Commissioners

JEFFREY J. PENICHET

As a business owner and longtime board member for multiple non-profit organizations and previous commission appointments, he is experienced in organizational management, quality effectiveness analysis, policy development, financial statement evaluation, and investment recommendations

He founded, managed and grew from a start-up to a medium sized business entity Bilingual Educational Services, Inc. Over time, he developed systems for producing and publishing education materials; moved from manual records to computerization with specialized software; analyzed financial growth and contained labor and production costs; and, developed organizational structures for a 65,000 square foot storage and distribution warehouse.

As a Commissioner for the Los Angeles City Employee Retirement System for four years, he helped evaluate and recommend investments for a $14 billion portfolio in several investment categories including stocks and private equity.

He is a long time Board Member of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), an organization that provides preschool and family services to over 100,000 clients annually. The organization has expanded its budget from $20 million to $87 million. For the last five years, he has been serving as Chairperson of Properties, Inc., supervising the acquisition of two buildings and increasing income substantially for the parent organization.

Penichet holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington.

JOE WAZ

Joe Waz has spent more than 45 years professionally engaged with issues of technology, government, and public policy.  Throughout his professional life, he has been driven by a passion for enhancing connectivity and leveraging information technology to drive economic growth, improve public services, and enhance the quality of life for all communities.

Joe recently retired from Comcast Corporation and NBCUniversal after a 30-year career.  He served as Corporate Senior Vice President of Comcast at its Philadelphia headquarters from 1994-2011, and as Senior Strategic Advisor to both companies after his move to Los Angeles.

During his tenure as founding president of the Comcast Foundation, where he oversaw the distribution of over $1.1 billion in charitable contributions, Joe oversaw the launch of major projects to provide affordable digital internet access, digital literacy training, and technology resources to underserved communities. Joe conceived the project that became Internet Essentials, the largest, most comprehensive effort successfully undertaken by any company or organization to get low-income people connected to the Internet.  He also launched Comcast Digital Connectors, a nationwide digital literacy program. 

As a public policy leader, Joe has helped to shape national and regional broadband strategies, contributing to the development of comprehensive plans working with governmental entities and think tanks.  He played a major role in persuading the Federal Communications Commission to promote government-wide policies to encourage the expanded use of advanced, user-friendly technologies to meet social needs more effectively and efficiently.

Joe was the founding chairman of the Broadband Internet Technology Advisory Group, a multistakeholder organization dedicated to solving technology problems with public policy implications.

In academia, Joe was a Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology & Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder.  He also chaired the board of TPRC, the leading academic conference dedicated to public policy and economics research in communications, media, and the Internet.

Joe’s work with not-for-profits includes service to nearly 30 organizations. In Los Angeles, Joe has served on the board of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.  He is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles.

From 2022-2025, Joe resided in Costa Rica while his wife was the U.S. Ambassador appointed by President Biden.  During that time, he served as vice president of ADDA, a public service organization comprising diplomatic spouses.  A Connecticut native, Joe received a bachelor's degree cum laude from Boston University and a doctor of laws from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

NANCY G. HARRIS

Nancy G. Harris is a mortgage broker with ten years experience in mortgage lending industry. She previously held the positions of Regional Vice President, Corporate Trainer, and Loan Originator with Home Savings of America. Ms. Harris is currently a Board member of the West Angeles Community Development Corporation, member of The New Leaders Organization, affiliate member of the Consolidated Realty Board, and arbitrator for the NASD.

MARSHA D. MITCHELL

Marsha Mitchell is the Senior Director of Communications for Community Coalition. A key contributor to CoCo’s Collective Management Team, Marsha uses her expertise in strategic communications to help inform every facet of the Coalition’s work—from its digital presence, community outreach, and member engagement to crafting messaging, media strategy and facilitating policy change that addresses the challenges facing South LA. Beginning her career at the Los Angeles Sentinel, she kept the African-American community abreast of critical issues as a reporter for over a decade.

Additionally, Ms. Mitchell has managed newspapers, rebranded companies, and spearheaded communications campaigns throughout her career. A graduate of UCLA, Marsha is a board member for the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles, and was a Southern California Leadership Network Fellow. This proud Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.

