SBCCOG’s 26th Annual General Assembly Speakers
Christy Castillo Butcher
SVP of Programming and Booking, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park
Inglewood, CA
Christy Castillo Butcher is the Senior Vice President of Programming and Booking at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, a nearly 300-acre mixed-use development being built in Inglewood, Calif., by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. The campus features the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater, and American Airlines Plaza, alongside premier office space, residences, and retail. Future phases of the development include a luxury hotel, Hollywood Park Studios, and additional lifestyle offerings.
Castillo Butcher is responsible for developing the programming strategy, as well as securing events year-round throughout Hollywood Park. Under her leadership, SoFi Stadium continues to rank as a top stadium globally, attracting record-breaking artists from Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny to Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar. Castillo Butcher also oversees programming for the intimate YouTube Theater, which has been nominated multiple times for Theater of the Year by Pollstar Magazine. She is currently steering programming around an unprecedented upcoming run, including eight FIFA World Cup ’26 matches, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and both the Olympic and Paralympic Opening Ceremonies for LA28, alongside Olympic swimming in three consecutive years.
A Los Angeles native, Castillo Butcher has been recognized as a trailblazer, earning accolades including Pollstar Magazine’s “Executive of the Year,” Billboard Magazine’s “Women in Music” executive honoree, and “Women of Inspiration” from WISE. She is also a board member of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and a dedicated advocate for diversity and mentorship, championing the next generation of live entertainment and sports professionals.
George Chen
Mayor, City of Torrance
Torrance, CA
George Chen was elected Mayor of Torrance on June 7, 2022.
Born in Taiwan and raised in the United States, George is a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Prior to being an elected official, George had a 33-year career at Raytheon, where he developed defense electronics in Electronic Warfare and Airborne Radar for the United States’ frontline fighter jets.
In 2018, George transitioned into public service as a Torrance Councilman, driven by his goal to make his hometown a hub of business and technological innovation, a financially strong city that’s safe and clean, and a place where young athletes can excel to their potential. As Mayor, he envisions Torrance as a place where top global talents converge to incubate groundbreaking ideas, and where both domestic and international entrepreneurs are eager to invest.
Evan Eleff
Partner, Sports Facilities Companies
Clearwater, FL
Evan Eleff is a national leader in the sports, recreation, and wellness industry with more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning, business development, partnership structuring, program development, and project funding. Since 2012, he has led Sports Facilities Companies’ Advisory division, helping guide initiatives in more than 2,500 communities across the United States and internationally.
At SFC, Evan has played a central role in advancing the firm’s position as the industry leader in the planning, development, and management of sports and recreation facilities. His leadership has helped shape strategies that have contributed to more than $12 billion in capital investment, supporting projects that serve as both community assets and economic drivers.
Evan is widely recognized for his expertise in community engagement, destination master planning, and implementation-focused strategy. He has helped lead the development of industry-leading tools and resources, including SFC’s sports tourism economic impact calculator used by more than 300 destinations and 14,000 facilities, as well as the Parks Impact Calculator, which supports more than 3,000 parks and recreation professionals in measuring and communicating the value of their assets and programs.
He has also advised federal and state agencies on the socioeconomic impact of sports, recreation, and tourism. Evan has contributed to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play and State of Play reports, spoken at more than 30 national and international conferences, and co-authored more than two dozen reports focused on the role of sports and recreation in strengthening communities.
Amy Eriksen
Executive Director, Angels Gate Cultural Center
San Pedro, CA
Amy Eriksen has had a long career in arts education and passion for bringing the arts to all ages and groups. She has worked in the non-profit and education sectors for over 25 years and loves how arts and education convene at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, where she serves as Executive Director. Amy is dedicated to community and collaboration; she spends much of her free time on community task forces and is the Past Chair of the Long Beach Human Relations Commission. Amy holds a BA in Music Education from the University of Redlands. In addition, she holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Management.
Joe Forgiarini
Senior Executive Officer Service Department, LA Metro
Los Angeles, CA
Joe joined LA Metro in December 2019, just in time for COVID19. His role has focused on the implementation of Metro’s NextGen bus network restructuring and now on leading special event service planning for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games in LA. He leads the Service Development team responsible for service planning and scheduling for Metro bus and rail services, as well as speed and reliability and regional service council programs.
