Officers & Staff
View a PDF version of South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ Organizational Chart.
Officers
Rodney Tanaka
SBCCOG Chair
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Gardena
Cedric L. Hicks, Sr.
SBCCOG Immediate Past Chair
Councilmember, City of Carson
Mayor Pro Tem Rodney G. Tanaka was first elected to the Gardena City Council in March 2017, and re-elected in June 2022 for a second term. He is a retired City of Gardena Police Department lieutenant. Rodney will serve in his second term until June 2026. He has also served in the capacity as mayor pro tem from April, 2018-April, 2019 and from March, 2021-July, 2022.
Rodney has already made leadership commitments to the city by accepting assignments to represent the city council and citizens of Gardena as a delegate to the League of California Cities – Los Angeles County Division, to the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority, and to the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). He is also representing Gardena as an alternate delegate to the Independent Cities Association (ICA), and the California Cities Gaming Authority.
During the many years he has resided in Gardena, councilmember Tanaka has been a distinguished leader with the Gardena Elks Lodge, an executive leader with Kiwanis International, and is an honoree on the City of Gardena Wall of Fame. He is sharing new ideas for the betterment of the city, its citizens, and members of the business community.
Cedric L. Hicks, Sr. was first appointed to the Carson City Council on April 19, 2016, and has been re-elected twice, first on November 8, 2016 (four-year term) and second on November 3, 2020 (four-year term) for the newly formed District 3. His vision for the City of Carson is to ensure a safe, clean and healthy community.
Cedric is a graduate of Los Angeles Harbor College, California State University Fullerton, and is a Distinguished Alum of California State University, Dominguez Hills with a master’s degree in behavioral science. He is also a graduate of Anderson School of Management at UCLA – Johnson and Johnson Fellows program. His involvement in Carson started as a volunteer at the parks, to employment as a Recreation Program manager, Human Services manager, Recreation superintendent and finally the first African American director of Community Services with a $31million budget for the LA County Sheriff’s Department contract, Code Enforcement, Transportation, Human Services, Community Center, and Parks and Recreation. He retired as the assistant city manager for the City of Compton in 2016.
Cedric encourages collaborative partnerships as he supports the motto, “Make it happen.” He understands the City of Carson may be divided by districts but united in reaching its potential in making Carson great. He is grateful for the opportunity to have worked as a staff member, and now as a council member. Cedric is committed to continuing to protect and elevate the good that makes the Carson community a great place to live, work and play. Cedric is a family man and has been married to his wife Philipta who is Carson home-grown, and their three Carson born children. They have been residents of the Carson for more than 25 years.
Bernadette Suarez
SBCCOG 1st Vice Chair
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Lawndale
Matthew Robinson
SBCCOG Treasurer
City Treasurer, City of El Segundo
City of Lawndale Mayor Pro Tem Bernadette Suarez represents her city as 1st vice chair for the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). She ran for Lawndale city clerk in 2014 at the age of 23 and was voted in by an overwhelming majority. Since then, she has been reelected as city councilmember twice and currently serves as mayor pro tem. She is proud to be a third-generation lifelong resident of Lawndale. Her grandparents moved to the city more than 70 years ago.
Bernadette is a public official who is dedicated to her community and invested in ensuring the prosperity of current and future generations. She serves as president of CYS, Inc. a non-profit dedicated to creating change to support youth diversion programs. She is also secretary to the local South Bay 25 Club that devotes volunteer hours to the local Santa Sleigh.
Bernadette graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with her bachelor’s degree in English. She enjoys knitting, playing the violin, and partaking in all things creative in her spare time. As a recent cancer survivor, she hopes to become a role model to support and advocate for all survivors.
Bill Uphoff
SBCCOG 2nd Vice Chair
Councilmember, City of Lomita
Bill Uphoff was elected to the Lomita City Council in November 2020. Councilmember Uphoff previously served on the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission and was Mayor Pro Tem in 2023.
Mayor Uphoff currently serves on the City’s Section Committee, Finance Committee, Airport Noise Ad Hoc Committee, Legislative Committee, Water Committee and CERT Subcommittee. He also is the delegate for the County Sanitation District No. 5, Cal Cities (formerly League of California Cities), West Basin Water Association and the alternate delegate for South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). He currently serves on the California Contract Cities Legislative and Public Safety Committees and the League of California Communities Service Policy Committee, and the SBCCOG Homeless Service Task for and Transportation Committee. Term Expiration: November 2024
He worked at Northrop Grumman Corporation for 34 years as Operations Manager and retired in 2021.
Councilmember Uphoff holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration/finance – San Diego State University and Award in accounting certificate – UCLA. Bill is a 33+ year Lomita resident along with his wife Karen.
Senior Staff
Jacki Bacharach
Executive Director
[email protected]
(310) 371-7222, ext. 219
Kim Fuentes
Deputy Executive Director
[email protected]
(310) 371-7222, ext. 203
Jacki Bacharach has been the executive director of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) since 1998. Her duties include program and project management and grant administration, including oversight responsibility for the South Bay Environmental Services Center, transportation projects promoting slow-speed, zero-emission vehicles and the South Bay’s Measure R and Measure M transportation programs. Special initiatives are as diverse as services for homeless and for seniors, creation of the South Bay Fiber Network, climate action plan implementation strategies and legislative advocacy.