J. SHAWN LANDRES, Ph.D.

Shawn Landres PhD has built a multi-decade track record of leadership across the social good sectors - nonprofit, philanthropic, academic, and public alike. An award-winning civic leader who bridges multiple communities, his research and impact in social innovation and community development have earned attention in the U.S., Europe, and beyond. Since the early 2010s, Shawn has served on and led numerous local government commissions in Southern California, where much of his work has focused on nurturing public access to and trust in government and strengthening diverse and inclusive democratic civil society. Most recently he founded a multinational grassroots volunteer humanitarian network providing responsive case management for Ukrainians and Ukrainian refugees.

A widely published essayist and editor whose work has been featured by the White House and covered by TIME, the Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, he is co-founder of Jumpstart Labs, a philanthropic research and design consultancy.

A Senior Fellow at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Landres is a City of Santa Monica Planning Commissioner and former commission chair. He is a former chair of the City of Santa Monica Social Services Commission and served two terms on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Financial Oversight Committee. Previously he chaired the Santa Monica Public Library's Innovation Technology Task Force.

Landres brings to the Commission more than two decades of experience in academic, nonprofit, and philanthropic leadership, social entrepreneurship, network building, and organizational development, including the Clinton Administration's Reinventing Government initiative and projects funded by the U.S. State Department and the British government.

A Los Angeles native who grew up in Santa Monica, where he now lives with his wife and two daughters, Landres holds degrees from Columbia University (BA cum laude, religion), the University of Oxford (MSt with distinction, social anthropology), and the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a PhD in religious studies. He has co-edited four books and published award-winning articles and essays that advance intergroup understanding and has led groundbreaking research on religion and household charitable giving.

In 2016, he co-authored the UCLA/California Community Foundation report, “The Generosity Gap: Donating Less in Post-Recession Los Angeles County.” In 2017, he co-authored co-authored the Future of Cities LA/USC Huntington Institute report, “Space to Lead: A Century of Civic Leadership in Los Angeles."

In 2013, the Liberty Hill Foundation honored him with its NextGen Leadership Award. He was a 2015-16 California Connections Fellow of the Southern California Leadership Network, which in 2017 selected him as a 30th anniversary “30-in-30” alumni honoree.

Landres has served a non-executive manager for and/or advised numerous early-stage ventures and social enterprises.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.  Other advisory commitments include the Southern California Grantmakers Public Policy Committee, NEXUS, and the Liberty Hill Foundation.  Landres, whom the Forward recognized in 2009 as one of America's 50 most influential Jewish leaders in 2009, also serves on the Jewish Federation’s Civic Partnerships Advisory Committee.

Landres has served three consecutive terms as chair, from 2017 to 2019. In 2015, he shepherded the Commission's “Digital by Default” report and led the Commission's Strategic Plan Update, including the formalization of the its annual operational trends update. In 2020-21 he was a working group leader for the Commission’s NACO Award-winning ProsperLA initiative. Landres serves on the County’s LA vs. Hate committee and co-chaired United Against Hate Week in 2022.

WILLIAM B. PARENT  

William “Bill” Parent is a recently-retired lecturer in public policy at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, where he worked as an administrator and teacher for 20 years.  He taught courses on Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations, Leadership in the Public Interest, and Urban Homelessness Policy.  He served as Associate Dean for Administration, Associate Dean for Advancement, and Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives.  He was Acting Director of the former UCLA Luskin Center for Civil Society from 2009 to 2016.

In Santa Monica, Bill has served on the Social Services Commission since 2015, including a term as Chair, with a focus on homelessness.  He was also Co-Chair of the Santa Monica Homelessness Steering Committee, 2017-2018.  Before joining UCLA in 2000, Bill was on the senior staff of the Harvard Kennedy School from 1986 to 1999, including five years as Executive Director of the Harvard University-Ford Foundation Innovations in American Government Program.

He is a former newspaper reporter who has published articles in the Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and California Policy Options.  He also worked previously for the Paterson New Jersey Board of Education, New York City Board of Education, the California Governor’s Office of Appropriate Technology during Governor Jerry Brown’s second term, and for the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he also received his B.A and  Ed.D.

In retirement, he recently completed a full-length screenplay based on a true story, The White Hibiscus.

JACKI BACHARACH

Jacki Bacharach served for 14 years as Mayor and Councilmember in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and on the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (a predecessor agency to the LACMTA) for 12 years. On the Commission, she chaired the overall Planning Committee, the Rail Construction and Planning Committees as well as the full Commission. She led the committees through the development of the overall rail plan for L.A. County and oversaw the construction of the Metro Blue and Green Lines.

Since 1985 she has been a member of the Los Angeles-San Diego Rail Corridor Agency overseeing and improving L.A.-San Diego Amtrak service representing LACMTA serving as the Vice Chair which she remained until the end of 2012 when her appointment ended.

Jacki Bacharach was a charter member of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority dealing with landside access to the Ports of LA and Long Beach and served as Founding Chair of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority - the five-county agency that operates the Metrolink commuter rail system.

She served on the State Commission on Local Governance for the 21st Century and as a member of the National Commission on Intermodal Transportation as well as serving as a member of President Clinton’s Transition Team Transportation Cluster Group. In both of these positions, she was the only member from California.

Her first job after graduating from UCLA was as a social worker for L.A. County Department of Social Services.

MARK A. WARONEK

Mark A. Waronek has over 30+ years of experience in government and community relations, and public affairs.  Mark is the owner and President/CEO of M&M Consulting Group – a business he started in March 2019.  Mark previously worked at one of the largest public affairs firms in Los Angeles County, Ek, Sunkin & Bai, servicing clients all over Los Angeles County, specializing in all cities outside the City of Los Angeles.  Mark worked for Los Angles County Supervisor Janice Hahn as her South Bay Senior Deputy (2016-2018) working in all the cities in the South Bay from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Marina del Rey.  Mark currently is a Councilman in the City of Lomita – he recently served as Mayor in 2020-21 and in 2016-17.  He also served on the council from 2003-07, and as Mayor from 2006-07.  He is involved in many organizations and associations in the South Bay and the Los Angeles County region.  He is currently the past President for the California Contract Cities Association and President of the South Association of Chambers of Commerce, and is a member on the CAL Cities Transportation, Communications Public Works Policy Committee and many other regional organizations/associations.  Previously, he worked for Ek & Ek, a public affairs company, out of the San Pedro office for seven years – 2010-16.  He was the Principal and Owner of Waronek & Associates, a consulting firm he started in April 2005, after several years as an associate and project manager for three top advocacy and public affairs consulting firms in Los Angeles.

He was the Director of Government and Public Affairs for Olivito and Associates as a representative for two associations: the California Contract Cities Association and the Western Carwash Association. He also was the Director of Government Affairs for Svorinich & Associates, Inc., and interfaced directly with the Los Angeles City Council, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles Unified School District and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).  Mark has fostered relationships with most of the 88 cities within Los Angeles County.

Prior to rejoining forces with former Councilman Rudy Svorinich, Jr., Mark was employed by Joe Cerrell, Chairman of Cerrell Associates. While at Cerrell Associates, his focus was on resolving client issues and numerous public relations projects within the greater Los Angeles region. Previous to Cerrell Associates, Mark was a key figure within the Afriat Consulting Group for three years.  He managed several initiatives and issues including advocacy/lobbying, public affairs, political campaigns and communications, fundraising, and special events.

As a public servant, he served the City of Los Angeles and specifically the five diverse communities (Harbor City/Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, and Wilmington) of the 15^th Council District as Economic Development Deputy to Councilman Rudy Svorinich, Jr.

Mark Waronek graduated with a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Communication Studies from Loyola Marymount University and currently resides in the city of Lomita with his wife, Kristine (married for almost 28 years), and two children, Madeline, 26 years, and Marky, 22 years old.  He enjoys spending time with his family and traveling with family and friends.  He has coached his kids’ athletic teams.  He also has a taste for fine wines and on his spare time he is the public address announcer for football and basketball games at his high school alma mater, Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance.  He has been the “Voice” of Bishop Montgomery for 35 years.   He also occasionally does voice-overs professionally.

VIGGO BUTLER

Viggo Butler brings many successful years of experience as an airport executive, where he was President of Lockheed Air Terminal, Inc. and Corporate Vice President of Lockheed Corporation. He was formerly Chairman of United Airports, Limited, Inc., a privately held company specializing in privatization of businesses and airport operations and security.  He also previously he held the position of Chairman of Avicom International.

