BOARD AND MEMBERS

Members play a vital role in LAEDC’s mission and governance.

To learn more about membership, please contact .

Quick-view graphic of LAEDC members here

Learn about LAEDC’s Board of Governor’s meetings here

LAEDC CHAIRS

LAEDC is effective because of the leadership of our members.

Please take a moment to meet the individuals below!

LAEDC Chair, Steven A. Nissen

President and CEO, Nissen Consulting Group

Steve Nissen is the President and CEO of Nissen Consulting Group. For the previous 12 years until his retirement from NBCUniversal in January 2020, Nissen was responsible for state and local government affairs for NBCUniversal, from intellectual property protection, First Amendment and film production to land use and government compliance. Mr. Nissen is on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., was the 2017 Chair of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and past Chair of the Central City Association, FilmLA and the L.A. BioMed (now known as the Lundquist Institute). Nissen also is one of 9 Board Members of one of California’s largest charitable foundations, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. He has also served on the Executive Committees of the L.A. Police Foundation and Valley Industries and Commerce Association and is a Board Member of the Metropolitan YMCA.

Prior to NBCUniversal, Mr. Nissen was a partner in the national law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, representing a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofit entities.

From 1999-2002, Nissen was a senior official with California Governor Gray Davis. Nissen served as the Governor’s Interim Staff Director, as Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and as Senior Special Assistant for Innovation in Government. Among other tasks, he served as the Governor’s liaison to the Blue Ribbon Panel on Hate Groups, chaired by former Secretary of State Warren Christopher and former California Governor George Deukmejian.

Before joining Governor Davis’ staff, Nissen was Executive Director of the State Bar of California, then the largest private regulatory body in the nation. He took charge in the midst of a political crisis triggered by a veto of the legislation to fund the Bar. He worked closely with then Governor Pete Wilson’s office, the California Legislature and the state Supreme Court to restore funding to the State Bar while at the same time streamlining the organization’s multiple functions.

Prior to that, Nissen was President of Public Counsel Law Center, which he built into the country’s largest pro bono law firm. Under his leadership, Public Counsel grew to a staff of some 50 dedicated individuals and a cadre of 10,000 volunteer attorneys providing over $200 million worth of legal services to children, the elderly, low-income families, and nonprofit organizations. During his tenure at Public Counsel, he was also an adjunct professor at USC School of Law. He has maintained his commitment to legal services to the indigent by serving as Co-Chair of the California State Bar Legal Services Trust Fund Commission and Standing Committee member of the American Bar Association Pro Bono and Public Service Committee. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to the community in the civic, government, nonprofit, corporate and legal sectors.

LAEDC Vice Chair, Rudy B. Medina

President, Southern California Market

Rudy Medina serves as the Southern California market president for U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. Medina leads the market in company-wide efforts and activities while directing commercial banking in Southern California. Medina has over 35 years of banking and financial services experience and joins U.S. Bank from Bank of America, where he served as chief operating officer, business banking division.

Previous to this he held the role of market president and senior vice president, market executive, California Central Valley, directing all middle market banking and serving as the senior executive in the market. Medina is active in the community and currently serves on the board of the Western Bankers Association and California Chamber of Commerce. Locally, Medina is on the boards of the Central City Association of Los Angeles, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and Los Angeles Economic Development Council. Medina earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of the Pacific and is a previous winner of the Kermit O’Hansen Award of Excellence from the Pacific Coast Banking School. Medina and his wife, Susan reside in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Immediate Past Chair, Dr. Dianne F. Harrison

President, CSUN

Dr. Dianne F. Harrison will be the first academic leader elected to serve as Chair of LAEDC, at a time when understanding and preparing for the changing face of work is an increasing priority for the organization and its education, government and private sector members, especially with LAEDC’s ideation and launch of the Center for a Competitive Workforce with LA County’s 19 community colleges, the Los Angeles Orange County Regional Consortia, and the LA Area Chamber of Commerce.

As one of the founders of the “CSU5” collaboration of the five Cal State Universities in LA County, Dr. Harrison rallied support for providing funding, alongside many private sector and philanthropic organizations, for the implementation of the LA County Strategic Plan for Economic Development (2016-2020), which became Propel LA, located at the LAEDC. Dr. Harrison has also been a vocal promoter of the role of innovation in our economy and in talent development, through CSUN investments in technology incubation.

