In this post, you’ll hear from those who have registered for the upcoming Pop Up in Los Angeles, California.
View the complete agenda and register.
Hunter Hastings
Pepperdine University
Andy Navarro
Government Relationship Manager – ViewPoint Cloud
Robert Neiuber
Human Resources Director – City of Rancho Cucamonga
Matt Bronson
City Manager – City of Grover Beach, CA
Leslie Mylius
Public Affairs – MetroLink
Tim Bieser
Working Scholars
Terrie Zayas
City of Palmdale, CA
Stephanie Molen
Account Director – The FRW Company
In keeping with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” theme, what’s the biggest adventure that you’ve had either personally or professionally?
A three-month trip around Europe after college with my college roommate.
What’s one specific action that an organization should take around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Place gender pronouns in the profile section for each employee.
What’s your Mt. Rushmore of fall activities?
Visiting San Francisco and the Dickens Christmas Faire the weekend before Thanksgiving.
If you couldn’t attend the Pop Up closest to you, which other Pop Up would you want to attend?
Wisconsin so I could visit a state I have not explored and pop in on one of my best friends.
Who should we invite to appear on the next episode of GovLove?
Maybe a national parks ranger to talk about natural forest fires.
Kendra Davis
Management Analyst – City of Santa Clara, CA
In keeping with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” theme, what’s the biggest adventure that you’ve had either personally or professionally?
Moving to LA! Leaving the wide open spaces of Kansas for the beaches and highways of LA was a huge adventure for me (and my partner and dog!) but I would do it all again in a heartbeat. A wise woman reminded me that doing something new always involves risk and a certain level of discomfort, but that just means it’s worth doing.
What’s one specific action that an organization should take around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Bring it into the light. So often, particularly in local government, we talk about jurisdiction or responsibility and assign it to someone else or push it to the back of the line. And in some, straightforward cases, that may be appropriate. But these issues deserve to be discussed by everyone, including governments, because our structures and processes have a direct impact on the diversity, equity and inclusion of our communities, not to mention our organizations! We can’t be afraid of past failures, possible transgressions or hard conversations.
What’s your Mt. Rushmore (top 4) of fall activities?
- Drinking farm-pressed apple cider.
- Buying a pumpkin and putting it on my porch or table and then ignoring it until it shrivels or I try to unsuccessfully cook it.
- Lighting a fire (in a safe, controlled environment).
- Making mulled wine.
If you couldn’t attend the Pop Up closest to you, which other Pop Up would you want to attend?
ALL OF THEM! Portland for the weather, Milwaukee for the cheese curds, and Miami for…Miami 🙂
Who should we invite to appear on the next episode of GovLove?
I would like a retrospective with Alyssa and Javon about what they’ve learned through co-hosting GovLove, including best episode, most challenging, weirdest moment, most satisfying, etc. Also I would like to hear them talk about how they think the other has grown over the course of their hosting relationship and maybe their initial impressions of each other. I just love it when people talk about other people’s development.
Ramandeep Kaur
Management Fellow – City of Santa Monica, CA
LaShonda Smith
Financial Analyst-Client Services – HdL Companies
Stephanie Molen
Account Director – The FRW Company
Angela Fentiman
CEO – The FRW Company
Matt Eaton
Cannabis Compliance Manager – HdL Companies
Helen Yu
Management Fellow – City of Santa Monica, CA
Marie-Aimee Brajeux
Consultant and Strategic Adviser – Social Impact and Innovation
Ashley Avery
Management Analyst – City of Temple City, CA
In keeping with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” theme, what’s the biggest adventure that you’ve had either personally or professionally?
Moving to Los Angeles all by myself
What’s one specific action that an organization should take around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Have people participate in fun activities that may reveal implicit biases and then openly discuss where they might come from. It can be eye opening not only on a personal level but also allowing a glimpse into the mind and experiences of others and makes it easier to understand why they think or behave the way that they do.
What’s your Mt. Rushmore (top 4) of fall activities?
Just enjoying the holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving and everything that comes with celebrating those.
Jered Elmore
Senior Management Analyst – City of Santa Ana
Carolyn VanDeusen
Director, Local Government – PayIt
LinkedIn & Twitter
Tinny Chan
City of Temple City, CA
Khoa Ho
City of Temple City, CA
Angela Babcock
Vice President – Stratiscope
Ariana Ayala
Planning Manager – City of Stockton, CA
In keeping with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” theme, what’s the biggest adventure that you’ve had either personally or professionally?
Cannabis Regulatory Policy Project – reevaluating current policy and implementing any changes.
What’s one specific action that an organization should take around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Not be afraid to talk about it or address it. Make sure employees are trained and comfortable talking about the topic.
What’s your Mt. Rushmore (top 4) of fall activities?
Pumpkin carving and making smores
If you couldn’t attend the Pop Up closest to you, which other Pop Up would you want to attend?
Miami
Who should we invite to appear on the next episode of GovLove?