Joe has spent his entire working career in transit operations planning and scheduling. He began with 16 years at Brisbane Transport which provides bus services for the City of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.
Joe first came to the US in 2005. He spent his first six years as a consultant with Transportation Management and Design Inc. based in Carlsbad CA, working with agencies nationwide primarily in comprehensive operational analysis studies.
Previous to joining Metro, Joe worked as Manager then Director of Service Planning and Scheduling for Riverside Transit agency (2014-2019) serving western Riverside County CA, after nearly three years at SunLine Transit servicing eastern Riverside County CA (2011-2014).
Elizabeth Hause
Community Services Director, City of Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, CA
Elizabeth Hause has served as Community Services Director for the City of Redondo Beach since September 2024. She brings over 14 years of public and private sector experience. As the Community Services Director, Ms. Hause oversees Parks and Recreation, Transit, Housing, and Cultural Arts. She manages day-to-day operations, supports community programs and services, and works closely with staff to align department activities with City goals. Current projects include the re-opening of the Teen Center in Perry Park, renewed operation and programming of the Historic Library, and the continued enhancement of programs for seniors and youth.
Previously, she served as Assistant to the City Manager and as a Senior Management Analyst in the Waterfront and Economic Development Department. Her responsibilities included citywide strategic planning, policy development, interdepartmental coordination, and both internal and external communications. She led several citywide initiatives, including launching the City’s social media presence, updating the communications plan, and completing a new City logo. She also established the City’s internal Communications Team and supported updates to cannabis regulations and recognition efforts for Pride Month and
Juneteenth.
Prior to Redondo Beach, she worked for the City of Bellflower as a Management Analyst and Management Aide. She began her public service career with the New York Police Department and has also worked in project management and financial operations in the private sector. Ms. Hause holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Government and Politics from St. John’s University in New York.
Cedric Hicks
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Carson
Carson, CA
Cedric L. Hicks, Sr. has served on the City Council since being appointed on April 19, 2016. He has been re-elected by the residents of Carson three times. His vision for the City of Carson is to ensure a safe, clean, and healthy community, where all residents have the opportunity to reach their full potential through education, business, recreation, and wellness.
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.
Eric Johnson
CEO, Jerico Development Inc.
San Pedro, CA
Eric C. Johnson is a principal of Jerico Development, a family-owned real estate development firm based in San Pedro, California, and the developer of West Harbor, the new waterfront destination on the LA Waterfront. Jerico Development has been active on the LA Waterfront for decades, and Eric has played a central role in the planning, development, and long-term stewardship of its projects.
Eric is also deeply involved in philanthropy and civic leadership. He is the founding board chairman of the Crail-Johnson Foundation, a private family foundation supporting youth-focused education, health, and family self-help programs in urban Los Angeles. He also serves as board chair of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, a public-private partnership that provides youth with hands-on, experiential learning through maritime education programs.
Rachel Johnson
Police Chief, Manhattan Beach Police Department
Manhattan Beach, CA
Chief Rachel Johnson is a United States Marine Corps Veteran. She served from 1997 to 2001 as an Air Control Electronics Operator. During her military service, she was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.
In 2001, Chief Johnson began her career in law enforcement at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department before transferring to the Newport Beach Police Department in 2005. During her tenure at Newport Beach, Chief Johnson worked a variety of assignments including DARE Officer, Field Training Officer, Honor Guard Member, Volunteer and Reserve Coordinator, and Crisis Negotiation Team Member. She was promoted to Sergeant in 2012 and she supervised the Traffic Division, Special Events, and the Major Accident Investigation Team. In 2014, she was awarded the Lifesaving Medal. In 2017, she was promoted to Lieutenant and oversaw jail operations, the Mounted Unit, and the Explorer program.
In February 2020, Chief Johnson transferred to the Laguna Beach Police Department to serve as a Captain. During her time at Laguna Beach, Chief Johnson served as the Support and Investigative Services Captain and as the Field Services Captain. During the global pandemic related to COVID-19, Chief Johnson led the City of Laguna Beach’s response to the pandemic.
Chief Johnson became Manhattan Beach’s 10th Chief of Police in August 2022.
Chief Johnson was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She earned her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Santa Ana College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Master’s Degree in Administration of Justice and Security from the University of Phoenix. Chief Johnson is a graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership Institute, the International Association of Chiefs of Police Women’s Leadership Institute, the California POST Executive Development Course, and the Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker.