Dr. Harrison is also known for her strong commitment to community and for building strong partnerships with public-, nonprofit- and private- sector organizations, which fits the LAEDC’s collaborative economic development approach. Dr. Harrison began her appointment as president of CSUN in June 2012. Prior to CSUN, Dr. Harrison served as president of California State University, Monterey Bay, and prior to that she worked at Florida State University.

Past LAEDC Chairs include:

2019/2019: Eric Rowen, Principal Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP

2017/2018: Jodie Lesh, SVP, National Delivery System Strategy, Planning and Design at Kaiser Permanente

2016/2017: Chris Martin, CEO and Chairman of AC Martin and Martin Project Management

2015/2016: Praful Kulkarni, founding partner of gkk works

2014/2015: Raul A. Anaya, President, Bank of America – Greater Los Angeles Region

2013/2014: Lew Horne, President, CBRE Inc., Greater Los Angeles and Orange County Region

2012/ 2013: Christopher Carey, Chief Financial Officer, City National Bank

2011/ 2012: Robert Hertzberg, California State Senator and former Speaker of the California State Assembly

2010/2011: Maura O’Connor, O’Connor Cochran LLP

2009/2010: Lloyd Greif, USC Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

LAEDC Executive Committee members also serve on the Board of Governors (see next section).

ABL Inc.

David Abel, Publisher-Metro Investment Report, The Planning Report, Past LAEDC Chair

AC Martin
Tom Hsieh, AIA, LEED AP | CEO & President

AECOM
Kelli Bernard, EVP & National Cities Leader

Alston & Bird LLP
Tom Wingard, Partner

Amazon Web Services Educate
Mike Berman, Principal Program Manager

American Honda Motor Company
Erik Wedin, Manager, Corporate Community Relations

Bank of America
Daniel Timmons, SVP, Global Client Market Executive

Robert Bush Corporation
Bob Bush, Founding Member & Former LAEDC Chair

Bolton & Company
Mike Morey, COO

California Resources Corporation
Richard Venn, Director, Communications

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Dan Montplaisir, Vice President for University Advancement

California State University, Dominguez Hills
Dr. Thomas A. Parham, President

California State University, Long Beach
Dr. Jane Conoley, President

California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Jose Gomez, Executive Vice President + Chief Operating Officer

California State University, Northridge
Dr. Dianne Harrison, President

Caruso
Sharon Keyser, SVP, Planning, Government and Community Relations

CBRE
Lewis C. Horne, President, Greater Los Angeles-Orange County Region, Past LAEDC Chair

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Thomas M. Priselac, President + CEO

Chevron
Rod Spackman, Manager, Public & Government Affairs- LA Basin

Citibank N.A
Halé Behzadi, Managing Director and Global Market Manager, Western Region

City National Bank
Scott Witter, Executive Vice President, Core Banking Division

Comcast NBCUniversal
Kathy Banuelos, Vice President of Legal & Government Affairs

County of Los Angeles
Sachi Hamai, Chief Executive Officer

Crown Castle
Mark Guillen, Manager Public Affairs

David Fleming
Founding Member & Former LAEDC Chair

Dentons
Tom Vandiver, Partner

Department of Water and Power City of Los Angeles
Bryan Schweickert, Assistant Director, Key Accounts Section, Customer Service Division

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants
Rose Nordbrock, Principal and Practice Group Leader

Ernst & Young LLP
Mark Sogomian, Partner

Giroux Glass
Natalie Lomedico, President & CEO

gkkworks | CannonDesign
Praful Kulkarni, Principal | Director of Integrated Services

Goodwill Southern California
Patrick McClenahan, President and CEO

Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Eric Rowen, Principal Shareholder

Hackman Capital Partners
Tyler Friedman, Senior Vice President—Corporate Administration

ICG Advisors, LLC
Jeff Assaf, Senior Managing Director

JP Morgan Chase Bank
Chris Gerardi, Executive Director of Middle Market Banking

Kaiser Permanente
Jodie Lesh, Senior Vice President, Office of Transformation Past LAEDC Chair

LACMTA
Joshua Schank, Chief Innovation Officer

Los Angeles County Public Works Department
Mark Pestrella, Executive Director, Department of Public Works

Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board
Cherylynn Hoff, Strategic Initiatives Manager

Los Angeles Rams
Maria Camacho, Government Affairs

Los Angeles World Airports
Justin Erbacci, CEO

Lundquist Institute
Dr. David Meyer, President & CEO

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Jeff Kightlinger, General Manager

Nissen Consulting Group
Steve Nissen, Principal, LAEDC Chair

Nixon Peabody LLP
Justin X. Thompson, Los Angeles Office Managing Partner

O’Connor Cochran LLP
Maura O’Connor, Partner, Past LAEDC Chair

O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Liz Dubeck, Partner

Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis
Goetz Wolff, Representative

Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas
Dwayne Gathers, Representative

Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
Katy Yaroslavsky, Environment & Arts Policy Deputy

Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn
Jayme S. Wilson, Representative

Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Monica Banken, Workforce and Economic Development Deputy

Port of Long Beach
Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Commercial Officer

Port of Los Angeles
Gene Seroka, Executive Director

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Benjamin Luedeke, Partner

Servicon Systems, Inc.
Laurie Sewell, President

Southern California Edison
Michael Backstrom, Managing Director, Energy & Environmental Policy

Southern California Gas Company
Geoffrey Danker, AICP, Policy & Environmental Strategy

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
Jake Loftus, Of Counsel

SUNHC
Raymond Holdsworth, CEO + Co-Founder, Past LAEDC Chair

Tech Mahindra
Mihika Baruah, Country Manager, Southern California

Turner Construction
Reed McMains, Vice President + General Manager, SoCal

UCLA
Gene Block, Chancellor

Union Bank
Todd Hollander, Managing Director

Univision Communications, Inc.
Luis Patino, Senior Vice President & General Manager

US Bank
Rudy Medina, President, Southern California Market

USC
Sam Garrison, Senior Vice President, University Relations

Watson Land Company
Jeffrey R. Jennison, President

Wells Fargo Bank
Tami Kita, Senior Vice President

Western States Petroleum Association
Catherine Reheis-Boyd, President

Working Nation
Art Bilger, Founder and CEO

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

LAEDC Executive Committee members also serve on the Board of Governors (see next section).

Acara Solutions
Ryan Stenvick, VP Business Development, West

Amgen, Inc.
Matthew Welsh, Government Affairs Manager

Arizona State University
Alison Scott Dean, Engagement and Partnerships

Art Center College of Design
Jered Gold, Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Bank of China
Yong Ou, Branch Manager

The Boeing Company
Mark Taylor, Director, State & Local Government

Operations

BYD Motors, Inc.

Stella Li, Chief Executive Officer

Cerritos College
Belle Gomez, Director of Community Advancement

Center for a Competitive Workforce
Richard Verches, Executive Director

Charter Communications
Stephen Sawyer, Director of Government Affairs

Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
Carl Davidson, Vice President, CCI Underwriting

Manager

Citibank N.A
James Alva, SVP Community Development

Citrus College
Michael Wangler, Dean of Career, Technical & Continuing Education

City of Arcadia
Tim Schwehr, Economic Development Analyst

City of Beverly Hills
John Mirisch, Mayor

City of Burbank
Mary Hamzoian, Economic Development Manager

City of Compton
Aja Brown, Mayor

City of Carson
LaToya Butler, Business and Employment Development

City of Culver City
Todd Tipton, Redevelopment Administrator

City of Duarte
Craig Hensley, Director of Community Development

City of El Segundo
Barbara Voss, Assistant City Manager

City of Gardena
Tasha Cerda, Mayor

City of Irwindale
Marilyn Simpson, Community Development Director

City of Industry
Sam Pedroza, Public Affairs Manager

City of Lancaster
Chenin Dow, Economic Development Director

City of Long Beach
John Keisler, Director of Economic Development

City of Monrovia
Craig Jimenez, Community Development Director

City of Palmdale
Mike Behen, Acting Director Economic & Community

Development

City of Pasadena
Eric Duyshart, Economic Development Manager

City of Pico Rivera
Julia Gonzalez, Community & Economic Development

Deputy Director

City of Santa Fe Springs

Wayne Morrell, Principal Planner- Planning & Development

City of Santa Monica
Jennifer Taylor, Economic Development Administrator

City of South Gate
Maria Bernal, Mayor

City of Torrance
Fran Fulton, Economic Development Manager

City of Vernon
Carlos Fandino, City Manager

City of West Hollywood
Tara Worden, Business Development Analyst

College of the Canyons
Jeffrey Forrest, Vice President, Economic and Workforce Development

Community Development Commission of Los Angeles County
TBD

Compton College
Keith Curry, President

DLA Piper
Andrew Brady, Associate

East Los Angeles College
Paul de la Cerda, Dean, Economic & Workforce

Development

East West Bank
Paul Branks, Senior Vice President and Regional Director

El Camino College
Roberta Becka, Writer, Grants Professional and Projects Manager

FivePoint
Sandy Sanchez, Community Development Director

Foley & Lardner, LLP
Diane Ung, Partner

Gensler

John Adams, Managing Principal

Glendale Community College
Jan Swinton, Associate Dean, Instruction & Workforce Development

Grifols
Willie Zuniga, President + CEO

ICBC Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
Alice Gao, SVP, Head of Commercial Banking

Junior Achievement
Les McCabe, President & CEO

JVS
Mark Edwards, VP of Government Relations

Kelly Services
Genine Wilson, Region Manager

KPMG LLP
Jim Adams, Advisory Principal

LA/OC Regional Consortium + Center of Excellence
Alex Davis, Executive Director

Los Angeles City College
TBD

Los Angeles Community College District
Francisco Rodriguez, Chancellor

Los Angeles Convention Center
Doane Liu, Executive Director

Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning
Richard Bruckner, Director of Planning

Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Business Affairs
Joseph M. Nicchitta, Director

Los Angeles Harbor College
Sandra Sanchez, Dean, Economic & Workforce Development

Los Angeles Mission College
Marla Uliana, Dean of Academic Affairs

Los Angeles Southwest College
Dr. Seher Awan, President

Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Dr. Katrina Vanderwoude, President

Los Angeles Valley College
Deborah diCesare, Dean of Academic Affairs & Economic Development

Long Beach City College
Leah Goold-Haws, Director of Global Trade and Logistics

Loyola Marymount University
Dayle Smith, Dean, College of Business Administration

Meruelo Enterprises
Chris Christy, Executive Vice President, Corporate

Development

Millennium Partners Los Angeles
Joseph Mariani, Project Manager

Mt. San Antonio College
Bill Scroggins, President

Northrop Grumman
Christine McGlade, Vice President, Space Park

Paramount Pictures

Shawn Covell, SVP of Government Affairs

Pasadena City College
Salvatrice Cummo, Director of Workforce Development

Pepperdine School of Public Policy
Carson Bruno, Assistant Dean for Admission and Program Relations

Pierce College
Dr. Alexis Montevirgen, President

Rio Hondo College
Mike Slavich, Dean of Career Technical Education

RSM US LLP
David Hill, Partner

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Grace Robinson Hyde, Chief Engineer + General Manager

Santa Monica College
Tricia Ramos, Dean, Workforce & Economic Development

Sentinel Peak Resources
Amanda Parsons, Community and Government Affairs

Skanska
Ellen Mair, Director, Business Development and Edward Segovia, VP, Operations

Space X
Bret Johnsen, CFO

United Airlines
Melinda Yee Franklin, Managing Director, Corporate & Government Affairs

Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Gus Valdespino, President + CEO

Vasquez & Company, LLC
Gilbert Vasquez, Managing Partner

Warner Bros Entertainment, Inc.
Michael Walbrecht, Vice President

Water Replenishment District of Southern California
Angie Mancillas, Government Affairs Representative

WeWork
Ingrid Thorlaksson, Public Affairs Manager

West Los Angeles College
Robert Sprague, Vice President, Academic Affairs

WET Design
Teresa Powell-Caldwell, Senior Vice President, Business and Project Development

WNB Commercial Bank
David Macdonald, Regional President

Zhuhai North American Representative Office
TBD

LAEDC Affiliate Members

AvAirPros
Catalina Express
Hatch Spaces
Hospital Association of Southern California
International Trade Education Programs Inc.
LA Auto Show
Larta Institute
Leavenworth Endeavors
Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC)
Los Angeles Local Development Corporation
MiLA Capital

LAEDC Strategic Partners

Asia Society of Southern California
Bizfed
British American Business Council
California Fashion Association
California Stewardship Network (CSN)
Central City Association and Downtown Center Business Improvement District
Japan America Society of Southern California
Japan Businesss Association
Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
National Association of Women Business Owners, Los Angeles
Southern California Biomedical

LAEDC Regional Economic Development Partners

Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance (GAVEA)
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation
The Valley Economic Alliance

Meet our Team