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           Meet the Management Assistant Alumni

+At the City of Long Beach
+Previously at the City of Long Beach 

         At the City of Long Beach

Many former Management Assistants continue to work for the City of Long Beach. These graduates have held many key positions in the City including Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Director of Human Resources, Director of Development Services, Manager of Government Affairs & Strategic Initiatives, Assistant to the City Manager, Leadership & Organizational Development Manager, Leasing Officer, Budget & Performance Management Manager, Project Development Manager, Manager of Planning and Conservation, Community Development Analyst, and Administrative Analyst.

Elvira Hallinan, Manager, Marine Bureau

Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine
1989-1990 Management Assistant

Ms. Hallinan previously served as Acting Manager of Marine Operations. She began her career with the City of Long Beach as a Management Assistant in 1989 and worked as an Administrative Analyst for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, and later in the City Budget Office. In 1998 she was appointed Administrative Officer for the Department of Library Services. She left City service for a few years to raise a family, and returned in 2007 to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine as an Administrative Analyst in their Contract Management Division. She was promoted to Special Projects Officer in the Marine Bureau in June 2011 before taking over as Manager of the City's Marinas and Beaches in September 2013.

Ms. Hallinan holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Matthew P. Lyons , Director of Planning & Conservation

Long Beach Water Department, City of Long Beach
1993-1994 Management Assistant

Matthew P. Lyons is Director of Planning & Conservation for the Long Beach Water Department, where he began his career in 1994. He reports to the Department's General Manager. Mr. Lyons is responsible for the development of the Department's strategic plan and management of its water conservation program.

Mr. Lyons began his career with the City in 1993 in the City Manager's nationally recognized Management Assistant Program. After spending one year rotating through several City departments, Mr. Lyons was hired by the Long Beach Water Department. He began work with the Department as an Administrative Analyst, moving up the organization through several positions including Manager of Water Resources, Special Assistant to the General Manager, Manager of Planning and his current position of Manager of Planning & Conservation.

Mr. Lyons received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Stephen P. Scott, Deputy Director

Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine
1998-1999 Management Assistant
Stephen.Scott@longbeach.gov

Stephen Scott currently serves as the Deputy Director for the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine. Prior to this he served as Bureau Manager for Business Operations in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine. Previously he served as the Customer Services Bureau Manager in the Department of Technology Services (TSD) .

Prior to joining TSD, Stephen was a member of the City Manager’s Office. As an Assistant to the City Manager, Mr. Scott coordinated the City’s performance management and business process improvement efforts. He also worked closely with the local arts and tourism communities.

Mr. Scott worked for several years as an Administrative Analyst in the City’s Budget Office. Stephen began his local government career working at the City of Sunnyvale, CA. He also served as the Assistant to the Village Administrator in Waunakee, WI.

Mr. Scott is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s LaFollette School of Public Affairs where he received his Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

David M. Wodynski, Manager, Budget and Performance Management Bureau

Department of Financial Management, City of Long Beach
2002-2003 Management Assistant

David Wodynski, who was the Manager of the Budget and Performance Management Bureau for the City of Long Beach, passed away at the age of 40 in 2010. The Management Assistant Program was renamed the David Wodynski Memorial Fellowship in his honor.

As Bureau Manager, Mr. Wodynski oversaw both the Budget Office and the Performance Management Office, and was responsible for the development and implementation of the City's $2.3 billion annual operating budget as well as the integration of the City's commitment to performance management, known as Focus On Results (FOR) Long Beach. From 2003 - 2007, Mr. Wodynski served as the City's Budget Management Officer, assisting in the development and implementation of the Financial Strategic Plan that eliminated the $102 million structural deficit in the General Fund.

Prior to joining the City team as a Management Assistant in 2002, Mr. Wodynski served in a variety of municipal management and international development positions. Mr. Wodynski began his career with the Peace Corps, serving as a Volunteer in Tunisia from 1992 - 1994. Upon his return to the United States, Mr. Wodynski joined the International City/County Management Association's (ICMA) International Municipal Programs team, where he managed several municipal development programs in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from 1995 - 2000. In 2002, following completion of his graduate studies, Mr. Wodynski served as a Public Finance Advisor with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), providing budgeting and finance technical assistance to cantons and municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mr. Wodynski graduated from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government where he received his Master's Degree in Public Administration in 2001. He received a Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of San Diego in 1992.

Tom Modica, City Manager

City Manager’s Office
2002-2003 Management Assistant
Tom.Modica@longbeach.gov

Tom Modica has worked for the City of Long Beach since 2002, when he was hired as a Management Assistant.

In his subsequent 18 years with the City, Tom has served in a number of roles, including Assistant to the City Manager, Government Affairs Manager, Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Deputy City Manager and Acting Director of Development Services.

He was appointed Assistant City Manager in 2014, where he was responsible for assisting the City Manager in operating the municipal enterprise, including oversight of City departments and leading special projects required to facilitate citywide priorities, programs and initiatives.