Chief Johnson served on the Advisory Board of the First Battalion, First Marines Foundation, and on the Board of Directors for Leadership Tomorrow, Orange County. Chief Johnson is an avid baseball fan, runs half marathons, and enjoys backpacking.
Michelle Keldorf
Councilmember, City of El Segundo
El Segundo, CA
Larry Kosmont
Chairman & CEO, Kosmont Companies
Manhattan Beach, CA
Mr. Larry J. Kosmont, CRE® is Chairman and CEO of Kosmont Companies, which he founded in 1986. Kosmont Companies is an industry leader in public/private real estate transactions and economic development. In 1990, he founded Kosmont Realty, a real estate brokerage firm. In 2015, he launched Kosmont Financial Services which sources financing for public/private projects, P3 initiatives, and infrastructure funding.
Mr. Kosmont’s distinguished 40-year career encompasses public/private financial structuring, negotiation, development, and management of real estate and public finance transactions exceeding $10B. He has assisted hundreds of local government agencies in public finance and real estate matters ranging from large-scale economic development programs to site-specific real estate strategies and projects. He has guided over 1,000 private sector projects in obtaining public approvals, structuring deal terms, and securing public/private financing.
Mr. Kosmont served as Interim City Administrator, City Manager, Director of Community Development, and Redevelopment Director in the cities of Montebello. Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Bell Gardens, and Burbank.
Jim Light
Mayor, City of Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, CA
Jim Light was appointed by the Redondo Beach City Council on February 20th, 2024, to serve the remainder of Mayor Bill Brand’s term after Bill’s tragic passing. In March 2025, he was elected to fulfill a four-year term.
Previously, Jim served on Mayor Mike Gin’s Citizens’ Growth Management and Traffic Committee in 2008 to 2009, on the General Plan Advisory Committee from 2017 to 2024, and on the Harbor Commission since 2016 until accepting the Mayoral appointment. Jim and Bill were coauthors of Measure DD, which is now Article XXVII of the City Charter. Jim was the primary author of Measure C, which is now incorporated in our Local Coastal Program. He provided significant contributions to the proposed Parks, Open Space, and Conservation Element of the General Plan update.
Jim has been active in the community for decades. He was on the Executive Committee for the South Bay Chapter of Surfrider Foundation from 1994 to 2003. He was a founding board member of South Bay Parkland Conservancy (SBPC), started by Bill Brand in 2004. Jim has served as President twice and is still active with SBPC projects and activities. Jim also served on Beach Cities Health District’s Community Advisory Group.
Jim earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA. He started his professional career as an Air Force Officer for over 13 years and then held management and executive positions in multiple aerospace firms for 27 years. During his career, Jim worked projects from Space Shuttle, to ground communications systems, to launch and satellite control facilities at sites including Vandenberg AFB, Cape Canaveral AFS, LA AFB, and Shriever AFB, Onizuka AFB. Jim is now happily retired.
When Jim was stationed at LA AFB in 1989, he lived in Redondo and loved it so much, he left the Air Force so he could stay. He lives in Redondo Beach with his wife, Pat, and their daughter, Alli lives in the LA area. Jim loves the outdoors, especially water sports; and he is committed to expanding public parkland/open space, establishing local native habitats and ecosystems, ensuring the economic sustainability of the city, and one day – attending the the ribbon-cutting on the Bill Brand Waterfront Park.
Jim McCafferty
Director of Catering and Events, westdrift Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, CA
Jim McCafferty is the Director of Catering and Events at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach Hotel.
His passion for hospitality began in the 1980s during his first trip to Disney World, where he became fascinated with the experience of large resort hotels.
After attending culinary school in Massachusetts, Jim discovered his true interest in large-scale catering and events and eventually built his career in Southern California. He has lived in the Westchester/Playa del Rey area for more than 25 years and has worked with Marriott Hotels for over two decades.
Jim’s passion for sports led him into event management, including years working with Toyota on NASCAR events at its Torrance headquarters and supporting the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race during the Grand Prix of Long Beach. Today, he continues to lead high-profile events at Westdrift, working with major sports organizations and broadcast partners including the NFL, NBA, BIG3, MLS, ESPN, FOX, and CBS.