She is also a member and past chair of the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission appointed by LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Additional career highlights include the following:
- Rancho Palos Verdes mayor and councilmember for 14 years
- Los Angeles County Transportation Commissioner (LACTC) for 12 years (LACTC is the agency that was responsible for transportation planning in Los Angeles until 1993 when Metro was formed). She chaired the commission’s Planning and Rail Construction Committees and the Commission itself. She led the committees through the development of the overall rail plan for LA County as well as overseeing the construction of the Metro Blue and Green Lines.
- Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) Founding Chair, the five-county agency that is operating the Metrolink commuter rail system.
- Los Angeles-San Diego Rail Corridor Agency founding vice chair, which oversaw improvements to LA-San Diego Amtrak service.
- Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority charter board member, which dealt with landside access to the Ports of LA and Long Beach.
- League of California Cities Transportation and Communications Committee chair.
- National Commission on Intermodal Transportation member appointed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña.
- President Clinton’s Transition Team Transportation Cluster Group member
- California Elected Women’s Association for Education and Research president
In the two federal positions, she was the only member from California.
From 2004 to 2005, she was also the executive director of the Ventura County Council of Governments.
Jacki graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Kim Fuentes has served as the deputy executive director of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) since 1998. She oversees the South Bay Environmental Services Center which implements sustainability programs and outreach for public agencies, businesses and residents of the South Bay subregion.
Kim’s duties include program and project development and management in the areas of climate action, adaptation, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, renewables and transportation. She has steadily grown programs and partnerships, envisioned and implemented pilot programs, and established best practices in the sustainability field. Key program achievements include development of 15 municipal Climate Action Plans, a Subregional Climate Action Plan, and a Subregional Adaptation Plan; reduction of public agency energy use by 14,355,145 kilowatt-hours and 90,456 therms from 2014 to 2024; enrollment of more than 400 businesses in the SBCCOG’s Green Business Assist program; and establishment of a Facility Equipment Inventory pilot program that identified almost 900,000 kWh of potential savings in lighting upgrades.
Under her management, program awards include:
- Beacon Award for Cross Agency Collaboration in Climate Adaptation (2023)
- SolSmart Gold Award in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2019)
- SoCal Environmental Excellence Development (SEED) Awards (2015)
- Beacon Award Program Champion for Local Leadership Towards Solving Climate Change (2014)
- SoCalGas Energy Efficiency Award for outstanding performance in exceeding energy-savings targets (2013)
- Beacon Award First Program Champion (2012)
- SoCalEdison Energy Savings Achievement (2010-2012)
Kim started her career in government at Los Angeles County working for the Chief Administrative Office. In this role she implemented a county-wide employee trip reduction program for 88,000 employees across 130 work sites. After her work with LA County, she managed employee trip reduction programs for the City of Torrance, City of Redondo Beach, and private firms throughout the South Bay. She was awarded the South Coast Air Quality Management District Clean Air Award for this service.
Wally Siembab
Research Director
[email protected]
(310) 645-1129
Michael Jenkins
Legal Counsel
Wally Siembab has served as the South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ (SBCCOG) research director since 2003. He is responsible for integrating land use, transportation and technology into an equitable sustainability strategy for the SBCCOG and South Bay cities. Key projects include designing and directing the South Bay Transportation Study, South Bay Sustainability Strategy, Neighborhood Electric Demonstration, Battery Electric Demonstration, and Land Use and Transportation Chapter of the SBCCOG’s Climate Action Plan. He currently advises on the implementation of the Local Travel Network and develops strategies for the South Bay Fiber Network and the Digital Equity program.
Wally has lived in the LA area since 1955 and is a triple Bruin. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics, a Master of Science in urban and land economics, and an “all but dissertation” PhD in urban planning & regional planning and social information processing from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior jobs include serving as an economist for Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall and Voorhies Trindle & Nelson Orange County. He also served as the chief of long-range planning for the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Telecommunications.
Wally owns a consulting firm. Before his time with the SBCCOG, his clients included the cities of Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, Fontana, Seattle, Portland, Dayton, and Atlanta. Highlights include designing the Hudson County Cyber District; acting as technology adviser and co-lead educator on telecommunication policies for local elected officials for the League of California Cities; authoring the Metro Net policy for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro); designing and developing the Blue Line TeleVillage for Metro; designing and developing the Telework Facilities Exchange for AQMD and designing the Riverdale e-Village for the Village of Riverdale (Chicago suburb). He has spoken at several international conferences, published many peer-reviewed articles on land use and digital broadband, and had award-winning designs in City of the Future competitions.
Wally enjoys collecting photography and records from around the world.
Michael Jenkins has served more than twenty years as pro bono general counsel to the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG).
Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with honors from Haverford College and a Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law, where he served as executive editor to the Duke Law Journal.
After 40 years of service as city attorney to multiple Southern California cities, Michael has retired from active service as a city attorney and currently provides advice and counsel as special counsel to public agencies throughout the state.
The Los Angeles Daily Journal has named Michael among California’s Top-25 Municipal Lawyers. He was profiled in a special municipal law supplement edition of the paper. He has appeared on the Southern California Super Lawyers list every year since 2008.