He is known internationally for his expertise in privatization of government enterprises, international financing transactions, airport operations, security, finance, and airline services. Mr. Butler has testified before the U.S. Congress and British Parliament, and has spoken at forums around the world, including the World Economic Forum.

Also active in the community, he serves on the Boards of Pepperdine University, the Business Advisory of the Reason Foundation, and formerly on the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Butler was honored as the distinguished graduate of the Pepperdine Business School as well as California Polytechnic University. He earned his undergraduate BA in Business from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, and his MBA at Pepperdine University.

E. SCOTT PALMER

Scott Palmer is an experienced business litigator and a founder of Palmer Hunter & Hall, Attorneys at Law. Previously, he was a partner with the law firms of Keesal, Young & Logan and Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue. Mr. Palmer has received Martindale Hubbel’s AV rating, a testament to the fact that his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has also been identified as a Southern California Super Lawyer every year since 2009.

Mr. Palmer was appointed to the Quality and Productivity Commission by the Board of Supervisors on October 30, 2018, as an appointee of Supervisor Kathryn Barger. He also serves as a board member of the National Museum of the Surface Navy which operates the USS IOWA in the port of Los Angeles.

Mr. Palmer is a graduate of the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley (B.S.), and the Gould School of Law at the University of Southern California (J.D.).

NICHELLE HENDERSON

Nichelle Henderson is an educator and union activist committed to grassroots capacity-building around the issues of education, labor and women’s rights. She is an alumnus of California State University, Los Angeles, where she is employed as a Lecturer with the Cal State Teach teacher preparation program and a member of the California Faculty Association - Los Angeles Chapter Executive Board and Statewide Representation Committee. Nichelle was born and raised in Los Angeles County. She is very active in local politics; holding the position of 1st Vice President of the Los Angeles African American Women’s Political Action Committee (LAAAWPAC) and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

BARRY DONELAN

Barry serves as Assistant Executive Director of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS).  Prior to joining ALADS in 2024, Barry served 26 years with the Oakland Police Department, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant of Police.  During his time as an Oakland Police Officer, he had various assignments including in the Patrol Division, Traffic Division, and Criminal Investigation Division.  

During his law enforcement service, Barry was appointed for three terms - 9 years - by two Governors to the state's Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST).  That Commission oversaw training standards for law enforcement statewide.  Barry is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley.  

 

RODNEY C. GIBSON, Ph.D.

EDUCATION

University of California, Los Angeles - Ph.D. - Electrical Engineering

University of California, Los Angeles – M.S - Electrical Engineering

University of California, Davis, B.S. - Electrical Engineering

Other - Defense Systems Management College Course for Industry, Brookings Institute Course on Public Policy for Acquisition Professionals, Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, and Edward Deming’s Course on Total Quality Management.

MILITARY - Captain U.S. Army, serving in the U.S. and Vietnam

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Consultant for Vanguard Research, working for the Missile Defense Agency

Consultant for the development and application of commercial satellites for DoD

Extensive experience with The Aerospace Corporation, retiring after 32 years as Senior Vice President of System Planning and Engineering.

- Requirement definition, planning, development, production, test, launch, and deployment of many DoD developed satellite systems

- Independent reviews and technical assessments of these satellite systems January 2011

DION RAMBO

Dion Rambo is well known in Los Angeles as a creative and strategic problem solver. He is the founder and CEO of Rambo House, a full-service marketing firm. His expertise includes public relations, event and media coordination, advertising, branding, and social media marketing.

Mr. Rambo is also the founder and CEO of TeleHealth Vans, a company he created during the pandemic to solve the problem of lack of access to ongoing mental health services in underserved communities of Los Angeles. TeleHealth Vans has facilitated more than 10,000 telehealth visits with mental health therapists for L.A.’s low-income community. TeleHealth Vans has also been recognized by the U.S. military and provides telehealth services to Afghani refugees being housed at three military bases.

In 2022, Mr. Rambo was selected to participate in Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, a program that enlists business executives and expert entrepreneurs to work with the City to strengthen L.A.’s economy. Mr. Rambo’s efforts will be focused on developing additional resources to help minority entrepreneurs to successfully win contracts with the City.