Jim takes pride in creating memorable experiences for guests and partners alike, combining his hospitality background, culinary training, and passion for sports to deliver exceptional events in the South Bay.
Dana Pynn
Assistant Director of Transportation, City of Gardena GTrans
Gardena, CA
Dana Pynn is the Assistant Director of Transportation for the City of Gardena’s GTrans, where she helps oversee the safe and effective operation of public transit services. With 25 years of experience in the transit industry, her career has spanned administration, government relations, and operations. Dana joined GTrans in 2017 and is a graduate of Leadership APTA and Leadership Long Beach. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton. She is also the proud mother of a baseball-playing middle schooler in the Long Beach Unified School District.
Mark Rogondino
On Air Talent, Fox 11 Sports / Apple TV
Coto de Caza, CA
Mark Rogondino is an Emmy award winning sports broadcaster that has been a fixture in both Southern California and on a national stage for two decades. The San Diego native has covered the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and Major League Soccer in a variety of roles. Mark is currently in his fourth season as one of the lead play-by-play voices for MLS on Apple TV, in addition to his time with Fox-11 Sports as an anchor and in the field sports reporter. Whether it is calling a game live in front of thousands of fans, or telling the story of a local athlete overcoming odds to achieve success, Rogondino brings the same high level of passion and energy to the moment!
Mark calls South Orange County home, along with his beautiful wife of 20 years, Tiffany and their two children Averi (15) and Colton (12). When Mark is not covering sports you can find him teeing it up on his favorite golf course, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club.
Dan Rodman
Deputy Executive Director, City of LA Office of Major Events
Los Angeles, CA
Daniel Rodman serves as Deputy Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Office of Major Events, where he coordinates the City’s work on operations, community programs, and social impact for the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dan works collaboratively with City departments, the LA28 organizing committee, and other key stakeholders to deliver mega-events that are safe, successful, and fiscally responsible while maximizing economic opportunity and legacy investments for all Angelenos.
Previously, Dan served as Deputy Director of Transportation for the Offices of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. In this role, Dan worked to expand and improve public transit in Southern California while advising the Mayor and the City’s members of the L.A. Metro Board of Directors. Dan played a significant role in the development and delivery of major transportation initiatives during this time, including creation of $120 billion in new funding through Measure M, cutting the cost of Metro for everyday riders through fare capping and fareless transit for students, reviving Metro’s dormant bus lane program, and delivering the Regional Connector and other key capital megaprojects.
Dan began his urban planning career at the South Bay Cities Council of Governments. Earlier, Dan served as a social worker with Street to Home Manhattan, where he brought homeless individuals off the streets and into permanent housing. Dan holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree from New York University.
Allen Sanford
Founder, BeachLife & California Surf Club
Hermosa Beach, CA
Allen Sanford is a born-and-raised South Bay entrepreneur with a 30-year history of starting and operating hospitality, music, and technology businesses in Los Angeles. Having graduated magna cum laude in philosophy from Santa Clara University along with a brief stint playing college baseball, Allen started his first restaurant in Hermosa Beach in 2003 called Union Cattle Company. Over the next two decades, Allen has been a co-founder and owner of a myriad of South Bay locations, such as Saint Rocke, Rockefeller Hermosa, Rockefeller Manhattan, Rockefeller Redondo, Primo Italia, Abigaile, Ocean Bar, Dia De Campo, The Venice West, and more. In 2010, having seen the birth of live-streaming in the music space, Allen co-founded LiveList, a technology platform focused on the aggregation of live streams, and was at the forefront of the industry through 2019. More recently, Allen founded BeachLife Festival & BeachLife Ranch in Redondo Beach, and recently finished the construction of BeachLife Restaurant and the California Surf Club, a 22,000 square-foot members facility in the Redondo Beach Waterfront. With an interest in giving back to the community, Allen supports causes around ocean conservation and kids, and also serves on the following boards: Chairman of the Redondo Beach Police & Fire Foundation, President of the Riviera Village Association, and a Board Member on the King Harbor Association. In his offtime, you’ll see Allen and his wife, Colleen, at the beach raising their two daughters, Annika and Eleanor.
Bernadette Suarez
Chair, SBCCOG; Councilmember, City of Lawndale
Lawndale, CA
City of Lawndale Councilmember Bernadette Suarez represents her city as 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. 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.