Michael’s longstanding commitment to the municipal law field is evidenced by his current role on the California City Management Foundation board of trustees and past service as president of the City Attorneys Department of the League of California Cities, his leadership in co-authoring the original version of the league’s “Municipal Law Handbook” and as chair of the league’s Brown Act Committee. In this capacity he negotiated, on behalf of California cities, major changes to the state’s open meeting laws, which took effect in 1994. He has served as editor for “Open & Public V,” the league’s manual on the Brown Act. Michael also served as president of the City Attorneys Association of Los Angeles County and a member of the executive committee of the Public Law Section of the State Bar (and editor of the Section newsletter).
Michael is also a devoted educator in his field. He teaches local government law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and is a frequent lecturer on municipal law subjects. He has authored numerous articles and trainings for lawyers in the field. In addition, he advised the California Constitutional Revision Commission on behalf of the League of Cities from 1994-1996 with respect to home rule issues affecting charter and general law cities.
Michael serves on the board of directors of the Ketchum Downtown YMCA and is a certified AYSO referee.
Staff
Administration
David Leger
Senior Project Manager, Administration
[email protected]
(424) 271-4682
Lara Gerges
Administrative Officer
[email protected]
(424) 271-4691
David Leger joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) in April 2016. As a senior project manager, he oversees the Measure R and Measure M programs that fund local transportation improvement projects in the SBCCOG’s member cities. He also interacts with the board of directors and helps support a variety of working groups and committees. As a South Bay native growing up in Wilmington and San Pedro and currently residing there, he enjoys his work because he gets to play a small part in the collective efforts to make the South Bay a better place to live, work and play.
David worked in local government before joining the SBCCOG. In his final year of a political science bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, he began an internship in then-Assembly Member Ted Lieu’s district office. Through this experience, he realized that he enjoyed the work of a district/field representative. Upon Lieu’s election to the state Senate, David continued his internship and was quickly brought on to staff as a district representative. In that role, he represented Lieu through much of the South Bay, including the Beach Cities and Palos Verdes Peninsula. David continued to represent South Bay cities for the congressman following Lieu’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014, and stayed until David’s transition to the SBCCOG in 2016.
In his spare time, David is a dog and plant dad. He has planted native species around his building over the last several years and has enjoyed watching the pollinators return in full force. He also likes to spend an occasional weekend with his bulldog Louie at their favorite brewery in San Pedro. David also collects classic Volkswagens. He’s been a fan since he was a baby (literally) and received his first one at age 9 as an early 16th birthday present. He still owns that car to this day. David enjoys driving these cars around because everywhere he goes somebody stops him to share fond memories they have about old VWs.
Lara Gerges has been an administrative officer at the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) since May 2022. Lara develops and monitors the budget, processes payroll, administers the retirement plan as well as insurance programs, processes contactors/vendors’ invoices, prepares checks, including those for client aid/homeless services. She also manages cash flow and Local Agency Investment Fund transfers, issues 1099s and W2s, works to assure the preparation of the SBCCOG’s annual internal audit, performs and oversees various accounting functions, and grant bills for all programs, which are 88% of the SBCCOG’s revenue.
Prior to joining the SBCCOG, Lara was a management analyst for the Finance department at the City of Costa Mesa. Before that, she served that city as an office specialist for the information technology (IT) department. In IT, she built a budget monitor for tracking a budget of $4.5 million for three programs and 43 different accounts. Moving to finance, Lara then utilized her IT/finance background as well as her professional connections to build electronic forms for all departments using SeamlessDocs/GovOS to automate workflow and streamline processes. Lara has also served as an operations manager for Corporate Services at Oaktree Capital Management, a wealth management firm in Downtown Los Angeles.
Andreya Mulligan
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
(424) 271-4680
Natalie Champion
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
(424) 271-4629
Andreya Mulligan started as a contractor for the South Bay Cities Council of Governments in July 2023 and transitioned into a full-time employee in November 2023. She is the organization’s administrative assistant. Andreya has served as an executive assistant to CEOs, ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission overseas. She was appointed as a project manager, transition coordinator by the ambassador and administrative officer to lead the transition in the Philippines for the largest move of any embassy to date. She notably received the Superior Honor Award from the United States Department of State for this work at the United States Embassy in Manila from 2009 to 2012.
Andreya is a South Bay native, growing up in Carson and Harbor City. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Pepperdine and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has lived in Santa Barbara, the Big Island of Hawaii, Huntington Beach, Virginia, Nicaragua, the Philippines, and Guatemala for four years before replanting her South Bay flag with her family in 2016. In her spare time, Andreya is an avid yogi, practicing sometimes twice a day. She also enjoys travel, music and the sun.
Natalie Champion serves part-time as the administrative assistant for South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). She began her tenure in 2013 and continues to work closely with the board of directors and executive staff on various projects including the General Assembly, quarterly legislative briefings with federal, state, county and local officials, board conflict of interest compliance, and managing the agenda compilation and administrative functions of the monthly steering committee and board of directors’ meetings.
Natalie concurrently works for the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, where she leads projects and initiatives focused on birth equity, maternal and reproductive health, partnership engagement and community outreach.
Prior to working with the SBCCOG, Natalie worked as a senior program manager with California Black Women’s Health Project, where she led projects focused on maternal, mental and reproductive health, civic engagement and community outreach.