Maria Hurtado (Hayward), Kelly McAdoo (Hayward), Peggy Flynn (Novato)
Joey Garcia
Senior Administrative Analyst – City of Torrance, CA
ELGL Board of Directors
LinkedIn and Twitter
Linda Tang
Staff Analyst – City of Anaheim, CA
Billy Trakas
Engagement Specialist – Bang the Table
Anna Ambrose
Director of Administrative Services at City of Palmdale
LinkedIn & Twitter
What book are you currently reading?
Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson The quintessential guide to baking amazing bread. In the quest for work-life balance, it’s important to dive into other pursuits. For me, it’s the pursuit of that perfect loaf.
Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?
Island of Time- has the shortest path from beginning to an end.
What’s your advice for successfully networking at a local government conference?
I am not the best at networking so the advice I’m giving myself is stop being such a wallflower and be engaged with as many people as possible.
Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?
Currently focusing on development and recruitment — how do we ensure we are giving our employees the right opportunities to grow and develop in their careers; how can we be an employer of choice in an environment of staunch competition; how can we be ready to address the “Silver Tsunami” that is at our doorstep.
I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I… am re-energized and can’t wait to get back to work on Monday to share everything I learned at the #ELGLPopUp.
Janine Hamner
President & Founder – J & J Consulting Group
What book are you currently reading?
The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle. I would highly recommend it! Anyone interested in what it takes to have organizations thrive should definitely check it out.
Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?
Island of Time- has the shortest path from beginning to an end.
What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?
Bring lots of business cards; do not be shy; look for people who aren’t talking with anyone and strike up a conversation; or gently insert yourself into a conversation with people who look interesting to you.
Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?
How are we going to manage what’s happening in the waste and recycling industry?
I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I… meet interesting people!
Joel Carnes
President and CEO, The Alliance for Innovation
What book are you currently reading?
“Stories for Work: The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling” By Gabrielle Dolan. Heavy on (not terribly insightful) example stories, light on actual “how to”, this book misses the mark on teaching the use of classic narrative arcs to connect with a business audience. I finished it last night, but only because it was a quick read, and I already had it on my Kindle. This does not add anything to the existing body of literature on this subject.
Rather I would recommend “Storynomics” by the great screenwriting expert Robert McKee. (Also read his seminal “Story” if you are at all interested in the art of screenwriting).
It isn’t enough to just tell a story, we have to tell a story worth listening to…
Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?
Island of Time- has the shortest path from beginning to an end.
What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?
Ask a ton of questions, and actually care about the answers. Start with active listening, and everything else flows naturally.
Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?
My work entails leading an international Innovation Accelerator for local government, bringing together do’ers from LG, academia, business, philanthropy, media and other sectors. Continuous improvement in how to build thriving, organic, impactful networks is my passion.
I love ELGL and everything this group has been able to accomplish, and right now I’m completely fascinated with deeply engaging in this community.
I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I… meet some like-minded folks who want to join our movement toward more innovative and impactful local government.
Carson Bruno
Assistant Dean for Admissions & Program Relations – Pepperdine University School of Public Policy
LinkedIn & Twitter
What book are you currently reading?
California Crackup by Joe Matthews and Mark Paul – a great primer to all that is wrong in California state governance and some good ideas for how to reform the state.
Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?
Mystery of the Maya – has time travel, and keeps sending the reader back to the same page and place in time.
What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?
Be open to learning something new.
Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?
The hunt for housing affordability and how the structural governance structure prevents housing development.
I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I will… learn something new.
Catherine Geanuracos
Chief Executive Officer – CityGrows
LinkedIn & Twitter
What book are you currently reading?
Just started Newsom’s Citizenville – not far enough in to have a recommendation yet…but figured since he’s likely our next governor I should know where he stands on this stuff!
Which”Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?
Island of Time- has the shortest path from beginning to an end.
What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?
Always introduce yourself to the people ahead of and behind you in line for food, drinks, and the bathroom 🙂
Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?
Bringing local government operations into the cloud
I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I… meet some great new people!
Sarah Henricks
Deputy City Recorder – City of Los Altos, CA
LinkedIn and Twitter
What book are you currently reading?
Just finished Evicted by Matthew Desmond- 100% would recommend. It was so good and provides a human side to poverty and homelessness in the US.
Which “Choose Your Own Adventure” book best describes your local government career?
Surf Monkeys – has the fewest endings of any book in the original series, with long stretches without decision-making.
What’s your advice for networking at a local government conference?
Just do it. I frequently experience tiny anxiety attacks right before a networking event but I *almost* always leave the events having made a genuine connection or at least having had at least one fun conversation. Always have a go-to question in your back pocket to fill that inevitable awkward silence.
Which local government topic is most fascinating to you right now?
I just started a new position as Deputy City Clerk, so I’m interested in records management, Council streaming/engagement-related technology and other clerk-y things.
I’ll leave #ELGLPopUps happy if I… bring an innovative practice/idea back to Los Altos.