TITLE
Recommendation to receive and approve Commission appointments to Non-Charter Commissions.
DISCUSSION
APPOINTMENTS
New Appointments
Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission
Jodi Meade - First term through June 2024
Jodi Meade is a business owner in Council District 3. She, along with her partner Deb, opened Wine Beach on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore this last December. Jodi is also leading Avison Young’s national specialty Automotive Properties Group as their Principal and National Director. Jodi is part of the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA), Women In Automotive (WIA) and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
Board of Examiners Appeals and Condemnation
Frank Esparza - First term through June 2024
Frank Esparza is a Council District 3 resident living in the Belmont Shore area. Frank is a retired Engineer from the Exxon Mobil, Torrance refinery where he coordinated various construction
projects. Frank holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California.
Steve Askin - First term through June 2024
Steve Askin is a Council District 2 resident living in the Rose Park Neighborhood. Steve is the Founder and Managing Partner for Small World Strategy, a Public Interest Research firm. Steve is also the co-owner and operator of a small family-run residential business with a 35-year record of providing high quality housing. Steve is a graduate of the School of Journalism at Columbia University and holds a Master’s in Business Administration in Accounting from Columbia Business School.
Board of Health and Human Services
Dr. Lauren Walton - First term through June 2024
Dr. Lauren Walton is a Council District 3 resident. She works as an Addiction Psychiatrist and Chief of Services- Addiction Medicine for the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and is the latest recipient of their Physician’s Choice Award- Outpatient Physician. Dr. Walton holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences degree from the University of Ohio and a Doctorate in Medicine from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.
Abraam Girgis- First term through June 2024
Abraam Girgis is a Council District 3 resident. He is a Dentist and the owner of Heartwell Dental here in Long Beach. He has previously worked as an Associate Dentist for Lakewood Smiles and is a member of the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) of the American Heart Association. Abraam holds a Baccalaureate of Science in General Biology from University of California, Irvine and
a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Marquette University School of Dentistry in Michigan.
Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disabilities
Marissa Gonzalez - First term through June 2024
Marissa Gonzalez is a Council District 3 resident. Marissa was raised in the Alamitos Heights neighborhood and is now a resident of the Naples community. She grew up with monocular vision and recently lost most of her vision in her remaining eye. As a legally blind person, she looks forward to offering her perspective in assisting the many efforts of the Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Disabilities. Marissa is currently the Director of Special Events for the USC School of Dramatic Arts and is a founding Board member of World Eye Cancer Hope. Marissa holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism at USC.
Economic Development Commission
Robert Smith - First term through June 2026
Robert “Robb” Smith is a Council District 7 resident. Robert works as an Office Manager for Covenant Doors in Hawthorne and is a is the owner of Alley Cat Deliveries, a downtown local food and goods delivery business. Robert hopes to bring his experience in working with many local business owners towards efforts to strengthen the relationships between businesses, our community and the city.
Homeless Services Advisory Committee
Ray Morquecho - First term through June 2024
Ray Morquecho is a Council District 1 resident living in the Westend Gateway Neighborhood downtown. He is the CEO and Founder of Caliblu Surf School. Ray is looking forward to applying his interest in community service, experience and creativity to assist in supporting the city’s homeless services efforts. Ray holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine.
Diego Castañeda- First term through June 2024
Diego Castañeda is a Council District 2 resident. Diego is a Personal Service Coordinator for Mental Health America, Los Angeles here in Long Beach where he manages treatment for adults with chronic mental illness. Diego is also a Spanish/English certified court interpreter and was a Non-Medical Vaccine Registration Volunteer with the Long Beach Medical Reserve Corps. Diego holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Occidental College and is currently in Master's program at California State University, Long Beach for Emergency Management.
Long Beach Transit Board of Directors
Raul Añorve - First term through December 2026
Raul Añorve is a Council District 9 resident. Raul works as a Paralegal for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Safe Neighborhoods & Gang Division. He has been an active community member and volunteer previously serving on the Citizens Police Complaint Commission, Grants Committee Panel for the Arts Council of Long Beach and Fellow with the Equality California Leadership Program. Raul is a rider of Long Beach Transit, inducted into the Equality Plaza at Harvey Milk Park, and a Leadership Long Beach graduate.
Senior Citizens Advisory Commission
Carolyn Christian Hines - First term through June 2024
Carolyn Hines is a Council District 1 resident. Carolyn lives in the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony at the edge of the downtown. She has been an avid volunteer and community leader who has served in a number of boards including: 100 Black Men, Girl Scouts of Greater Long Beach Area and the EOPS/CARE Advisory Board for El Camino College, among others. Carolyn is also an Adjunct Professor for the Los Angeles Community College District. She holds a Master’s in Mass Communication from UCLA, a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from California State University, Fullerton and is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach class of 1999.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Garcia
Mayor