Natalie resides in South Los Angeles where she stays active in community as a board member for the L.A. REPAIR Advisory Committee and as an alumna of the Los Angeles African American Women Public Policy Institute. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in urban and environmental policy and politics from Occidental College, graduating cum laude and with honors. She studied abroad for a semester at the University of Ghana in West Africa.
In her spare time, Natalie enjoys spending time with her family and supporting her husband coach their twin daughters AYSO South LA Soccer team, while simultaneously trying to keep their 3-year-old off the soccer field. Natalie aspires to visit all the national parks and museums with her family and enjoys the beach and a good book in her spare time.
Rosemary Lackow
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
(310) 371-7222
Christina Martinez
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
(424) 271-4680
Rosemary Lackow has been an administrative assistant with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) since May 2010. Rosemary supports the SBCCOG’s annual General Assembly by obtaining all sponsorships and helping to coordinate the exhibit hall. She also currently assists with the quarterly newsletter “South Bay Watch,” and assembles and distributes “new member packets” containing key information and handouts about the SBCCOG for newly elected member city officials. She enjoys “working as a member of a dedicated team to bring important and often innovative programs that impact ordinary people day to day in a wide spectrum of South Bay cities, including those that promote or advance environmental sustainability.”
Rosemary worked for the City of Manhattan Beach for 26 years, first in Public Works and then as Community Development senior planner. She has experience reviewing development proposals and policy plans, including general plan and housing element updates. She also worked with the city attorney to develop the city’s first telecommunication ordinance. After her retirement in 2006 she provided interim planning services for the cities of Hermosa Beach and Rolling Hills.
Rosemary grew up and currently lives in the City of Los Angeles. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Latin from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. She enjoys spending time with her large extended family, exploring Los Angeles with her husband, reading, singing and crafting.
Christina Martinez joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) in February 2025 as an administrative assistant. In her role, she supports both finance and general administration. Prior to joining the SBCCOG, Christina was a regional marketing assistant. Prior to that, she spent several years managing law firms. Christina has more than ten years of experience in administrative support including office management, finance, budgeting, audit, purchasing, project management and expense reporting.
Christina received an Associate of Arts degree from Cerritos College in paralegal studies. She further earned multiple business administration certificates from California State University Dominguez Hills Professional Development Program.
Christina is a Southern California native. She grew up in Long Beach and currently lives in Cerritos. In her free time, Christina enjoys traveling, volunteer work and spending time with her daughter and niece.
Communications
Colleen Farrell
Senior Project Manager
[email protected]
(424) 271-4681
Colleen Farrell is the South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ (SBCCOG) senior project manager of communications. She oversees the organization’s branding, publications and publicity efforts to reach its audience. This includes member cities, local, regional and state elected leaders, agency partners, and South Bay businesses and residents.
Since joining the SBCCOG, she has led the redesign of SBCCOG’s website and quarterly newsletter, South Bay Watch, which earned Honorary Mention in the PR Daily’s 2023 Nonprofit Communications Awards. She also created communications and marketing campaigns to launch the South Bay Fiber Network and the El Segundo route of the Local Travel Network. She manages publicity efforts for the SBCCOG’s annual General Assembly event.
Colleen is no stranger to the South Bay. She was born in Inglewood. At age 3 her family moved to Torrance where she eventually attended Torrance High School. Upon earning her Bachelor of Arts degrees in broadcast journalism and political science at the University of Southern California, she went to work as a reporter/anchor at NBC- and CBS-affiliated TV stations in the Pacific Northwest.
Colleen eventually moved back to Southern California, where she transitioned into communication roles at marketing and communications firms Golin and then Allison & Partners. There she developed strategic campaigns for global brands, including Nintendo, Nestle and Sony. In 2009, Colleen returned to her news reporting roots in Torrance to produce a documentary series for Torrance CitiCABLE about Torrance history to commemorate the city’s 2012 centennial. She currently covers stories for CitiCABLE and serves as public address announcer for the annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade. In 2011, she joined the marketing and communications team at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, where she served as editor of their internal and external publications, managed media relations and publicized the opening of the Lundquist Tower and Hunt Cancer Center.
In her spare time, Colleen enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, playing golf, playing the piano, skiing, traveling and cooking. She recently joined the Daughters of the American Revolution El Redondo Chapter, a membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in supporting the American Revolution.
Environmental Services, Energy Efficiency
Eleanor Murphy
Project Coordinator
[email protected]
(424) 271-4687
Shawn Fujioka
Project Coordinator
[email protected]
(310) 371-7222
Eleanor Murphy joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) as a CivicSpark Fellow in September 2023. She primarily works on the Energy Efficiency team, connecting member cities to energy efficient technologies and funding and celebrating them for these efforts. Specifically, she has worked to connect new agencies to the SoCalREN, complete the Facility Equipment Inventory pilot in the South Bay, and collaborate with other COGs and Los Angeles County in other projects as well as helping coordinate the Energy Manager Working Group and GIS Working Group. Murphy also works on communications, promoting the work of SBCCOG staff, member cities, and partners on the website, across multiple social media platforms, to city communication channels, and the SBCCOG board. She enjoys working on technical research and high-level pilot initiatives and connecting with residents, elected officials and organization staff. In the CivicSpark program at large, she volunteers internally with Heal the Bay and also leads a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Leadership Group.
