial analyst at The California Endowment, a health
foundation established in 1996 to address the health needs of Californians. In this role, she
manages the $154 million per year grant budget and forecast for programs aimed at promoting
fundamental improvements in health. In her spare time she enjoys triathlons and rescuing dogs.
She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of La Verne.
Tina Javid
Chino Hills
Public Affairs Manager
Southern California Gas Company, a Sempra Energy Company
Tina Javid is a public affairs manager for The Southern California Gas Company. She has been
with The Gas Company for 29 years, serving in a variety of areas including customer services,
human resources, management training and public and legislative affairs. In her current
assignment she is responsible for representing The Gas Company in 12 cities and two
communities that are located in Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Javid
serves as liaison with local elected officials, business and community leaders. She enjoys
representing the company on several chamber of commerce boards, the Diamond Bar
Community Foundation, the Placentia Linda Hospital Governing Board and as president of the
Chino Valley YMCA board of directors. Javid received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a
master’s degree in business administration in organizational development from Cal Poly
Pomona. She lives in Chino Hills with her husband, Craig and their children Nathan, Matthew
and Jessica.
Dean Kirchner
Tujunga
Manager, Sales
Unified Grocers
Dean Kirchner is the manager of sales for Unified Grocers Market Centre and General
Merchandise divisions in Southern California. Unified Grocers is a grocery wholesale
cooperative serving supermarket, specialty, natural, and convenience store operators in the
western United States. His responsibilities include collaborative efforts between the wholesale,
retailer and vendor broker community to insure all current food marketing trends are being meet
at the retailers Unified serves. Prior to Unified Grocers, Kirchner has more than 25 years
experience in the grocery industry, working in various management positions with Vons
Grocery, HEB Grocery and Penn Traffic. A native Southern Californian, he resides in Tujunga
with his wife Tracy and two sons Dawson and Wyatt.
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Darlene Kiyan
Culver City
Executive Director
Playworks Los Angeles
Darlene Kiyan joined Playworks in January 2011 after spending 11 years with the YMCA of
Metro Los Angeles. Before switching to the non-profit world, Kiyan spent seven years in Japan
working for a fitness company. Originally from Canada, Kiyan appreciates the Southern
California weather so that she can spend more time outside running and going to amusement
parks with her family. Working at Playworks has brought back her passion for double dutch and
learning new games like
four square and switch.
Ricardo Mendoza
Los Angeles
Senior Field Representative
Office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
Ricardo Mendoza currently serves as Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard’s field
representative overseeing key issue areas in the district and region, including immigration, labor,
veteran affairs and business. He is familiar with many of the planning and permitting processes
in the City of Los Angeles. Mendoza brings extensive knowledge and expertise within local and
federal government jurisdictions. He is committed to improving the communities in the southeast
region by building coalitions that empower the local leaders through civic engagement and
leadership development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of
California, Los Angeles and is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at California State
University, Northridge.
David Meza
Los Angeles
Local Outreach/Public Affairs Manager
Southern California Gas Company
Prior to joining the public affairs team at Southern California Gas Company, Meza served as
education policy coordinator for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. In this capacity,
he conducted research, policy analysis and legislative development related to state and federal
implementation of education reform. Before working for the Chamber, he was education and
health field deputy to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senator Gilbert Cedillo. Through his
work in education, Meza was recognized for his commitment by Santee Education Complex in
South Los Angeles, for inspiring their students to have the courage to strive for a promising
future. Meza has been an active supporter to his community for more than 10 years and has
contributed an array of ways to the Pico-Union District. As a mentor, he hosted academic and
resource workshops gauged to meet the needs of the community. Meza was born and raised in
the Pico-Union District and East Los Angeles area. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in
criminal justice from California State University Long Beach.
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Lani Monos
Venice
Executive Director, Global Corporate Social Responsibility
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Lani Monos is executive director of global corporate social responsibility for Sony Pictures
Entertainment (SPE). Monos joined SPE in 2003. In this role, she assumes responsibility for a
wide array of activities revolving around the companies’ philanthropic efforts including
coordination of corporate donations to the non-profit organization with a focus on arts and
culture, education and the environment. She also oversees LINKS, SPE’s employee volunteer
program as well as Passing the Torch, LINKS’ mentoring initiative and the LINKS Green Series.
After completing her secondary studies at the International School of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo,
Japan, Monos attended Keio University. She has bachelor’s degree in Japanese and
interdisciplinary visual arts from the University of Washington, and a master’s degree in Asian
studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Monos is on the Advisory Committee for the
Upward Bound House Family Shelter and on the strategic development planning committee for
LA Stage Alliance. Monos is also a member of L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s “We Serve LA”
Community Service Advisory Cabinet.
Stephen Ozoigbo
Los Angeles
Trade & Investment Consultant
Government of Catalonia – ACC10
Stephen Ozoigbo is currently a trade and investment consultant with the trade office of the
Government of Catalonia in California. In this capacity, he is responsible for a diverse array of
international project management and advisory services that are geared towards increasing
bilateral trade relations between Catalonia and the West Coast of the United States. These
relations are centered on investment, innovation and internationalization initiatives. Ozoigbo has
obtained his master’s in business administration with an emphasis in global business from
Pepperdine University and an executive diploma in behavioral finance and investment from
Harvard University.
