LeadershipBurbank

1. Please list your current employer/occupation, your class year, the name of your class project and your role in making the project happen.

Burbank Community YMCA. Class of 2009. Courthouse Mural: Shaping a Child’s View of Justice. I helped produce the accompanying video of our project process.

2. What has been your career path since completing LB? Special or noteworthy accomplishments?

LB helped launch my career in a fundamental way. I always had some leadership chops, but not nearly enough confidence. I decided to leave the faith-based sector for a career in nonprofit management. That career move led to continuous advancement in operations and eventually to the CEO seat for our local YMCA.

3. How has LB helped in other areas of your life?

LB has connected me to other leaders who are also trying to solve really challenging community issues, many of whom I now call friends. It has inspired me to work together in partnerships and collaborations designed to build a better Burbank for everyone.

4. Was there anything you picked up in LB that might have helped you in dealing with the pandemic?

The relationships that I have built over the years with other leaders were critical when things got difficult. I needed everyone in my network: healthcare leaders, school leaders, nonprofit leaders, faith leaders, small businesses leaders, large business leaders, city government leaders, and county government leaders. LB prepared me to be on “team community” to help move society forward.

5. What are your hopes for future classes of LB and how they may continue to impact the community?

My hope for future classes is that participants will come to sharpen their exact brand of leadership so that when an opportunity or need presents itself, they will be ready.

1.     Please list your current employer/occupation, your class year, the name of your class project and your role in making the project happen.

City of Burbank Fire Department/Fire Chief, Class of 2013, “31 Violins” was the name of our project and the goal was to provide the musical instruments to the BUSD to help the district’s music program. There was a funding gap identified for the purchase of necessary instruments to sustain the music program. The LB Class of 2013 was able to research, plan, fund raise and procure the violin instruments to help the district’s music program maintain the instruction for their students.

2.     What has been your career path since completing LB? Special or noteworthy accomplishments?
I began the LB program upon promoting to the Battalion Chiefs (Command Staff) position and have since been appointed to the Assistant Chiefs position and ultimately was appointed to the Fire Chief’s position in 2018.

3.     How has LB helped in other areas of your life?
LB has helped to reinforce the power of unity.  Be it my personal or professional life, my LB experience has demonstrated that a team-first attitude and purpose can be the conduit of positive outcomes.

4.     Was there anything you picked up in LB that might have helped you in dealing with the pandemic?
One of the biggest benefits of the LB experience is the networking and relationships that are established.  I have had multiple incidents and challenges, the pandemic included, where the LB relationships I developed directly aided in creating sound solutions for our community.

5.     What are your hopes for future classes of LB and how they may continue to impact the community?
The LB program is a place where like-minded members of our community share an enriching environment that fosters the virtues of service and leadership.  My hope would be that the LB program continues to connect and develop the future leaders of our community through service.

1.     Please list your current employer/occupation, your class year, the name of your class project and your role in making the project happen.

• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory / IT Financial Manager
• 2018
• Kids’ Community Dental Clinic; construction support

2.     What has been your career path since completing LB? Special or noteworthy accomplishments?
I transitioned from working as an individual contributor to a management position. I served on the Burbank Water and Power Board and the Leadership Burbank Board.

3.     How has LB helped in other areas of your life?
The discussion on values happened at the right time in my life, and now I lean on my values during all of my decision making.

4.     Was there anything you picked up in LB that might have helped you in dealing with the pandemic?
Yes. LB provided a safe space for me to experiment with being in the background—as I intentionally refused a leadership role during the class project—because I have to learn that I don’t always have to lead or try and save the day. I certainly can’t singlehandedly end a pandemic, and LB marked the start of my journey to live with the discomfort of lacking control.

5.     What are your hopes for future classes of LB and how they may continue to impact the community?
I hope future classes of LB will take the time to go through the LB coursework because there’s a lot of opportunity for growth for folks that are able to be present. Furthermore, the class that is aware or in the moment, will have no trouble identifying areas for improvement in our community.

1. Please list your current employer/occupation, your class year, the name of your class project and your role in making the project happen. I am the City Attorney of Burbank and was a member of the best LB class ever – 2013.  Our project was “31 Violins” where we provided violins instruments to a local elementary school class, as well as donating $10,000 to another elementary school as seed/matching money to start a music program.  I was part of the fundraising committee.
2. What has been your career path since completing LB? My career has remained the same.   Special or noteworthy accomplishments?  I was part of the City team that worked on educating the community about the City’s financial future culminating in the voters passing 2 revenue measures in 2018. I also helped lead the City team who negotiated a Development Agreement for the Airport to receive entitlements for a replacement terminal project, which was approved by the voters in 2016.  I believe my participation in LB assisted me in these projects in part because of my enhanced understanding of Burbank.
3. How has LB helped in other areas of your life? I have made lifelong friends with some of my classmates, who still get together on a regular basis.  Also, the knowledge I learned about our non-profits has influenced my continuing support of these amazing programs.
4. Was there anything you picked up in LB that might have helped you in dealing with the pandemic?  Definitely ethos of leadership, which was sorely tested during the pandemic. 
5. What are your hopes for future classes of LB and how they may continue to impact the community? I hope future classes truly learn about Burbank, as I did, and their projects have a lasting impact.  I know many classes choose brick and mortar type of projects.  I advocate future classes move beyond bricks, and consider something more like the 31 violins project to enhance the quality of life of certain segments of our community.  