Eleanor graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and a minor in public affairs. In UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability she was a student researcher for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) researching warehouse pollution in the Inland Empire. She also held many leadership positions in student organizations, which equipped her with invaluable skills in organization, communication, finance, audio engineering, among others. These included serving as president of a non-profit, independent newspaper publication; music director of UCLA’s premier all-female a cappella group; outreach manager for a peer sexual health education organization; and programming manager for UCLA Radio. She has also worked as an intern at an educational non-profit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Eleanor is from Brooklyn, New York (and enjoys telling people that). She enjoys hiking, puzzling, baking and crafting of all sorts. She is part of a semi-professional a cappella group, a yogi, and is currently picking up jewelry-making.
Shawn Fujioka started working at the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) in 2021 as an Energy Efficiency CivicSpark Fellow and became a project coordinator in 2022. Her role has now shifted part time while she completes a master’s degree. Shawn contributes to energy efficiency work with cities and South Bay Environmental Services Center partners. She also provides geographic information system (GIS) assistance to other projects.
During her time with the SBCCOG, she has helped develop the Facility Equipment Inventory, which tracks energy-using equipment at municipal facilities, as well as the South Bay Energy & Climate Recognition Program, which recognizes cities for their achievements in energy efficiency and sustainability. Shawn also applied for and was successful in the SBCCOG receiving the Beacon Leadership and Innovation Award in Cross-Agency Collaboration in 2023. She values the connection of her work to the climate and how the SBCCOG increases the ability of others to take sustainable action.
Prior to her work at the SBCCOG, Shawn was a Forestry Fellow for TreePeople through the California Climate Action Corps program. In this role, she cared for young trees in restoration and urban greening projects through watering, mulching, and pruning. Her experience is supported by her Bachelor of Science in environmental science at UCLA, with minors in geography/environmental studies and GIS. She is currently completing a Master of Arts in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology at Columbia University. Shawn is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate Certified (2020-2022), as well as Catalina Island Conservancy Naturalist I Certified.
Shawn was born in Hawaii, spent most of her childhood growing up in Temecula, California, and currently lives in New York City. She likes to crochet, try new baking recipes and tend to her houseplants.
Kevin Truong
CivicSpark Fellow
[email protected]
(310) 371-7222
Kevin Truong joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) as a CivicSpark Fellow in September of 2024. Kevin is a part of the Energy Efficiency Team working under the SBCCOG’s South Bay Environmental Services Center program. His primary initiatives involve developing an Energy Resilience Plan for the member cities, implementing the Facility Equipment Inventory program, and lastly conducting energy benchmarking. Kevin is excited to collaborate with SBCCOG’s partners to be more energy efficient and resilient through a wide variety of projects and programs. He’s impressed by the work SBCCOG has done so far, and he wants to continue the momentum, so the South Bay continues to be an energy champion.
Kevin graduated from UCLA with a bachelor of science degree in environmental sciences with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society. He is also a credentialed Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP).
Prior to his role at SBCCOG, Kevin completed his first CivicSpark term with Los Angeles County Public Works), where he focused on creating a roadmap to integrate sustainability, resilience and equity into the county’s infrastructure and services. During Kevin’s time at UCLA, he conducted a senior project where he identified strategies for improving waste management and quantifying emissions for event procurement at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Additionally, he served as a data analyst at UCLA Anderson Center for Impact, where he compiled sustainability data from S&P 500 companies.
Kevin was born and raised in Westminster, Orange County and currently resides there. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, gaming, hiking and occasionally playing the piano.
Environmental Services, Outreach
Martha Segovia
Senior Project Manager
[email protected]
(424) 271-4689
Katty Segovia
Project Coordinator
[email protected]
(424) 271-4684
Martha Segovia started at the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) as an intern and joined as a full-time employee in 2010. Currently a senior project manager, Martha plays a pivotal role in spearheading various environmental and outreach initiatives catering to public agencies, businesses and residents within the South Bay subregion.
Martha oversees the development and management of programs spanning water conservation, waste reduction, the Green Business Assistance Program, outreach program and volunteer program. Her dedication and leadership have been instrumental in the success of several key projects, notably the establishment and implementation of the SBCCOG Volunteer Program. Under her stewardship, the program has flourished, attracting more than 400 volunteers and earning her a SEED (Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development) award from the South Bay Business Environmental Coalition in 2009.
Since 2018, Martha has served as the California Green Business Network coordinator for the Green Business Programs in Hawthorne, Torrance, and El Segundo. In this role she works to promote sustainable practices within the community. She has facilitated the enrollment of more than 400 businesses in SBCCOG’s Green Business Assist Program and conducted hundreds of water assessments on behalf of the West Basin Municipal Water District, City of Torrance Water Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Water and Power. In recognition of her expertise and dedication, Martha was appointed as a board member for the California Green Business Network, where she continues to shape and drive initiatives aimed at advancing sustainable business practices statewide.
Martha has a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications with a minor in advertising. She is a licensed realtor which adds a unique perspective to her repertoire of skills and complements her role in community engagement and outreach. Originally from Ecuador, Segovia currently resides in Torrance.