During his tenure with the City, Tom has led the organization on issues such as water quality improvements, financial planning and budgeting, the City’s Land Use Element, planning and implementation of the Long Beach Civic Center project, coastal area project development, City innovation efforts, the City’s $150 million infrastructure investment plan, oversight of the $120 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investment plan, and coordination of housing policies including affordable housing, tenant assistance, short term rental, and addressing homelessness.

In September 2019, Tom was appointed Acting City Manager by the City Council. On April 14, 2020, following a national search, Tom was appointed the City’s next City Manager. Tom is focused on using innovation and data to aid the City’s efforts to end homelessness; strategic planning; recruiting and maintaining highly qualified employees by streamlining the City’s hiring process and enhancing employee communication and engagement; and planning for the City’s future, including a commitment to strong fiscal management.

Tom has a master's degree in Public Administration and lives in Long Beach with his family.

John P. Keisler, Director of Economic Development 

Department of Economic Development
2005-2006 Management Assistant
John.Keisler@longbeach.gov

John Keisler was a Management Assistant from 2005-2006, serving in the Budget Office, Port of Long Beach, Library Department, and the City Manager's Office. John currently serves as the Director of Economic Development. Prior to this, he served as the Innovation Team Director, leading the Bloomberg Philanthropies funded innovation delivery team. Previously, John served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Long Beach Police Department where he was responsible for the fiscal operations of the Department's $211 million budget, purchasing, accounting, contracts, and grant Management.

John also has served as the Business Operations Manager for the Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department. His duties included administration of the Department's $54 million annual operating budget, contracts, safety, and communications divisions. Prior to his appointment, he spent three years as the Manager of Animal Care Services, covering five areas cities and over 600,000 residents.

Mr. Keisler's career path includes a lifetime of public service. After completing bachelor degrees in Philosophy and Religion at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, he signed up for Teach For America (an AmeriCorps program) and taught for three years at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey where he received the school district “Best Practices Award for Innovative Practices” as a first year teacher in the Newark Public School District.

Turning to local government, John worked for two years with the League of California Cities, Orange County Division and the Orange County Council of Governments as a Policy Assistant while finishing his Master of Public Administration at the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development. He currently serves on the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Committee for Preparing the Next Generation and as the Regional Chair for the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC) in South Los Angeles.

John lives in Long Beach with his family, where he coaches soccer and loves to attend summer concerts in the park.

Meredith K. Reynolds, Park Planning and Partnerships Manager

Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine
2005-2006 Management Assistant
Meredith.Reynolds@longbeach.gov 

Meredith Reynolds currently serves as the Park Planning and Partnerships Manager. Prior to this she served as the Park Development Officer where she oversaw the development of park, wetland, open space and beach projects.  

Ms. Reynolds has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University with a concentration in Local Government Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration with a minor in Organizational Communication from California State University, Chico. Ms. Reynolds is an alumni of the Coro Fellowship Program in Public Affairs in San Francisco and a member of ICMA, MMASC, CPRS, NRPA and a graduate of the NRPA Green School and Leadership Tomorrow programs.

Renee K. Moilanen, Environmental Specialist Associate

Port of Long Beach
2005-2006 Management Assistant
moilanen@polb.com

Renee is an Environmental Specialist Associate with the Port of Long Beach's Environmental Planning Division. In this role Ms. Moilanen develops and implements the Port's first community grant program, manages $1.6 million in federal greant and helps develop policies to reduce port-related air pollution. Prior to this, Ms. Moilanen was the Administrative Coordinator for the Communications Division at the Port of Long Beach.

Renee Moilanen was born and raised in Miami, Fla., but now considers herself a true Californian. Ms. Moilanen joined the City of Long Beach in 2005 as a Management Assistant, where she helped lead projects such as a comprehensive review of public information and marketing, an evaluation of the jail medical program, and the adoption of national public health standards for the Health Department. In 2006, Ms.Moilanen joined the Harbor Department as an Administrative Coordinator for the Communications Division, where she oversees budgeting and purchasing and assists with project management, community outreach and special events.

Ms. Moilanen graduated from the University of Florida in 1998 with a degree in English and minors in Religion and Women’s Studies and received her Master of Public Policy from UCLA in 2005. Prior to her work in government, Ms.Moilanen was a reporter at several daily newspapers in the Bay Area and Southern California, including the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Breeze. She won numerous local, state, and national awards for her articles on education and municipal issues, and she was named a fellow at the Institute of Educational Inquiry in Seattle.

Renee lives in Redondo Beach with her husband, Leigh, an aerospace engineer and fellow Gator.

Eric Lopez, Director of Public Works

Department of Public Works 
2006-2007 Management Assistant
Eric.Lopez@longbeach.gov

Eric Lopez currently serves at the Director of Public Works. Over the past 14 years, Mr. Lopez has served the City as a Management Assistant, Administrative Analyst, Program Manager, Tidelands Development Officer, Project Management Officer, and, most recently, as the Project Management Bureau Manager in Public Works. He has played an instrumental role in delivering award-winning projects, including the Colorado Lagoon restoration, Houghton Park Community Center and Stearns Park Community Center improvements, Seaside Way Pedestrian Bridge, as well as improvements to the Convention Center facility. Mr. Lopez also has been instrumental in the development of signature playgrounds, the beach pedestrian path, recreational sports fields, ADA improvements, and many more.

