Experts

197

Expert Contacts for Los Angeles Information

Aerospace Bob Paulson, Director – McKinsey & Co.

213/624-1414, fax: 213/622-9399

International management consulting firm with expertise in the aerospace industry.

Agriculture Leon Spaugy, Director of Weights &

Measurements, Agriculture Commissioner –

Los Angeles Commission of Agriculture 818/5755451, fax: 818/350-3243

Directs environmental consumer regulatory issues, both agricultural and urban, in L.A.

County.

Air Quality LaRonda Bowen, Public Advisor

South Coast Air Quality Management District 909/396-2000 Ext. 3235

Airports Nancy Castles, Public Affairs Director

Los Angeles Department of Airports 310/646-5260, fax: 310/646-1894

City of Los Angeles Department of Airports is responsible for operating and managing

Los Angeles International Airport,

Ontario International Airport, Van Nuys Airport and Palmdale Regional Airport.

Victor Gill, Public Relations Director Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena Airport

818/840-8840, fax: 818/848-1173

Lonnie Mitchell, Public Affairs Officer – Long Beach Airport

310/570-2678, fax: 310/570-2601

Major transportation and business center.

Jeffrey Mathieu, Airport Director – Santa Monica Airport

310/458-2251, fax: 310/391-9996

A general aviation airport for private, corporate and charter jets.

Stacy Geere, Public Affairs Manager – Van Nuys Airport

818/785-8838, fax: 818/908-5963

The world’s busiest general aviation airport for private, corporate and charter jets.

Apparel/Fashion Peggy Goodwin, 2 Rodeo/ Joan Lang Wooten Property Management

310/247-7088, fax 310/247-7070

2 Rodeo is a collection of haute couture shops and upscale businesses located on its own

pedestrian walkway on Rodeo Drive

Tonian Hohberg, President

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

213/624-1200, fax: 213/624-9354

A private college specializing in the apparel industry with a 3,000- garment costume

library and a free public gallery featuring touring

shows and student exhibits.

Dana Valenzuela, Public Relations – California Mart

213/620-0260, fax: 213/630-3707

A wholesale-only facility representing more than 10,000 lines and 1,500 showrooms open to

retailers, buyers and manufacturers.

Architecture See Historic Preservation

Art/Music Nyla Arslanian, President – Hollywood Arts

Council

213/462-2355, fax: 213/465-9240

Promotes, nurtures and supports the arts in Hollywood.

Judith F. Baca, Artistic Director

Social & Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) 310/822-9560, fax: 310/827-8717

A 20-year-old internationally recognized institution devoted to the production and

preservation of public artworks, particularly murals.

Laura Zucker, Executive Director – Los Angeles County Music and Performing Arts

Commission

213/974-1343, fax: 213/625-1765

Advisory board to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Plays a leadership role in

cultural services for the county providing

networking, information and resources for the community, artists, arts organizations and municipalities.

Michael Alexander, Artistic Director California Plaza Presents 213/687-2195,

fax: 213/687-2191

Organization that presents free noon and evening time concerts in a variety of venues at

Downtown’s California Plaza throughout the

summer.

Banking/Financial Services

R. Thomas Decker, Executive Vice President Bank of America

213/228-5433, fax: 213/228-5234

Third largest commercial bank in the United States serving individuals, business, government

agencies and financial institutions throughout the

world.

Biotechnology Industry

Ahmed Enany, Executive Director

Southern California Biomedical Council 310/397-1865 or 213/236-4890, fax: 310/397-

1865

Web site – http://www.socalbld.org

Recently formed to encourage biotechnological development in L.A. by providing coordination with

local sources of labor, research and

manufacturing.

Business/Economy

Jack Kyser, Chief Economist – Economic Development Corporation 213/622-4300, fax: 213/622-

7100

Regional and industry (motion picture, international trade, etc.) trends.

Carol Schatz, President and CEO – Central City Association 213/624-1213, fax: 213/624-0858

A 72-year-old non-profit organization committed to fostering the growth of Downtown L.A.,

and the city of L.A., as a world-class center of business, government and culture.

Central Library Robert Reagan, Public Relations Director Los Angeles Public Library 213/228-7556, fax:

213/228-7569

Culture Carolyn Campbell, Public Information Officer

UCLA School of the Arts & Architecture

310/825-6540, fax: 310/206-8504

Robert Barrett, Director of Cultural Tourism Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau 213/236-2328 fax: 213/236-2395

Has introduced projects, alliances and initiatives that promote L.A.’s rich

diversity of culture and arts to attract visitors worldwide.

Education Diana Munatones, Director of Communications

Los Angeles Unified School District 213/625-6766, fax: 213/625-6380

The nation’s second largest school district.

Shel Erlich, Public Information Officer Los Angeles Unified School District 213/625-6766, fax: 213/625-6380

Entertainment Jane Galbraith, Director of Executive Communications Sony Picture

Entertainment

310/280-6568, fax: 310/280-1331

Gini Barrett, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs Coalition Alliance of Motion Picture

& Television Producers

818/382-1763

Historic Preservation

John H. Welborne, Historic Preservationist 213/935-1914, fax: 213/937-7832

Los Angeles lawyer who is involved in several important historic preservation

projects and other civic activities.

Linda Dishman, Director – The Los Angeles Conservancy

213/623-2489, fax: 213/623–3909

A private, non-profit organization dedicated to the recognition, preservation and

revitalization of the historic architectural resources of

greater L.A.

Hollywood Donna DeBruhl-Hemer, Hollywood Project Manager

Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency 213/960-2660, fax: 213/461-1487

Nyla Arslanian, President – Hollywood Arts Council

To promote, nurture and support the arts in Hollywood.

Hotels Randy Villareal, President and Managing

Director,

The Regal Biltmore Hotel of Los Angeles 213/624-1011, fax: 213/624-1545

Downtown L.A.’s most recognized landmark hotel of Spanish- Italian Renaissance design.

Infrastructure/Transportation/Water

Norman E. Ross, Jr., Vice President and Area Manager Parsons Brickerhoff

213/362-9470

Mayor/City of L.A. Noelia Rodriguez, Press Secretary

Mayor Richard Riordan’s Office

213/847-3556 fax: 213/617-7528

Multicultural Tourism

Thomas Benitez, President, Self Help Graphics 213/881-6444, fax: 213/881-6447

Self Help Graphics is committed to supporting local artists, community-based

cultural activities and identifying Latino art

and culture and part of the L.A. experience.

James Burks, Director – William Grant Still Art Center 213/734-1164, fax: 213/485-1610

A public facility that presents a variety of exhibits and provides instruction in the

visual and performing arts.

Carol Martinez, Director of Media Relations Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau 213/236-2357, fax: 213/236-2395

Dr. Genevieve Shepard, Dublin Avenue School 213/292-8195, 213/292-2413

Conducts tours of African-American Los Angeles.

Multimedia/Information Technology

Rohit Shukla, Director – Los Angeles Regional Technology Alliance 213/622-4300, fax: 213/622-

Designed by the state to assist technologybased businesses find development partners

and access information.

Parks/Recreation Sheila Ortega, Public Information Officer Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation 213/738-2961, fax: 213/487-0380

Provides local park needs in unincorporated areas and operates major regional facilities

throughout L.A. County.

Mary Braunwarth, Public Relations Director Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks 213/485-5555, fax: 213/485-9562

Operates city of Los Angeles parks and recreational facilities.

Ken Johnson, Community Affairs Director Los Angeles County Department of Beaches &

Harbors

310/305-9546, fax: 310/822-0119

Operates Marina del Rey harbor and manages 31

miles of public beach in L.A. County.

Playa Vista/DreamWorks — Studio of the Future

Doug Gardner, Project Manager for Playa Vista Maguire Thomas Partners

310/822-0074

Ports Julia Nagano, Public Affairs Director –

WORLDPORT LA

310/732-3503, fax: 310/547-4611

Port of LA – one of the nation’s busiest container ports handling nearly $75

billion in imports and exports annually.

Public Safety Commander McBride, Commanding Officer of Community Affairs Los Angeles Police

Department

213/485-3205, fax: 213/237-1760

Handles labor relations, community relations, public affairs, press relations and

crime prevention.

Real Estate Stephan D. Smith, President – Smith &

Hricik

213/891-1234, fax: 213/891-1030

Real estate development and management company.

John Flynn, Partner of Real Estate Services Group – Arthur Andersen 213/614-6500, fax:

213/614-6413

Assists companies with linking financial and business strategies with the

organizations’ real estate portfolios.

Carol Schatz, President and CEO, Central City Association (CCA) 213/624-1213, fax: 213/624-0858

A 72-year-old non-profit organization committed to fostering the growth of Downtown L.A. and

the City of L.A. as a world- class center of business, government and culture.

Restaurants Joachim Splichal, Owner – Patina, Cafe

Pinot, Patinette

213/467-1108

Wolfgang Puck, Owner – Spago 310/652-3706

Seismic Katie Corsaut, Public Information Officer

Governor’s Office of Emergency Services 916/262-1843, fax: 916/262-1840

Coordinates statewide response to major state disasters and conducts annual statewide

earthquake preparedness campaign.

Max Benavidez, Media Relations Director – Cal Tech

818/395-3227, fax: 818/577-5492 Internationally recognized research

institution.

Shopping Don Trefry, General Manager, Beverly Center

310/854-0071, fax: 310/854-6376

An eight-level dining, shopping and

entertainment complex.

Sally Childs, Property Manager, Citadel Factory Stores

213/888-1724, fax: 213/888-0311

One of the nation’s leading outlet shopping centers featuring more than 40 factory-direct

stores 10-minutes from Downtown Los Angeles.

Wendy Bentkoski, Property Manger, Seventh Market Place

213/955-7150, fax: 213/955-7163

Downtown L.A.’s premier shopping and dining destination with more than 40 specialty

shops, services and restaurants.

Sports Diane McGraw, President

Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission 213/236-2381, fax: 213/236-2395

Studios Doug Gardner, Project Manager for Playa Vista

Maguire Thomas Partners

Telecommunications

Susan Herman, Assistant General Manager – Los Angeles Telecommunications Bureau,

Information Technology Agency 213/4852866, fax: 213/847-7157

The city’s telecommunications agency regulating the cable industry and producer of LA

Cityview Channel 35.

Tourism Michael Collins, Senior Vice President

Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau 213/236-2304, fax: 213/236-2345

Toy Industry Linda Yeung – Director of Economic

Development

Rebuild Los Angeles (RLA)

213/312-1820, fax: 213/688-4016

Focused on developing L.A.’s prominent, though small-sized, toy wholesaling companies in the

city’s Toy District. Founder of TASC – Toy Association of Southern California.

Mark Salmon, Vice President of Academic Affairs Otis College of Art & Design

213/251-0544, fax: 213/480-0059 Private, fine arts institution focusing on

fashion design, toy design and

environmental arts.

Transportation Lupe Valdez, Assistant Director of Public Affairs

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) 213/922-2221, fax: 213/922-2233

Provides bus and rail service for the city of L.A., funding for commuter rail service and

is a member of the Southern California

Regional Rail Authority.

What’s New in L.A. Carol Martinez, Media Relations Director Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau 213/236-2357, fax: 213/236-2395