TITLE
Recommendation to receive and approve Commission appointments and reappointments for Non-Charter Commissions.
DISCUSSION
APPOINTMENTS
New Appointments
Citizens Advisory Commission on Disabilities
Arthur Romo - First term through July 2024
Arthur Romo is a Council District 2 resident. He currently works at Safe Refuge as their Director of Marketing and Community Outreach. Arthur works with residents facing Substance Use Disorder, Homeless Veterans experiencing PTSD, and other residents who have mental and physical disabilities. Arthur attended Long Beach City College where he became a Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor through the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE).
Commission on Youth & Families
Karla Gonzalez - First term through July 2024
Karla Gonzalez is a Council District 3 resident. She is employed as the District Success Manager for Khan Academy, a non-profit educational organization that assists students to succeed in the classroom. In the past, she has worked in the Baltimore City Public School System and as the Academic Initiatives Program Coordinator for the SMART Program. Karla holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Stanford University and a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University and is currently studying in the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program at University of California Los Angeles.
Laila Payne - First term through July 2024
Laila Payne is a Council District 7 resident and currently works in the food service industry. Laila was instrumental as a Campaign Canvasser for Parents, Educators/Teachers & Students (PESA) getting over 5 thousand residents vaccinated against COVID-19. Laila has earned a certificate as a Medical Assistant from The Long Beach Job Corps Center where she serves in the leadership of their Student Government Association. Laila is the first Long Beach Job Corps student to be appointed as a City of Long Beach Commissioner.
Cultural Heritage Commission
Amy Bodek - First term through July 2024
Amy Bodek is a Council District 3 resident. She is currently employed at the County of Los Angeles as the Director of Regional Planning. Amy has previously served as our Director of Development Services and Executive Director of the Redeployment Agency here at the City. Amy is passionate about preserving the architectural heritage of the city while also addressing the need for more housing. Amy is on the Board of Directors for Rancho Los Alamitos Foundation and a member of the National Association of Counties. Amy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Design & Environmental Analysis, a Master of Urban Planning from New York University, and a Certificate in Landscape Architecture from UCLA.
Equity and Human Relations Commission
Jessica Gillette - First term through July 2024
Jessica Gillette is a Council District 2 resident. She currently works as an In-House Attorney for L.A. Care Health Plan. Jessica was instrumental in bringing the “Inaugural City of Long Beach Filipino American History Month Celebration” to the city and serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Rhetoric & Communication from University of California, Davis, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Homeless Services Advisory Committee
Sarah Bedy - First term through July 2024
Sarah Bedy is a Council District 7 resident. She has been an avid volunteer in her community and currently serves as Director of the California Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. Sarah has previously worked with the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated as the Prison Program Manager and Director of Southern California through Defy Ventures. Sarah holds a Bachelor in Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Masters degree in Public Policy from George Mason University in Virginia.
Long Beach Housing Authority
Anthony Taranto - First term through July 2024
Anthony Taranto is a veteran who previously received a grant from the City of Long Beach to start a small business, he is working on his creating his LLC. Anthony served in the United States Navy while deployed in Vietnam. He has been a participant in the Long Beach Housing Authority program since 2017. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance from California State University, Los Angeles.
Monique Gray - First term through July 2024
Monique Gray is a single mother who recently works as a Massage Therapist. She has been a participant in the Long Beach Housing Authority program since 2020 and looks forward to assisting in strengthening the program to better serve the participants.
Long Beach Transit Board of Directors
Randy Rawlings - Partial term through January 2023 - Directorship 3
Randy Rawlings is a Council District 5 resident. Randy is currently employed as a Business & Customer Experience Analyst for Virgin Orbit. He previously worked in the Legislative Department of the City before becoming a Business Strategist and Freelance Consultant for Aneu. Randy Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Technological Entrepreneurship and Management from Arizona State University.
Rolando Cruz - First term through December 2025 - Directorship 1
Rolando Cruz is a Council District 2 resident. Rolando works as the Chief Transportation Officer for Culver City. Prior to his current role, he worked 20 years for Long Beach Transit until his retirement in 2015. Rolando is an Honorary Board Member and past President of the Leadership Long Beach Program. Rolando holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Texas Pan American at Edinburg Texas.