Katty Segovia joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) in 2022 as an environmental analyst. In her role, she focuses on stakeholder communication, acting as the main liaison between key stakeholders and agencies, keeping them informed about event updates and progress, developing project plans and schedules, and ensuring tasks are properly sequenced and resourced.
Katty promotes and distributes free environmental information from SBCCOG partners, coordinating activities across participating cities and ensuring the organization’s participation in relevant events. She interacts with the local community, gathers feedback, addresses concerns, and fosters positive relationships with partners. She also maintains event documentation and ensures event staff meet quality standards and adhere to relevant regulations and guidelines. She particularly enjoys the outreach outdoors events.
Prior to the SBCCOG, Katty was a membership coordinator at Torrance South Bay YMCA where she managed the membership process, ensured member satisfaction and supported overall operations of the YMCA. She earned a degree in business administration and is also certified in group exercise classes, Zumba classes, and has experience in fitness training.
Katty grew up in Ambato, Ecuador, and currently resides in the City of Carson. In her spare time, you can find her hiking, walking, cooking and dancing.
Zoran Trifunovic
CivicSpark Fellow
[email protected]
(310) 371-7222
Zoran Trifunovic joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) team as a CivicSpark Fellow in September 2024. He is focusing on two key initiatives community outreach and marketing the SBCCOG’s South Bay Environmental Services Center (SBESC) program. In this role, Zoran is responsible for enhancing stakeholder engagement, promoting sustainable practices for residents and local agencies, establishing a volunteer program focused on environmental initiatives, and media and branding of the SBCCOG. Zoran said he finds great fulfillment in his position, as it places him at the forefront of environmental initiatives. It also allows him to collaborate with dedicated individuals who share a common commitment to creating a change in the community.
Before joining the SBCCOG, Zoran worked as a habitat conservationist at a local wetland in Santa Cruz. There he focused on preserving and restoring the land from post-agricultural use. He also held a assistant research position studying ecology, specifically examining the relationship between seed dispersal and ant populations in Costa Rica. These experiences deepened his understanding of environmental issues and community engagement.
Zoran graduated with a bachelor of arts in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). During his time at UCSC, he was actively involved in various organizations, including serving as the chair of the Ski and Snowboard Club and participating in academic internships that enhanced his outreach and organizational skills.
Originally from Mississippi, Zoran grew up in Orange County and currently resides in Long Beach. In his spare time, Zoran enjoys playing basketball, working on projects in his garage and skateboarding.
Homeless and Senior Services
Ronson Chu
Senior Project Manager
[email protected]
(424) 271-4686
Addy Ajijolaiya
Project Manager, Homeless Services
[email protected]
(310) 271-4695
Ronson Chu joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) as the senior project manager for Homelessness and Senior Services in 2021.
Prior to his work with the SBCCOG, Ronson worked for the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) where he managed the organization’s internal budgets and worked with various federal, local and philanthropic funding partners. Prior to LAHSA, Ronson worked for the Los Angeles County Homeless Court, where he helped many Angelenos get housed by removing legal barriers to housing and jobs.
Ronson brings financial, administrative and managerial experience to the SBCCOG where he develops strategies and processes for implementation of Homelessness and Senior Service programs. In late 2023, he worked with the cities of the South Bay to prioritize $2.3 million in Measure H funding for proposed projects for innovative programs. Through his work at the SBCCOG he has helped to permanently house, shelter or employ 150 clients since 2022 (as of June 2024).
Ronson was born in Taiwan, moved to Texas, and grew up in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. Before working in homelessness, Ronson had a career in corporate finance and operations for brands including United Online, Macy’s/Bloomingdales, and Screen Engine/ASI, a leading entertainment market research firm. He took Screen Engine/ASI from a start-up to a profitable private equity firm in under five years. Upon coming to the SBCCOG, Ronson began to pursue his passion for solving homelessness.
North Redondo Beach is where Ronson, his wife and two young kids call home. In his spare time, he runs a local adult pick-up basketball league called South Bay Prime Time Ballers. He also volunteers at St. Margaret’s Center and the Inner-City Law Center’s Weekend to End Homelessness annual event, which he co-founded.
Addy Ajijolaiya joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) in May of 2024, as a homeless services project coordinator. In this role, she provides South Bay cities with support in accessing resources for unsheltered community members through Client Aid, housing navigation, and resource guidance. She ensures that communities have the tools and resources necessary to support and empower unhoused people through advocacy and innovation. “I appreciate how dynamic our organization is in the way we strive for quality-of-life improvements and community engagement,” she said.
Before she joined the SBCCOG, Addy worked with youth aged 16 to 25 experiencing homelessness at Safe Place for Youth. She managed the Host Home Program, a program that engaged community members to provide an interim living space for youth as they navigated educational, employment, and mental health support. Addy earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Pepperdine University, with a minor in Hispanic studies, and an emphasis in social action and justice. As an undergraduate, she was actively engaged in volunteer work on Skid Row, and for organizations Standing on Stone and the Malibu Labor Exchange. She is a passionate community advancement advocate with experience in street outreach and case management.
Addy is a Southern California native. She grew up in Long Beach and currently lives in the South Bay. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, hiking, eating, and live music. She can often be found at the park with a great book and an even better picnic basket.