Eric earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA in 2004. While at UCLA, Eric was an active member of the campus and greater Los Angeles community and held several leadership roles, including: Chairman and Budget Director of the Associated Students of UCLA Community Service Mini Fund; Director of the Barrio Youth Alternatives, a tutoring and mentoring program in South Central Los Angeles; and Assistant Director of a student- initiated and funded college retention program.

During his junior year at UCLA, Eric participated in the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, which helped unveil his passion for Public Affairs. In 2004, Eric accepted a fellowship offer from the University of Michigan and graduated from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy in 2006.

Nancy Villaseñor, Capital Projects Coordinator 

Department of Public Works
2007-2008 Management Assistant
Nancy.Villasenor@longbeach.gov

Nancy currently works as a Capital Projects Coordinator for the Department of Public Works. She first served the City of Long Beach while still in high school as a peer advocate for the Department of Health and Human Resources.

She has worked as a community organizer and grant writer for a Los Angeles nonprofit where she later served as board president, planning intern for the City of Torrance, teaching assistant at the UCLA School of Public Affairs, Management Assistant with the City of Long Beach, Administrative Analyst for the Long Beach Departments of Human Resources and Public Works, and nine years in the Army Reserve.

Nancy graduated from Millikan High School in Long Beach, received a Bachelor’s Degree in History with a minor in Chicana/o Studies from UCLA and a Master of Arts Degree in Urban Planning from the UCLA School of Public Affairs.

Raised in Long Beach, Nancy is proud to serve the community she grew up in as a city employee and through her involvement with local nonprofit organizations. 

Grace H. Yoon, Budget Bureau Manager

Department of Financial Management
2007-2008 Management Assistant
Grace.Yoon@longbeach.gov

Grace Yoon is currently working as a Budget Bureau Manager in the Department of Financial Management, where she works with a team to assemble and develop the City’s annual operating budget. In addition, Budget Office staff provides analysis for citywide collective bargaining negotiations; monitors capital expenditures and fund balances; evaluates and makes recommendations on budget appropriations requests; drafts reports for the City’s management team, Mayor and City Council; and provides training and guidance on citywide budget process to all departments and levels of the organization. Before joining Financial Management, Grace worked in the Department of Human Resources and started with the City as a 2007-2008 Management Assistant.

Grace is a graduate of the NYU Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a specialization in international development. For her thesis project, she researched success indicators for youth livelihood programs, traveling to Nigeria to conduct in-depth case studies. While pursuing her degree, she also worked for the Local Initiative Support Corporation as the project manager of a program working to build the organizational technology capacity of community development corporations.

Prior to her graduate studies, Grace spent a year teaching English in South Korea through the Fulbright Scholarship Program. She received her Bachelor's degree in Human Development from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. During her senior year, she was awarded a grant from the University to conduct a research project on the underutilization of mental health services for Korean American immigrants. Grace now resides with her husband, a pastor, and two daughters, in Torrance.

Charlene Angsuco, Capital Projects Coordinator

Tidelands Division of the City Manager, City of Long Beach
2011-2012 Management Assistant
Charlene.Angsuco@longbeach.gov

Charlene Angsuco is currently a Capital Projects Coordinator for the City of Long Beach. She received her Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the School of Planning, Policy, and Design at the University of California, Irvine. While pursuing her graduate education, she interned in the Office of Sustainability and Planning Bureau at the City of Long Beach where she was instrumental in the development of a grant application which awarded the City $418,000 for streetscape improvement projects along the Atlantic Avenue corridor. Prior to the Management Assistant Program, she spent a year in the Comprehensive Planning Division at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) whose efforts included linking land use and transportation to create a more livable and sustainable region.

Charlene received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Berkeley where she doubled-majored in Political Science and Social Welfare. As an undergraduate student, she developed an interest in California politics and education policy and pursued those interests through an internship at the California Department of Education in the Executive Office of State Superintendent Jack O’Connell. During her time at CDE, she researched programs and policies to help reduce the educational achievement gap that exists between various ethnic and socioeconomic groups. As a student, she was involved in a number of educational organizations tutoring youth in Oakland, Berkeley, and as well as inmates from the San Quentin State Prison. In more of a policy role, she participated in lobbying efforts with the Cal Lobby Corps who advocated for higher education access, affordability, and quality to California State lawmakers. She is a recipient of the Cal Alumni Scholarship and Leadership Award and is a UC Center Sacramento Scholar-Intern Alumna.

Ajay Kolluri, Assistant to the City Manager

City Manager's Office
2011-2012 Management Assistant
Ajay.Kolluri@longbeach.gov

Ajay Kolluri currently serves as an Assistant to the City Manager. Prior this he was a Budget Analyst for the Department of Financial Management in the City of Long Beach. Before that, he served as an Administrative Analyst for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine. During his time as a Management Assistant, Ajay completed rotations in Public Works, the City Manager's Office and Financial Management. Before working for the City, Ajay earned a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, where he focused his coursework for a career in public finance. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ajay experienced cold for the first time and vowed never to let it happen again.