Vivian Perez
Placentia
Technical Specialist
Southern California Edison
Vivian Perez has been employed since 1982 with Southern California Edison, an Edison
International company and one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric utilities. She
currently works in the Business Customer Business Unit of Power Delivery. In this role she
manages marketing and outreach opportunities for the New Construction Services Department.
Her current assignment includes developing the marketing strategy, managing customer
outreach events and building stronger relationships with building trade associations and
organizations. Perez serves as a founding board member and current chair of the Placentia
Community Foundation. She also helps on the organizing committee for the City of Placentia’s
Annual Heritage Festival and Parade.
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Krista Phipps
Los Angeles
Westside Public Affairs Manager
Southern California Gas Company
Krista Phipps is the Westside public affairs manager for Southern California Gas Company. She
has a background in public policy and economic development, working with local government in
Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Prior to her current post, Phipps served at the City of Los
Angeles Community Development Department where she managed capital projects as a finance
officer and served as senior liaison for the Mayor’s Office of Housing & Economic
Opportunity. Prior to joining the Los Angeles mayor’s office, Phipps worked for the Philadelphia
Industrial Development Corporation as government relations manager and project manager.
She also worked for L.A. City Council District 10 as a planning deputy and development and
community affairs deputy. Phipps holds a master’s degree in urban planning, community and
economic development finance from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s
degree in political science from Rosemont College, Pennsylvania.
Maxine Price
Carlsbad
HR Consultant and Career Coach
JC Max Consulting
Maxine Price is a seasoned, polished goal-focused professional with experiences in human
resources and life/career coaching. This is complemented by her work and continued desire to
serve her church, outreaching to her community, and understanding and assisting in the social,
economic and political issues to bring about consistent needed changes for improving the work,
lives and social well-being of the people within these communities. Previously, Price’s corporate
career included senior level hr/talent acquisition roles in organizations including Motorola, Pfizer,
Sony Electronics, Life Technologies and MTA New York. A partial list of clients include: DJ
Orthopedics (Vista, CA) Greenhouse Energy (San Diego, CA), Cornerstone Consulting, Inc.,
Coastal Credit Solutions and DebtWave (San Diego, CA) as well as Confidential
Executive/Career/Life Coaching Clients. Price earned a bachelor’s degree in business
administration from Marymount Manhattan College, New York, and has completed graduate
course work at Cornell University and New York Institute of Technology in Labor and Industrial
Relations and earned a life coach certification from the Life Coach Institute. Price and her
husband and son Jonathan lives in Carlsbad, CA.
Mauricio Romero
Lake Balboa
Director, Financial and Operational Analysis
Unified Grocers
Mauricio Romero is the director of financial and operational analysis at Unified Grocers, the
largest retailer-owned wholesale grocery cooperative in the western United States. Prior to
joining Unified, Romero spent six years in the telecommunications industry serving in a number
of leadership roles within finance and marketing. Romero is originally from El Salvador and
came to the United States at the age of 5. Romero holds a master’s in business administration
from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s of science in finance from California
State University of Northridge.
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Carlos Salazar
San Diego
Project Analyst
Qualcomm
Consistently involved with leadership and development training for the last 10 years, Carlos
Salazar has worked with numerous non-profit organizations across the country such as Health
Occupation Students of America and Medical Reserve Corp, and has been recognized for his
leadership efforts and academic performance by highly respected institutions. Salazar is
currently a telecom project manager at Qualcomm and is continuing his higher education by
pursuing his doctorate in organizational leadership. He has a bachelor’s degree in business and
political science and a master’s in public administration. His non-profit organization MariCarlo
Leadership Resources focuses on leadership training. He is also involved in community
volunteering and serves on various boards of leadership, including the Whittier College Alianza
de los Amigos Board of Directors and the University of Phoenix Alumni Mentor program, and
volunteers for several organizations in Southern California.
Ellen Schned
Santa Monica
Media Consultant
Ovation TV
Ellen Schned is a seasoned media executive, serving as senior vice president at Ovation TV,
CBS College Sports and Court TV, in charge of distribution, affiliate marketing and public affairs.
Previously she was vice president of government affairs for Viacom and an attorney for the
Federal Communications Commission, in the Mass Media Bureau and Office of Legislative
Affairs. She received her juris doctorate degree from Hastings College of the Law in San
Francisco, where she served as class president, and received her bachelor’s degree from
University of California, Los Angeles in political science. Schned has received numerous honors,
including being named a "Wonder Woman of Cable,” one of the "Most Powerful Women in
Cable" and was inducted into the "Cable Hall of Fame." She has coordinated
several private/public partnerships, including Arts Advocacy Day, Shakespeare in the Park,
Digital Fingerprinting for Kids and Everyday Heroes. Schned is from Simi Valley and counts golf
and music as her favorite past times.