Marine Advisory Commission
Liz Carlin - First term through July 2024
Elizabeth “Liz” Carlin is a Council District 1 resident. Liz currently works as a Labor Representative for the Engineers & Architects Association Union. Liz is highly involved in aquatics, volunteering as the Sponsorship and Volunteer Coordinator for the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Association, and as President of the “Grunions Swim Team”. Liz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Sabrina Zavala - First term through July 2024
Sabrina Zavala is a Council District 2 resident. Sabrina has been employed as a seasonal lifeguard and EMT for the City of Long Beach since 2019. Sabrina is passionate about improving the conditions of the waterfront and beaches. She is a member of the LBLG Competition Committee and has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House. Sabrina hold s a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Allied Health from California State University, Bakersfield.
Pacific Gateway Workforce Development Board
Gloria Carter - First term through July 2024
Gloria Carter is a Lakewood resident. She is a Registered Nurse working as the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Dignity Health, Saint Mary Medical Center. She brings a wealth of medical experience having previously worked at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Howard University Medical Center and Cedar-Sanai Medical Center, among other facilities. Gloria holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Karin Kuo - First term through 2024
Karin Kuo is a Council District 5 resident. Karin currently works for Relativity Space as their Vice President of People in Human Resources Leadership. Karin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Management and Legal Studies from The Wharton School and a Masters of Business Administration from Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business.
Dana Friez - First term through July 2024
Dana Friez is a Council District 4 resident. Dana is employed at Long Beach City College as the Interim Director of Workforce Development. She is a very active resident serving on several organizations including: ACE Advisory Committee at Cabrillo High School, Long Beach Job Corps Workforce Council, and Future Community- First Technology Advisory Committee. Dana attended Carlow University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Senior Citizen Advisory Commission
Sheila Gibbons - First term through July 2024
Sheila Gibbons is a Council District 1 resident. Sheila is a retired nurse and serves as the Director of the Willmore Baking Company and Vice President of The Bembridge House. Sheila has previously served as member of the Public Safety Commission and has been a recipient of the Spirit of Downtown Award presented by the Downtown Long Beach Alliance. Sheila hopes to expand senior services, meal programs and other activities throughout the city. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s School of Nursing in St. Louis, Missouri.
Sustainable City Commission
Kirk Kunihiro - First term through July 2026
Kirk Kunihiro is a Council District 1 resident. Kirk is a Sustainable Waste Management Consultant and owner of both ReCreate Waste Collaborative and Planet People Waste Insights. Kirk has a wealth of green energy and sustainability previously working as a Program Naturalist for the Orange County Department of Education and as a Zero Waste Event Supervisor for the San Francisco Conservation Corps. Kirk holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration from San Francisco State University.
Technology and Innovation Commission
Dr. Katherine Kelly - First term through July 2024
Dr. Katherine Kelly is a Council District 2 resident. She currently works as the Vice President of marketing for Handshake, a San Francisco based education technology company. She is also a painter who has had exhibitions at both the LBMA Biennial Auction in 2019 and LACMA’s juried exhibition in 2018. Dr. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare from University of California, Berkeley, Masters degree in Design History from the Royal College of Art in London, and a PhD in Design History and American Culture from the University of Texas at Austin.
Nicole Callihan - First term through July 2024
Nicole Callihan is a Council District 7 resident. Nicole is the Director of Procurement & Strategic Sourcing for Heliogen. She is a former employee of SpaceX, having worked as the Manager of Strategic Sourcing for the Falcon and Dragon rockets. Nicole holds a Bachelors in Business Administration, Global Business Major from the University of Portland and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Reappointments
Airport Advisory Commission
• Robert Allarte - 2nd term through July 2024
Homeless Services Advisory Committee
• Jeffrey Johnson - 4th term through July 2024
Sustainable City Commission
• Keisha Gaines - 1st term through July 2026
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER