Bunch of new commissioners

LOS ANGELES � Mayor Villaraigosa appointed eight new commissioners to the Cultural Heritage Commission; Los Angeles Homelessness Services Authority; Board of Recreation and Parks Commission; Board of Animal Services; Human Relations Commission; North Valley Area Planning Commission; Commission on Disability; and the Relocation Appeals Board.

Kyle D. Bowser � Cultural Heritage Commission

Kyle Bowser, executive partner of Inspired By Media Group, has been appointed to the Cultural Heritage Commission. For more than two decades, Bowser has worked as an entertainment industry executive with experience in film, television, music, theater, radio and news media. Bowser previously has worked for Philadelphia International Records; NFL Films as head of marketing; NBC Business Affairs; Fox, Inc., where he developed television programming and managed primetime fare; HBO Independent Productions, as Director of Creative Affairs where his inventory included “Martin” and “Roc;” and as founder of Res Ipsa Media, Inc., a multi-media production company. Additionally, Bowser is a member of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, the HollyRod Foundation, and the National Association of Minorities in Communications, for which he founded the Annual Vision Awards. Bowser earned his B.S. from Ohio University and his J.D. from Widener School of Law.

Antonio Manning � Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

Antonio Manning, first vice president and regional manager of corporate giving at Washington Mutual, has been appointed to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Manning has more than 11 years of experience in a wide range of supportive housing, early education, and community economic development programming, including faith-based initiatives. Previously Manning has worked as vice president and
regional manager for community relations at Washington Mutual; director of the Western regional office of The Fannie Mae Foundation, where he managed grant and community development programs; and as a program associate at The James Irvine Foundation. Manning also serves on the board of directors of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services and the Community Development Technologies Center.

Luis A. Sanchez � Board of Recreation and Parks Commission

Luis Sanchez has been appointed to the Board of Recreation and Parks Commission. Sanchez currently serves as chief of staff to LAUSD School Board President Monica García. Previously, Sanchez was the Executive Director for InnerCity Struggle, where he worked in partnership with organizations from across the City to achieve a policy change that required all students to be placed on the college track in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Sanchez, a principal at Xibalba consulting, serves on the boards of the Liberty Hill Foundation and the Boyle Heights Learning Collaborative. Sanchez graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in English Literature.

Irene G. Ponce � Board of Animal Services

Irene Ponce has been appointed to the Board of Animal Services. Ponce, an experienced professional in the field of business development and marketing, is currently a client relations manager at HemaCare. Ponce, active in civic life, was elected to the LA32 Neighborhood Council in 2004 and to the Greater El Sereno Chamber of Commerce as the director of public relations in 2006. Ponce worked to open the first off-leash dog park in Northeast Los Angeles; has been a core member of Los Angeles Animal Services volunteers that started the Mobile Pet Adoption program; was appointed to the Bureau of Engineering Proposition K projects board; nominated as Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for the City of Los Angeles; and received a “Women of Distinction Award” from Congresswoman Hilda Solis for her work in raising animal awareness in her community.

Julie Chavez Rodriguez � Human Relations Commission

Julie Rodriguez has been appointed to the Human Relations Commission. Rodriguez is the programs director of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, where she is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating national community and school-based programs. Previously, Rodriguez worked as a community organizer for United Farm Workers in Watsonville. Rodriguez, a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, serves as a member of the California Department of Education Service-Learning Advisory Board and as board member of Los Angeles International Charter High School.

Juan Jose Rodriguez � North Valley Area Planning Commission

Juan Jose Rodriguez has been appointed to the North Valley Area Planning Commission. Currently, Rodriguez is the program coordinator for the Glendale Community Center of Catholic Charities. Previously, Rodriguez has spent ten years in public service, first as a field deputy and district director for Councilmember Laura Chick and then as director of constituent affairs for LAUSD Board Member Marlene Canter. Rodriguez earned his B.A. and M.P.A from California State University, Northridge.

Louis Herrera � Commission on Disability

Louis Herrera has been appointed to the Commission on Disability. Herrera, an independent technology consultant, has previously worked at Litton and Northrop/Grumman as a systems administrator, engineer, lab manager and support technician. Herrera earned a degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.

Raffi Ghazarian - Relocation Appeals Board

Raffi Ghazarian has been appointed to the Relocation Appeals Board. Ghazarian has more than 15 years of experience working in the building construction industry and has been active in local community service at the East Valley YMCA and as a counselor for Armenian youth organizations in the San Fernando Valley. Ghazarian is a graduate of California State University, Northridge.

# # #