While earning his graduate degree, Ajay interned for the Office of Management and Budget, where he helped the Treasury division study ways to levy medical providers who are delinquent on Federal tax debt. Before graduate school, Ajay also worked as a Research Analyst at LECG and assisted expert witnesses in calculating damages related to securities fraud for court cases.

Ajay is a native of California and grew up in Sunnyvale in Northern California. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has also interned at Maxim Integrated Products, a semiconductor company where he helped track the financial performance of new products. Ajay enjoys surfing, biking, and playing the drums, and sorely misses Michigan intramural broomball.

Angie Johnson

Department of Health and Human Services
2013-2014 Management Assistant
Angie.Johnson@longbeach.gov

Andrew Chang, Real Estate Project Coordinator

Department of Development Services
2015-2016 Management Assistant
Andrew.Chang@longbeach.gov

Andrew currently serves as a Real Estate Project Coordinator. Prior to this he was an Administrative Analyst in the Housing and Community Improvement Bureau of the Department of Development Services. He served as a 2015-2016 Management Assistant with the City of Long Beach and completed rotations in the Development Services Department, Department of Financial Management, City Manager’s Office, and the Tidelands Capital Improvements Division.

Before joining the Management Assistant Program, Andrew earned concurrent Master’s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning and Civil Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, focusing in land use planning and water resources. His capstone project, which was published by the Urban Land Institute, focused on community planning best practices for water recycling projects in Southern California.

While pursuing his graduate degree, Andrew interned in the Public Works Department at the City of Anaheim, where he assisted in environmental review and project management for two large public transit projects in the city.

Before that, Andrew spent two years in the non-profit sector as a community organizer, grant writer, and do-it-all staffer with the California Student Sustainability Coalition, where he worked statewide to train and organize students to advocate for investment in innovative sustainability initiatives in their campus communities.

Andrew earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he received the Department of Environmental Studies award for Outstanding Service. Andrew is a native of Southern California, having grown up in the nearby cities of Montebello and Irvine. He is now a resident of Long Beach and enjoys bike rides in the city, live music, and trying as many new cuisines as his budget will allow.

Alison Spindler, Planner

Department of Development Services
2015-2016 Management Assistant
Alison.Spindler@longbeach.gov

Alison Spindler currently works as a planner in the Department of Development Services. She was a 2015-2016 Management Assistant in the City of Long Beach, doing rotations in the Health and Human Services Department, Development Services Department, the Department of Financial Management, and the City Manager's Office.

In May 2015, Alison completed a dual Masters in Urban Planning and Public Administration at the USC Price School of Public Policy. While in graduate school, Alison worked as an evaluator for two federally-funded grants that brought together local public agencies and community-based organizations to improve community health in underserved Los Angeles neighborhoods through built environment, policy, and systems changes. Alison was an active student leader on and off campus, serving as president of the Partnership for an Equitable Los Angeles (PELA), on the planning committee for the inaugural two Students of Color and Allies Policy Forums (SCAPF), on the USC Price Planning program’s Student Advisory Board, and as a Student Representative on the board of the California Planning Foundation (CPF).

Prior to graduate school, Alison was Program Director at the nonprofit Building Impact in Boston, MA. She oversaw program planning, implementation, evaluation, and development, helping the organization grow its impact and geographic reach. Alison served as an Americorps Volunteer at the MATCH School in Boston, and she has volunteered, traveled and studied on six continents. Alison holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations, with a focus on Environment & Development, from Boston University.

Michael Johnston, Administrative Analyst

Department of Public Works, City of Long Beach
2015-2016 Management Assistant
Michael.Johnston@longbeach.gov

Michael Johnston is an Administrative Analyst in the Department of Public Works, working in the Project Management Division on a variety of Tidelands and livability projects. Michael Johnston is a graduate of the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California with a Masters of Public Administration. Born and raised in San Diego, Michael established his roots in Long Beach as he attended California State University, Long Beach for his undergraduate studies.

As a continuation of his personal investment in the city, he worked as an intern for the Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department where he focused on financial feasibility studies for multi-million dollar parks projects. 

Michael has also had consulting experience, working with the City of Hermosa Beach on sustainable parking models and the City of Detroit to resolve issues in their transportation department, implementing updates to their revenue structures and routing systems to reduce costs and improve services. Michael’s dedication toward making cities more enjoyable, livable places for their residents extends beyond work with his involvement in organizations like the Compton Initiative, and crosses borders as he has traveled as far as South Africa to make an impact on the lives of others.

Elizabeth Calixtro, Labor Relations Officer 

City of Long Beach, Department of Human Resources 
2016-2017 Management Assistant
Elizabeth.Calixtro@longbeach.gov

Elizabeth Calixtro was a 2016-2017 Management Assistant at the City of Long Beach, where she served in four distinct rotations through the Human Resources Department, the City Manager’s Office, the Finance Department, and the Long Beach Police Department.

Prior to her current role, Elizabeth worked for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Immigrant Affairs as a Bohnett Fellow supporting immigrant integration policy through the coordination of city services, outreach, and legislative advocacy. Before attending UCLA, she worked at the City of Independence in Oregon as a Community Liaison developing outreach strategies and implementing programs to improve collaboration with the Latino community.