Miranda Werts
Project Coordinator, Homeless Services
[email protected]
(424) 271-4685
Cathy Hetzer
Project Assistant, Senior Services
[email protected]
(310) 371-7222
Miranda Werts is the housing location project coordinator on the South Bay Cities Council of Government’s (SBCCOG) Homelessness Services team. She joined in this capacity in July 2024
Miranda generates affordable housing leads for city- and county-funded outreach case managers throughout the South Bay. She also manages landlord engagement and identifies affordable housing strategies that will better utilize available resources to support vulnerable and unhoused individuals in the region
Through her public health training and advocacy, she says she has seen how important housing is to health and well-being, and she is “excited that my work at the SBCCOG will allow me to implement actionable steps to improve housing accessibility and positively impact the well-being of the South Bay community.”
Prior to joining the SBCCOG, Miranda worked in health policy and research at the Healthforce Center at the University of California, San Fransisco (UCSF) and the California HIV/AIDS Research Program. While at UCSF, she analyzed state and federal policies and maintained databases on a variety of health care issues, including health care professionals’ scope of practice, opioid prescribing guidelines, and Medicaid regulations, and managed several multi-year research projects on oral health care access and adolescent tobacco use. At the California HIV/AIDS Research Program , a state-funded research grants program office, she facilitated workgroups with community partners to collaborate on organizational objectives, fill gaps in the existing HIV funding landscape, and identify opportunities to advance state HIV initiatives. In both roles, Miranda had the opportunity conducted extensive community and stakeholder engagement and observed the importance of community participation to advance social justice and health equity
Miranda received a bachelor’s from UC Berkeley and completed her Master of Public Health at UCLA in 2024. While completing her master’s program, she conducted research identifying risk factors of homelessness and health outcomes in Los Angeles County. She also volunteered with the UCLA Mobile Clinic Project, a student run clinic supporting our unhoused neighbors in Los Angeles, where she supported clients in accessing housing services, transportation benefits, and primary care as Project Evaluation Team chair.
Miranda grew up in the Bay Area and currently lives in Los Angeles. In her spare time, she likes playing beach volleyball, knitting and/or crocheting, and reading.
Cathy Hetzer joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) in August 2023 as a project assistant for the Homeless and Senior Services team. She is a semi-retired part-time remote employee who provides support for the SBCCOG’s numerous case managers, especially for seniors and homeless seniors in the South Bay. Cathy also administers Client Aid funds.
Prior to working at the SBCCOG, Cathy was employed by Harbor Interfaith Services as the Adult Protective Services home safe case manager for LA County’s Service Planning Area 8 (including the South Bay Cities and Long Beach). She has also served as a housing navigator and landlord negotiator. Before working in homeless services, Cathy worked with several small businesses as an accounting manager.
Cathy grew up in Port Jefferson Station, Long Island, New York. She currently lives in Sebastian, Florida, where she is remodeling a new home.
Transportation, Land Use Planning and Broadband
Aaron Baum
Senior Project Manager
[email protected]
(310) 271-4688
Jake Romoff
Project Coordinator
[email protected]
(424) 271-4692
As a senior project manager at the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) since 2015, Aaron Baum specializes in mobility, transportation and technology issues for the South Bay Sustainable Strategy Program. Aaron’s responsibilities and projects include managing and interfacing with Metro on its Shared Mobility and Express Lanes outreach efforts in the South Bay and managing the construction and applications development for the South Bay Fiber Network, a $6.9 million construction infrastructure project that has provided high speed internet service to 43 public and non-profit agencies in the South Bay. He facilitates and coordinates the activities with cities for the South Bay Local Travel Network. In the electric vehicle arena, Aaron was the SBCCOG lead on the California Energy Commission Study on Electric Vehicle Charging in Multi-Unit Dwellings where SBCCOG partnered with the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. Further, Aaron served as project manager for the Metro funded Smart Mobility Tool (“South Bay Travel Pal”). Engaging with other entities, he promotes, advocates and champions alternative mobility strategies and autonomous vehicle technologies.
Aaron has a long history in transportation, working as a research and project manager in communications, urban planning and transportation under Baum Consulting for Siembab Planning Associates and the City of Los Angeles. There he worked on diverse and innovative programs that included the City of Los Angeles’ Telecommuting Pilot Program; Blue Line Televillage Demonstration Project; Southeast Los Angeles’ Audio Demonstration Project; and Telework Facilities Exchange. Aaron’s experience also includes jointly developing a gift basket company and becoming the owner and sole proprietor of a gourmet food business called Hand to Mouth Edibles Gourmet Foods.
Aaron graduated from the Annenberg Graduate School of Communication at the University of Southern California with a Master of Arts in communications management after receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the New College of the University of South Florida.
Jake Romoff joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) in February of 2024 as a project coordinator for Transportation and Land Use. He mainly works on program research and advancement for the Local Travel Network, Digital Equity, and the South Bay Fiber Network. He enjoys working at the SBCCOG because he gets to work on innovative projects every day at an organization on the forefront of technology and mobility applications for cities.
Jake graduated from UCLA in December 2023 with a degree in geography. While at UCLA he also worked as the sustainability growth manager at an emerging EV-based delivery startup called Duffl. Working with his team, he built partnerships with local businesses and increased order volume by 200%. In his free time, Jake also volunteers at Heal the Bay and the California Wildlife Center.
Jake was born in Toronto Canada and at a young age moved to Seattle then Chicago where he spent most of his childhood. He then moved to Los Angeles in 2019 to attend UCLA. He currently lives in Santa Monica. Since moving to California, he has become obsessed with surfing. On most weekends and even before work you can find him at Malibu First Point or shaping boards. Beyond surfing, he loves to get trapped in a good book or TV show and has recently started playing pick-up pickle ball.
Anne Tsai
Project Coordinator
[email protected]
(310) 371-7222
Shannon Heffernan
Contract Planner
[email protected]
310-371-7222
Anne Tsai joined the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) as a CivicSpark Fellow in September 2023. She works mainly on implementing the Local Travel Network (LTN), including community outreach/marketing, stakeholder and city engagement, and route refinement. She loves this work because she gets to interact frequently with the public, city staff and elected officials with the goal of bringing sustainable transportation to the South Bay. She calls the LTN an exciting and innovative project, and is grateful to be a part of it.
Anne graduated in 2023 from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in ecology, behavior, and evolution and a minor in public affairs. In her senior year of college, she was a project consultant for the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge Undergrad Research Scholars Program, where she worked on the Universal Basic Mobility Project (UBM) with the South LA Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z) to survey South Los Angeles communities. She also is a certified scientific diver and has an ecological research background studying harlequin bugs, algae, and rhodoliths.
In her spare time, Anne likes to read, scrapbook, watch sitcoms and spend time with her bunny.
Shannon Heffernan, AICP, is a contract planner with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). Since 2016, she has served as a consultant for SBCCOG, contributing to the Land Use and Transportation chapters of member cities’ climate action plans and leading the Housing Roadmap Study in 2023.
With 18 years of experience, Shannon is a seasoned program and project manager specializing in agency advisory services across land use, housing, active transportation and community outreach. She has worked with agencies such as SBCCOG, Southern California Association of Governments, Metro, Caltrans and numerous cities, including the SBCCOG member cities. In her role at SBCCOG, she advances Transportation & Land Use initiatives such as the Local Travel Network, housing programs, and transportation-focused projects.
Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science in city and regional planning from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a master’s degree of urban planning from the University of Southern California. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member in Cal Poly Pomona’s Urban and Regional Planning program.
As South Bay native, she has lived in multiple cities throughout the subregion and is passionate about making a positive impact in the area she calls home. She currently resides in Redondo Beach.
Consultants
Mike Bohlke
Consultant, Transportation
[email protected]
Jonathan Rodman
Consultant, GIS
[email protected]
Mike Bohlke is a consultant for the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). He serves as deputy to Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, the southwest corridor representative for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) board of directors. He has served the SBCCOG in this capacity since 2009. Mike provides Mayor Butts with knowledge and insight dealing with long- and short-term issues, projects and programs that make up the complexity of Metro. Mike helps identify ways that the Metro board can advance the issues, needs and concerns of cities in the southwest corridor which are included in the South Bay and Westside councils of governments. His achievements over the past 15 years include the establishment of the Metro Sustainability Program, founded under former Metro Director Pam O’Connor. The program has grown to a major priority that pervades Metro policies and programs. Additionally, Mike helped introduce and advocate for a major policy reform benefiting cities of the controversial 3% city contribution to Metro Measure R and Measure M mega projects. Under the reform, cities can use the entirety of their 3% contribution for first- and last-mile projects in their jurisdiction.
Mike was the assistant chief of staff to former Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke (ret.) from December 1992 to December 2008. He was responsible for a portfolio of departments and issues which included LA County Superior Court, regional planning, department of beaches and harbors, internal services department and county parks and recreation projects funding, and Metro. He has a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Master of Public Administration from California State University at Long Beach. In his master’s program, he received a federally funded academic fellowship for a three-year study of the LA County Transportation Commission that was the precursor to Metro.
Mike grew up and currently resides in the City of Los Angeles and is a wood turner.
Jon Rodman is an independent contractor for the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). He has provided geographic information systems (GIS) services to the SBCCOG since 2020. Before this he was a volunteer for the SBCCOG and its South Bay Environmental Services Center. As a volunteer climate action planning researcher, he saw the need for GIS work. On his own and through courses at El Camino College, he learned the software. In addition to his climate action planning work, as an SBCCOG contractor, he has supported projects that include the Local Travel Network (LTN), South Bay Fiber Network, and a number of grant applications. Most of Jon’s work has been on the LTN as a key contributor to its design principles, route selections, and planning. He says his work with the SBCCOG fills his need for critical thinking and problem-solving. He also enjoys working with smart and talented people.
Jon came to SBCCOG after retiring from a more than 40-year career in the toy industry, most recently at Mattel. He worked in a variety of marketing positions, including managing the global corporate relationship between Mattel and Disney that generated nearly $1 billion retail sales annually. He has a Bachelor of Arts in human biology from Brown University and is originally from New Jersey.
Jon also does contract work for a chamber music nonprofit in Chicago. There he tracks audience engagement metrics, edits written copy, and publishes a weekly newsletter to more than 1000 readers. He also spends time tending to his native landscaping and supporting the LA Philharmonic. All his work — map-making, toys and music — ties into his greatest passion of telling a story. He describes it as “taking a pile of disparate data and finding the interpretive story that makes it meaningful and actionable.”