Emily Smith
Aliso Viejo
Public Affairs Manager
Southern California Gas Company, a Sempra Energy Utility
As public affairs manager for the Southern California Gas Company, Emily Smith supports 12
cities in South Orange County, coordinating the company’s relations with city councils and other
elected and appointed officials to develop and promote community relations. Before joining the
regional public affairs team, Smith served in Sacramento as communications director for
California State Senator Mark Wyland. Smith received her bachelor's degree from California
State University, Fullerton in English with a minor in political science. She currently serves as a
director on four non-profit boards in Orange County. In her spare time, Smith enjoys reading,
taking her black Labrador Charlie to the dog beach, and supporting and enjoying local
restaurants.
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Jennifer St. John
Pasadena
Membership Representative
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
As a Los Angeles native, Jennifer St. John grew up in the heart of Hollywood and attended John
Marshall High School. She received her graduate degree from the University of Southern
California at the School of Theatre. St. John’s parents immigrated to California as young adults
carrying the American dream in their hearts. Her parents believed that California was the land
of dreams and taught St. John to live life to the fullest. St. John has served as a membership
representative for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce for more than 11 years. Her
primary role is to educate businesses on the work and role of the Chamber. The thing she
enjoys most about her job is talking to and connecting with people.
Octavia Tucker
Upland
Section Manager
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Octavia Tucker currently works with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(MWD) as the section manager for administrative services. In this capacity, Tucker oversees
facilities management, contracting and procurement, and document services. Tucker has more
than 22 years of experience at MWD and has a bachelor’s of science degree in business
management and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of La Verne.
Tania Van Herle
Los Angeles
Managing Principal
Harley Ellis Devereaux
As managing principal for Harley Ellis Devereaux, Tania Van Herle is responsible for the
operation of the firm’s Los Angeles architecture and engineering practice. Van Herle, who has
more than 16 years of experience in architecture, specializes in the design and construction of
educational facilities. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she continued her education locally,
earning multiple degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles in civil engineering and
architecture. She currently serves as an executive member of Executive Women International, a
member of the American Institute of Architects, and an executive member of the Los Angeles
Economic Development Corporation.
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Veronica Vargas
Los Angeles
Director of External of Affairs
Homeboy Industries
Veronica Vargas is director of external affairs for Homeboy Industries (HBI), the nation’s largest
gang intervention and re-entry program, based in Los Angeles. Serving formerly gang-involved
and recently incarcerated youth, HBI provides job training and placement, case management,
tattoo removal, mental health and substance abuse services, legal aid, domestic violence and
batterers prevention training, and positions in four small businesses (Homeboy Bakery,
Homegirl Café, Homeboy Silkscreen and Homeboy Merchandise). Vargas provides strategic
direction on government and community relations; philanthropic development; communication,
marketing and public relations; as well as other efforts to improve awareness, understanding
and support of HBI internally and externally. Born in Commerce, she received a bachelor’s
degree in Spanish from Humboldt State University and a master’s degree in Hispanic literature
from the University of New Mexico. Her interests in at-risk programs and minority advancement
stem from her upbringing in a single-parent, immigrant home where she witnessed firsthand the
impact of gangs on families and communities. Her three-year volunteer experience at Los
Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center in Downey also allowed her to see the need for positive
interventions and shortcomings of our rehabilitation system.
Cindy Vasquez
Glendale
Agency Field Executive
State Farm Insurance Companies
Cindy Vasquez was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. She attended the University of
Texas in Austin where she received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Vasquez
joined State Farm Insurance Companies in 1981 and has held operations and agency
leadership position moving eight times with the company during her career. In 2005, she moved
to the Los Angeles area where she is an agency field executive responsible for the marketing,
recruiting and product growth for East Los Angeles, Monterrey Park, Montebello, Rosemead,
Pico Rivera, and parts of the Whittier, Alhambra and San Gabriel areas. She has the Chartered
Property Casualty Underwriter and Chartered Life Underwriter designations, as well as, a
Chartered Leadership Fellowship designation. She is involved in several non-profit
organizations and serves as a commissioner for the City of Glendale Audit Committee. She is
very proud of her daughter who has decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a State Farm
Agent in Houston, Texas. Cindy enjoys playing golf and water sports during her free time.
Frank Wen
South Pasadena
Manager, Research and Analysis, Division of Land Use & Environmental Planning
Southern California Association of Governments
Dr. Frank Wen is the manager of research and analysis with the division of land use and
environmental planning, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). He joined
SCAG in 1988 and served as senior economist between 1993 and 2005. His researches and
assignments include: producing SCAG region growth forecasts, translating growth and
demographic shifts into policy implications, conducting economic impact analysis and
environmental justice analysis for regional transportation plan, performing income equity and fair
share analysis for aviation plan, tracking and reporting on regional economic, housing, and
demographic trends. Wen taught a graduate level class, “Environmental Justice in
Transportation Planning and Investment” at the University of Southern California School of
Public Policy and Urban Planning in the spring semester of 2005. Wen received both master’s of
science and doctorate degrees in applied economics from the University of Minnesota, Twin
Cities.
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