In her current role, Elizabeth negotiates labor agreements and leads the meet and confer process with the City’s twelve recognized employee organizations. Additionally, Elizabeth provides advice and counsel to departmental management on handling grievances, pre-arbitration investigations, workplace disputes, and the administration of negotiated labor agreements.

Elizabeth obtained her Master of Public Policy degree from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, and her B.A. in Politics and Ethnic Studies from Willamette University in Oregon.

Fiahna Cabana, Budget Analyst

City of Long Beach, Department of Financial Management
2017-2018 Management Assistant
Fiahna.Cabana@longbeach.gov

Fiahna served as a 2017-2018 Management Assistant, and completed rotations through the Financial Management Department, the City Manager’s Office, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Development Services.

Fiahna is currently a Budget Analyst in the Department of Financial Management. Prior to this, Fiahna was a Planning Analyst in the Department of Development Services where she focused on: increasing public knowledge and understanding of citywide planning initiatives, increasing transparency in the development process, and implementing new methods and tools for community engagement. She is a current board member for the American Planning Association (APA) - Los Angeles Section.

Prior to working for the City of Long Beach, Fiahna managed programs and events for early-stage entrepreneurs at Grid110, an economic and community development nonprofit in partnership with the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. 

Fiahna holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Santa Clara University.  When she's not at a computer, you can find her: running, hiking, or traveling. 

Christian Cambridge, Administrative Analyst

City of Long Beach, Department of Human Resources
2017-2018 Management Assistant
Christian.Cambridge@longbeach.gov

Rebecca F. Kauma, MPA, Economic and Digital Inclusion Program Manager 

Department of Economic Development and Department of Technology & Innovation
2017-2018 Management Assistant
Rebecca.Kauma@longbeach.gov

Rebecca F. Kauma is a passionate diversity, racial equity and inclusion (DEI) professional with extensive program and project management, community engagement and strategic planning expertise. As the Economic and Digital Inclusion Program Manager, she is spearheading the City of Long Beach’s Economic and Digital Inclusion Initiatives to ensure that low-income communities and communities of color in Long Beach have the opportunities, resources and power they need to thrive economically. Rebecca strives to uplift and empower communities most in need through equitable, inclusive and culturally competent programs, practices, policies and systems change efforts. Rebecca is serving as the Co-Lead for the Internal Transformation Workgroup as part of the City’s Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative. In this role, she is co-leading over 30 Racial Equity Champions in their development of departmental racial equity action plans citywide.

Rebecca is the recipient of the 2020 Digital Equity Champion Award by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). This national award recognizes outstanding leadership and dedication in advancing digital equity and inclusion and addressing the digital divide. Rebecca was selected as a 2020 New Leaders Council Fellow. The New Leaders Council Institute is a highly-selective national leadership program to equip young progressive leaders with the skills to enact policy and systems change efforts in their communities.

Rebecca has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis on Healthcare Policy from American University School of Public Affairs. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Administration (BSHA) from California State University, Northridge. While pursuing her MPA degree in Washington, D.C., Rebecca  gained public policy experience as a Legislative Fellow for AARP. In addition, Rebecca also worked as a Caregiving Advocacy Fellow for the National Alliance for Caregiving where she analyzed state and federal legislation and executed the On Pins and Needles: Caregivers of Adults with Mental Illness Capitol Hill Briefing in March 2016. Rebecca currently resides in Los Angeles County with her husband.

Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez, Planner

Department of Development Services
2017-2018 Management Assistant
Alejandro.Sanchez-Lopez@longbeach.gov

Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez was a 2017-2018 Management Assistant at the City of Long Beach, serving in four distinct rotations through the City Manager’s Office, the Long Beach Airport, the Department of Development Services, and the Finance Department.

Prior to his current role, Alejandro was a Data Analyst at the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity and the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration at USC. While at USC, he conducted quantitative and qualitative data analysis on various environmental justice, immigrant integration, regional equity, and community organizing projects; he also coauthored various PERE publications, including Planning, Power, and Possibilities: How UNIDAD is Shaping Equitable Development in South Central L.A and Linking Innovation With Inclusion: Demography, Equity, and the Future of San Diego.

Prior to joining PERE/CSII, Alejandro previously worked on housing justice, economic development, and city planning issues, including roles with the City of Pico Rivera’s Planning Division, the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA), and the City of Los Angeles. Originally from Ensenada, Mexico, Alejandro holds a Masters of Planning with a focus on Economic Development from the University of Southern California and a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine.

Julian Cernuda, Special Projects Officer

City Manager's Office
2018-2019 Management Assistant
Julian.Cernuda@longbeach.gov

Julian Cernuda was a 2018-2019 Management Assistant and served three rotations at the City Manager’s Office, Financial Management, and Police Department.

After the Management Assistant Program, Julian served as the 2020 Census Project Manager and led the strategic planning and implementation of a coordinated Citywide approach to achieve a complete and accurate count of all Long Beach residents. Julian currently works on special projects and areas at the City Manager’s Office.