1. Please list your current employer/occupation, your class year, the name of your class project and your role in making the project happen.

a. I am the superintendent of the Burbank Unified School District. LB Class 2019. Our class project was Burbank Babies. We raised funds and renovated the YMCA child care center so that they could serve more children. I was a member of the fundraising team.

2. What has been your career path since completing LB? Special or noteworthy accomplishments?

a. I have continued to serve as the superintendent of BUSD (finishing my 6^th year).

3. How has LB helped in other areas of your life?

a. Leadership Burbank provided me with a deeper understanding of the Burbank community. I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to receive a behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the City. I also appreciated the opportunity to reflect on my leadership style and form new friendships.

4. Was there anything you picked up in LB that might have helped you in dealing with the pandemic?

a. LB taught me the power of partnerships and learning from leaders. Throughout the pandemic, BUSD has had to become more innovative and adaptive. Our partnerships with the City, businesses, and non-profit community have allowed us to navigate this very challenging year. Examples include the City/BUSD partnership to vaccinate city employees and BUSD employees, our partnership with MOCEAN last year to create virtual graduations, and our ongoing partnerships with non-profits to serve students.  

5. What are your hopes for future classes of LB and how they may continue to impact the community?

a. As we emerge out of this pandemic, I am excited to hear about the planning for next year’s class. Leadership Burbank has the opportunity to be innovative as it develops and connects leaders within Burbank. Now more than ever it is important to create those opportunities. 

1.       Please list your current employer/occupation, your class year, the name of your class project and your role in making the project happen.

I am currently the Executive Director of the Open Hearts Foundation, a non-profit Co-Founded by award winning actress and philanthropist, Jane Seymour. The Foundation fulfills its mission by providing grants to emerging charities serving women and children and engaging volunteers to find purpose in alignment with the Open Hearts Philosophy.

I am a proud member of LB13 and grateful to The Walt Disney Company, who sponsored my participation. Our class project was “31 Violins,” where we raised funds to provide violins and music stands to elementary music programs in two of Burbank Unified School District’s elementary schools. My role was on the Finance team of the class project and I may have also jumped in to help sell more raffle tickets during our fundraising event at the Flappers Comedy Club. 🙂 Our collective fundraising efforts were so successful that we were able to deliver the 31 violins and donate more than $10,000 to a third elementary school and help them begin their music program. It was a team effort!

2.       What has been your career path since completing LB? Special or noteworthy accomplishments?

In 2012, I was a new Director of Development at Burbank Arts for All Foundation (now Burbank Arts and Education Foundation), where I had the honor of serving their mission for over eight years. In 2014, I was promoted to Executive Director of the Foundation and, together, with the Board, my small staff, the school district, and an incredible community of donors and volunteers, we supported Burbank Unified’s Arts for All plan that impacted thousands of children each school year. I also had the honor of being recognized as a Woman Achiever in 2015 by Business Life Magazine and named Citizen of the Year in 2016 by the Burbank Association of Realtors. In 2019, Burbank Arts for All Foundation was recognized in Sacramento as the 43rd Assembly District’s 2019 Nonprofit of the Year by State Assemblymember, Laura Friedman and received the Partners in Education Award from the Association of California School Administrators Region XV.

3.       How has LB helped in other areas of your life?

Leadership Burbank was a critical step in my career and professional development. I gained invaluable friends and colleagues that continue today. I am very grateful for those relationships. Believe it or not, I still look at my core values and beliefs, as well as my 10 year plan. One of my goals that I wrote in 2013 was to “celebrate 50 with style.” I turn 50 this year, so I guess I better define what I meant by “style.” 🙂  

4.       Was there anything you picked up in LB that might have helped you in dealing with the pandemic?

The pandemic tested every community worldwide. Leadership Burbank helped me understand the community of Burbank and the collaboration of its local government, residents, businesses, schools, and the Burbank non-profit community. That collaboration and intentional purpose of building great communities as leaders has helped me stay proactive and positive during the chaos of the pandemic. We are all in this together.

5.       What are your hopes for future classes of LB and how they may continue to impact the community?

I hope future classes and the alumni of Leadership Burbank find inspiration to get involved in their community through service. Leadership matters every day, but in times of great challenge, it becomes paramount. I hope everyone involved with LB takes advantage of the leadership training and activates what makes sense for their life. Whether it is volunteering at a place of worship, jumping in to help a local nonprofit, or serving as a member on a City commission, as leaders, all of us can do something to help the greater good.