Working with the City and County of Los Angeles as an inclusion strategist, Mr. Rambo was instrumental in the development of ongoing workshops, seminars and websites designed to help entrepreneurs gain access to capital through contracts, including:

- Accessing LA Expo, Los Angeles Board of Commissions

- Access to Capital Expo, City of Los Angeles Office of Economic Development

- Leveraging Women Owned Businesses, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering

- Building LA Today, City of Los Angeles

Awards and Recognition:

- Walmart Community Playmaker Award, 2018, an award that recognizes members in the community who are dedicated to improving the lives of others and being a force for good.

- Certificate of Appreciation, Mayor Eric Garcetti

- Exceptional Community Service Award, Board of Public Works.

- Certificates of Appreciation, Department of Children and Family Services

Mr. Rambo also owns a successful import business based in Inglewood. He has provided funding to support STEAM programs in five Inglewood elementary schools.

Mr. Rambo was born and raised in South Los Angeles. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Food Bank of Southern California. He is a member of the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Ad Hoc Business Advisory Committee.

HUASHA L. LIU

Ms. Huasha Liu is the Director of the Land Use and Environmental Planning at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). SCAG is the nation’s largest Metropolitan Planning Organization representing six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura) and 191 cities with over 18 million residents.

As part of the executive management at SCAG, Ms. Liu oversees numerous activities that are key to success of regional and local planning. She oversees the compliance with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations including transportation/air quality conformity, environmental justice, affordable housing (RHNA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and climate change (AB 32 and SB 375). She oversees the Sustainability Program that fosters livable communities and healthier environment while promoting economic well-being. The Sustainability Program covers the Compass Blueprint Program, Green Region initiative, and Active Transportation. Other major activities under Ms. Liu’s responsibilities include performance monitoring, socio-economic growth forecast, development of new tools to quantify progress of the region, Local Profiles Reports for each local jurisdictions, Research and Analyses, data/GIS technical services to members, and the State of the Region Report to assess the region’s progress.

Ms. Liu has over twenty years of experience in land use, transportation, housing, and environmental planning and related fields. Ms. Liu has over ten years of management experience. Prior to joining SCAG, Ms. Liu worked for over ten years at the South Coast Air Quality Management District. In addition, Ms. Liu has substantial planning experience in China focusing on regional collaboration and public policy for economic development on the Pacific Rim.

In 2004, Ms. Liu was appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to serve on the county’s Quality and Productivity Commission. The role of the commission is to advise the board, oversee policies, and support the implementation of programs that enhance the quality and productivity of County services.

Ms. Liu earned her Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Nanjing University, China. She earned her Master’s degree in Urban and Transportation Planning from the School of Policy, Planning, and Development at University of Southern California.

EDWARD McINTYRE

Edward McIntyre holds two degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, a BS from the School of Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the Wharton School. The first twenty-plus years of his career were spent with a major energy company in the areas of engineering, finance, accounting, marketing and general management.

Following that he held financial and management positions in health care, education and services, specializing in dealing with troubled companies.

Most recently he served as President of Pedus Service, Inc., a provider of janitorial, security and food services to industry and government.

Prior to joining the Quality and Productivity Commission in 2011, Mr. McIntyre served as a member of the Economy and Efficiency Commission and was Foreman of the 2009-2010 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury.

WILL WRIGHT, Hon. AIA|LA

Will Wright currently serves as the Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA). As Los Angeles' chief advocate for better architecture and urban design, he helps bring together design thinkers and civic leaders to solve problems and set priorities.

With more than a dozen years of experience advocating for a healthier, more beautiful and better functioning city, he is responsible for a variety of roles including connecting architects and designers with civic leaders to help shape public policy and provide critical input on project delivery methods, procurement best-practices, infrastructure investments and environmental performance.

Mr. Wright currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) as a Vice-Chair of the Transportation Committee. Previously, he served as the Vice Chair of BizFed’s Planning and Land-Use Committee. In 2013, Mr. Wright became a founding Board Member of the non-profit From Lot To Spot, which helps underserved communities transform vacant lots into parks and open space. He also currently serves as a public board member of the BOMA-LA Political Action Committee.

Mr. Wright has a BFA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and a Masters in Fine Arts from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.