In May 2018, Julian earned a Master in Public Administration degree and a Certificate in City and County Management from the Price School of Public Policy, at the University of Southern California. At Price, Julian received the City and County Management Fellowship, and was an active leader serving as a board member for the ICMA Chapter at the University and Co-Chair for the USC Price Latino Student Association. As a student, he also held a graduate-level internship at the City of Santa Monica, Office of Performance Management. In this role, Julian served as an internal consultant and helped departments, divisions, and special teams to develop strategic plans, refine metrics, and create dashboards.

Prior to graduate school, Julian worked at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy to implement the Affordable Care Act in Charlotte, North Carolina and surrounding regions. In this role, Julian worked with organizations from various sectors and collaborated with elected officials and government agencies to ensure that residents gained access to quality and affordable healthcare. Julian holds A.B. degrees in Spanish and Political Science, with a focus in American Politics, from Wabash College.

Julian lives in Long Beach and enjoys getting to know the City through its amazing people, food, and events.

Alvin Teng, Planning Analyst

Department of Development Services
2018-2019 Management Assistant
Alvin.Teng@longbeach.gov

Alvin Teng was a 2018-2019 Management Assistant, rotating through the City Manager’s Office, Financial Management, Development Services, and Human Resources.

Prior to his current role, Alvin earned his Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. His focus of study centered on the intersection between racial and socio-economic inequality, particularly on criminal justice reform, housing affordability, and equitable community development. While at UCLA, he was a Researcher with the Million Dollar Hoods project, conducting data analysis on County Jail and Police Department booking data to map the financial investment in policing and incarceration in different neighborhoods throughout Southern California. He co-authored a report for the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Reentry, mapping the demographics and geography of the reentry population, exploring barriers to successful reentry, and providing program recommendations. He also worked as a Summer Research Intern with Public Policy Institute of California, contributing to a report on Child Poverty in California by researching the impact of tax credits on poverty levels among low-income renters.

Prior to his graduate study, Alvin worked for a year in India with International Justice Mission, a global NGO focused on combatting human trafficking, as a Government and Community Relations Intern. He also served as an Area Director with the Los Angeles Urban Program, a faith-based summer program connecting college students with community-based organizations throughout Los Angeles. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 2011, where he studied Geography and Global Studies. After growing up in Delaware, Massachusetts, and Central California, Alvin settled in the Los Angeles area, and currently lives in Long Beach.

Estefania Zavala, Digital Innovation Program Manager

Department of Technology & Innovation
2018-2019 Management Assistant
Estefania.Zavala@longbeach.gov

Estefania Zavala was a 2018-2019 Management Assistant, rotating through Financial Management, City Manager’s Office, Parks, Rec, & Marine, and the Fire Department.

Prior to the MA year, Estefania earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. She focused on local government management, engaging immigrant communities, housing affordability, and economic development. While at UCLA, she interned for the City of Santa Monica’s City Manager’s Office, led a diversity, equity, and inclusion effort called D3, and completed a research fellowship with the nonprofit organization Leadership for Urban Renewal (LURN) which focused on economic resiliency.

Prior to graduate school, Estefania worked in labor relations, negotiating collective bargaining agreements in the union construction industry. She graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in English Literature and Public Policy. She currently lives in Long Beach.

 

Ryan Kurtzman, Smart Cities Program Manager

Department of Technology & Innovation 
2018-2019 Management Assistant
Ryan.Kurtzman@longbeach.gov

Ryan Kurtzman was a 2018-2019 Management Assistant, rotating through Technology & Innovation, Development Services, City Manager’s Office, and Financial Management.

Ryan graduated from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs with a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree. He is interested in land use policy and planning, economic development, adaptive reuse, inclusive open space design, and bringing arts and technology into the planning profession.

Prior to serving as a Management Assistant, Ryan worked as a Policy Fellow for the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. While there, he provided program support for the Great Streets Initiative, developed strategies to advance equitable access to City recreation programs in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games, and created a need-based criteria to prioritize capital improvements to the City’s parks. Ryan also served as a Researcher for the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. He contributed to the Institute’s report that examined the causes of public transit ridership decline in Southern California.

Prior to enrolling at UCLA, Ryan earned his B.S. in Environmental Health Science from UNC Chapel Hill. He then worked in his native Washington, DC for four years – first at the US EPA and then at an energy efficiency start-up, all while moonlighting as a barista and volunteering for a local smart growth advocacy group. It was this engagement with community members that inspired Ryan to pursue a graduate degree in planning. Ryan currently lives in Long Beach and enjoys hiking, jogging, and reading science fiction.

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       Where Are They Now?

Positions held by former Management Assistants outside of the City of Long Beach include: City Manager (Lafayette, CA); Town Manager (Grand Chute, WI); City Manager (Santa Paula, CA); Assistant City Manager (Novato, CA); Director of Administrative Services (Los Alamitos, CA); Local Government/Community Relations Representative (Long Beach Transit); Deputy of Constituent Services for the Democratic National Convention, and District Director for a State Senator.

Gail Wasil, Assistant Director of Real Estate (retired)

Properties Division, Port of Long Beach
1982-1983 Management Assistant

Gail Wasil grew up in Upstate New York. She attended Syracuse University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in political science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, with an emphasis in state and local finance. She has worked for the City of Long Beach since 1982.

Ms. Wasil has worked with retail, office and industrial development projects throughout the City as a Development Project Manager and then, Leasing Officer with the Community Development Department. For over eight years, Ms. Wasil was the Superintendent of Contract Management and Revenue Development for the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine. In that position, she oversaw grant writing, fundraising efforts and contract management.

In recent years, Ms. Wasil has worked for the City’s Harbor Department in the Properties Division. She has been involved with the negotiation of lease language with numerous port tenants, and has been specifically involved with the development of lease language targeted toward implementation of more environmentally friendly practices within the Port.

David C. Gonzalez, Executive Director, Workforce Investment Network (retired)

Department of Human Resources, City of Long Beach
1987-1988 Management Assistant
David.Gonzalez@longbeach.gov

David Gonzalez served as the Leadership & Organizational Development Manager in the Department of Human Resources and reports to the Department Director. In his role, David facilitates employee relations, communications and employee development for City employees. Much of his role includes initiatives and programs he started while working in the City Manager’s Office. His role also includes serving as the Administrative Manager for the department.

David has previously worked as the Special Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Long Beach. In July 2004, the City Manager asked David to assist with special projects related to implementation of the City’s Three Year Strategic Financial Plan. David was tasked with developing an employee involvement and communication program to assist impacted employees with their transition to other employment options, communicate with employees ongoing changes in the organization, involve employees in change initiatives and projects, and assist employees in their career development by creating and implementing training programs.

David also worked in the Department of Financial Management as the department’s Administrative Services Manager. Before this, he was the City’s Purchasing Manager. David has been with the City of Long Beach for 24 years and has held numerous positions in a variety of departments.

David is a graduate of San Diego State University and received his Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from California State University of Fresno. David continues to remain enthusiastic about his work and is an active participant in the Long Beach community as a dedicated public servant.

Suzanne R. Mason, Director of Human Resources

County of Napa
1984-1985 Management Assistant

Suzanne Mason is the Director of Human Resources for the County of Napa. Ms. Mason was formerly the Director of Human Resources for the City of Long Beach. In this role, she coordinated recruitment, hiring and the development processes for over 6,000 employees. In addition, the Human Resources Department coordinates labor relations with the nine employee organizations, employee benefits and risk management functions, including coordination of Workers’ Compensation functions. Ms. Mason sees the Human Resources Department as a strategic partner in helping Departments achieve their goals for the residents and businesses of Long Beach.

Prior to assuming her current role in 2007, Ms. Mason served as Deputy City Manager four years and has worked in a variety of City Departments during her 23 years with the City of Long Beach. Ms. Mason began her career with the City of Long Beach in 1984, immediately following completion of her education, as a Management Assistant with the City Manager’s office. She has worked as the Manager of Business Operations in the Long Beach Energy Department, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine and as a Budget Analyst in the Department of Financial Management.

Ms. Mason is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) and received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration, with an emphasis on Intergovernmental Management. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of California at Santa Barbara, with an emphasis on Urban History, and was the recipient of the Buchanan Award, which is bestowed on the most outstanding graduate in History Department. Ms. Mason is also a graduate of Harvard’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.

Debra Hunter Holloway, PMP

President Information Design Consultants, Inc.
1988-1989 Management Intern
dholloway@idcinc.net

Debra Hunter Holloway is president of Information Design Consultants, Inc. IDCI employs a vast network of highly qualified, senior-level consultants who have worked in and understand diverse corporate and non-profit environments. IDCI services include: Strategic Planning, Project Management, Client Advocacy, Systems Integration, Document Management, Customer Relationship Management, Training and Development, and Technical Writing. Ms. Holloway serves as a technology leader for IDCI’s clients – assisting them with selecting technology options that enhance their business revenues.

After participating in the Management Assistant Program, Ms. Hunter Holloway worked for Price Waterhouse as a consultant. Ms. Holloway says that participating in the City of Long Beach Management Intern program gave her an opportunity to develop the skills to work collaboratively with employees at all levels. "Being a Management Intern was an incredible experience. The variety of experiences was key to helping in me develop the skills needed to be a successful consultant. I feel fortunate to have been a part of the program."

Ms. Hunter Holloway holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles and a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from The Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ms. Holloway is a resident of San Pedro and still enjoys visiting the City of Long Beach.

Amy J. Bodek, AICP, Director of Regional Planning 

Department of Regional Planning, County of Los Angeles
1992-1993 Management Assistant

Amy Bodek is the Director of Regional Planning for Los Angeles County. Prior to this, Ms. Bodek served as the Director of Development Services for the City of Long Beach, Redevelopment Manager for the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency and the Project Development Bureau Manager in the Department of Community Development.

Before that, she worked for the City of Long Beach in various positions within the Department of Community Development in the Property Services and Redevelopment Bureaus, focusing on real estate and Downtown redevelopment. She has been with the City of Long Beach since 1992.

Ms. Bodek holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from Cornell University, and a Master of Urban Planning from New York University, where she was a Helbein Scholar, awarded for outstanding public service. She also holds registration as a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and received her certification in Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Urban Land Institute and the American Planning Association.

The Honorable Mark Pulido, Mayor

City of Cerritos
District Director, Office of Congressman Alan Lowenthal
1997-1998 Management Assistant

Mark Pulido is currently serving as the Mayor of the City of Cerritos. Mayor Pulido is also the District Director for Congressman Alan Lowenthal. He previously worked for the California Legislature for more than a decade, serving as District Director to State Senator Alan Lowenthal.

Prior to that, he served as a legislative consultant with the California State Assembly in the Los Angeles offices of Assembly Speakers Robert M. Hertzberg, Herb J. Wesson Jr. and Fabian Núñez. In the 1990s, Mayor Pulido worked for the City of Long Beach in the City Manager's Office, the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency, the Budget Bureau, the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department and the Gang Intervention/Prevention Program.

Mr. Pulido gained valuable experience and enjoyed participating in the Management Assistant Program from 1997-1998, having worked with the Community Development, Financial Management, and Parks Recreation and Marine departments and the City Manager’s Office. Following the Management Assistant Program, Mr. Pulido joined the Redevelopment Bureau of the Community Development Department as an Administrative Analyst.

In 2000, Mr. Pulido joined the staff of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles and went to work for the California Legislature after the convention. From 2000-04, Mr. Pulido served on the staff of the past three Speakers of the California State Assembly – Robert M. Hertzberg, Herb Wesson Jr. and Fabian Nunez. In January 2005, Mr. Pulido joined the staff of then-State Senator Alan S. Lowenthal as his district director.

Mr. Pulido holds a Master of Public Policy from The University of Chicago, where he was a Woodrow Wilson National Fellow. Mr. Pulido also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles where he served as UCLA Student Body President. Mr. Pulido is married and lives in Cerritos.

Dan Rosenfeld, Local Government/Community Relations Representative

Long Beach Transit
2001-2002 Management Assistant

Dan Rosenfeld is currently working at the Los Angeles County Health Department with Project RENEW (Renewing Environments for Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness), a program addressing the obesity epidemic. He serves as grant manager for several bicycling related programs and an effort to create a county healthy development design ordinance.

Following his participation in the MA program, Mr. Rosenfeld worked for two-and-a-half years in the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department and for four years at Long Beach Transit. “I always tell people what a great opportunity Management Assistants have,” Mr. Rosenfeld says. “In the course of a single year, you work in several city departments and at various levels of the city organization. It takes most people a good part of their career to gain that kind of perspective.”

Mr. Rosenfeld holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles and a master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University Long Beach. Mr. Rosenfeld and his wife Karen, who grew up in the city, live on the east side of Long Beach, where they are raising their two daughters, Molly and Samantha.

Chris Rich, Senior Project Coordinator

Office of the Chief Executive, County of Santa Barbara
2004-2005 Management Assistant

Chris Rich has recently accepted a position as a Senior Project Coordinator in County of Santa Barbara's Chief Executive Office. Here, he'll serve as lead staff to the CEO for the "Village Center" project, which involves the development of new sustainable communities throughout Santa Barbara County.

In his previous job, Mr. Rich worked as an Administrative Analyst in the Technology Services Department. In his role, Mr. Rich provides strategic and business planning support to the Director of Technology Services. This included IT and telecommunications research and analysis, vendor coordination, contract management, and staff support for the City’s internal and external technology advisory committees. In addition, Mr. Rich was involved with managing technology initiatives that affected a wide cross-section of City departments. Examples of initiatives included a citywide WiFi network, a 3-1-1 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program, an optimization study of citywide IT services, and an enterprise performance management software acquisition.

Prior to working for the Technology Services Department, Mr. Rich worked as a Management Assistant with a variety of City departments including Community Development, Technology Services, Financial Management and the City Manager’s Office. Before his work with the City, Mr. Rich worked in the nonprofit sector and was a teacher with Teach For America in New Orleans, LA.

Mr. Rich received his Master’s Degree in public administration from the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Policy, Planning, and Development, where he received the Dean’s Merit Scholarship. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he received the Jenkins-Stark scholarship for educational achievement.

Robert Shaw, Associate Attorney

Akerman Senterfitt, Los Angeles
2004-2005 Management Assistant

Robert Shaw has recently accepted a position as an Associate Attorney with the Los Angeles office of the law firm Ackerman Senterfitt. Prior to this Mr. Shaw served as the Assistant to the Director of Public Works where he oversaw the Department of Public Works' Strategic Business Plan development and assisted in building the Department's Performance Based Budget and the City's Capital Budget. Mr. Shaw also worked to coordinate interdepartmental communications and provide elected officials with timely project development information.

Mr. Shaw started with the City in 2004 as a Management Assistant. While in the Management Assistant Program, Mr. Shaw provided support for the City's commitment to internal optimization efforts, having participated in the Citywide Health Benefits, Parts Room and Towing optimizations. Mr. Shaw also worked on several land use related projects, such as the Douglas Park Development.

Mr. Shaw is a competitive cyclist and triathlon participant. A member of the California State Bar Association, Mr. Shaw graduated from the Syracuse College of Law (J.D.) and the Maxwell School of Citizenship of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) in 2004. He received a Bachelor's Degree in 2001 from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.