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Patricia Lock Dawson
Mayor at City of RiversideABOUT THE MAYOR
Patricia Lock Dawson is a Riverside native and small business owner. She was elected Riverside’s 18th mayor in 2020. Mayor Lock Dawson is the first UC Riverside graduate and second woman to be elected to Riverside’s only citywide office in its 150-year history. She has an extensive record of service to Riverside, the Inland Southern California region, and the state. Having served two political appointments under two gubernatorial administrations alongside serving in every level of government prior to being Mayor of Riverside.
As an environmental scientist and wildlife biologist by training, Mayor Lock Dawson was instrumental in passing legislation to secure tens of millions of dollars in state and federal funds for regional conservation, habitat, and infrastructure projects. She is well-known across the state as a champion of the Santa Ana River—the namesake of the City of Riverside.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Mayor Lock Dawson continues to fundraise and support community projects such as the Youth jobs Corps, Riverside Military Wall of Honor, and Beautify Riverside. Mayor Lock Dawson secured $4.4 million in funding for the Youth Job Corps to help youth across the state face pressing challenges; launched a remarkable, localized fundraising effort of $200,000 to revitalize the Riverside Military Wall of Honor; and strongly advocates for a cleaner community through the promotion and continued dedication to the Beautify Riverside project.
To work towards common sense solutions that address homelessness and the visible mental health challenges that many times accompany it, Mayor Lock Dawson advocated for various state bills to combat the plethora of challenges we see on our streets every day. One of those bills – Care Court – was signed into law by Governor Newsom after significant advocating and personal lobbying efforts by the mayor. Care Court empowers family members, first responders, and behavioral health providers with an avenue to petition a civil court on behalf of a loved one or community member that is incapable of caring for themselves.
AWARDS
As an accomplished, respected leader in the community, Mayor Lock Dawson has achieved numerous awards and accolades throughout her career as a public servant. One of the most notable awards she has received is the Art Pick Distinguished Leader Award from the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.
Dr. Angelo Farooq
Chairman at California Workforce Development BoardDr. Angelo Farooq is appointed as the Chairman of the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) under Governor Newsom administration. CWDB develops a common policy framework for the +$6 billion statewide workforce system that is the largest in the country. He is appointed by CA Treasurer Fiona Ma as co-chair of her Housing, Economic Development, Job Creation Advisory Council and appointed by Controller Betty Yee on her Council of Economic Advisors. Angelov is an entrepreneur in sustainable development. He is elected on the Board or Education for Riverside Unified School District. Angelov earned his Bachelor’s Degree from UC Berkeley, Executive Master and Doctorate of Policy, Planning & Development degrees from the University of Southern California.
Ted Alejandre
County Superintendent at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS)San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ Ted Alejandre began his four-year term as the county’s 34th superintendent after being elected to office in June 2014. He ran for the county’s lead educational seat unopposed in 2018 and began his second four-year term in January 2019.
With more than three decades of experience in public education, Mr. Alejandre has served in several positions at the school site and district levels including assistant superintendent of Business Services in the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District. He joined County Schools in 2008 as the assistant superintendent of Business Services, and later was appointed deputy superintendent, overseeing all operations of the organization.
As county superintendent, Mr. Alejandre works collaboratively with educators, families, other agencies and stakeholders to provide advocacy, leadership and services for and on behalf of more than 406,000 K-12 students attending public schools in San Bernardino County.
Mr. Alejandre is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel serving since 1984. He received his associate degree in Administrative Management from the Community College of the Air Force, his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and master’s in Educational Administration from Cal State University, San Bernardino.
Edwin Gomez, Ed.D.
Riverside County Superintendent of Schools at Riverside County Office of EducationThe elected Riverside County Superintendent of Schools serves as both the chief executive officer of the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) and the Superintendent of Schools for the county’s preschool through 12th grade segment of that system—the 4th largest in California.
The County Superintendent leads the team of extraordinary employees at the RCOE in working with each of the county’s 430,000 students, almost 18,000 classrooms, 500 schools and 23 school districts to help ensure all students receive a high quality education, graduating from high school academically and socially prepared for college, the workplace, and civic responsibility.
The County Superintendent and staff work to ensure each school district remains in solid financial condition. They advocate at the local, state and national levels for effective public education policy on behalf of the students, families, schools and school districts in the county. And they move forward sound, timely and effective education initiatives at the county level to help ensure all students are well prepared for the future.
Dr. Edwin Gomez serves as the 13th Riverside County Superintendent of Schools.
In his role, Dr. Gomez works with the county’s 23 school districts and the staff at the Riverside County Office of Education to ensure high quality education that invests in all students while developing and sustaining strong collaborative relationships with students, teachers, parents, and the community for student success.
Dr. Gomez began his educational career teaching in grades K-8. He has served as a principal in various social-economical communities, led a school out of program improvement status, subsequently resulting in nomination for a National Blue Ribbon Award. Dr. Gomez has been a district Chief Academic Officer and served as a District Superintendent for Adelanto Elementary School District and Coachella Valley Unified School District.
Prior to his appointment as the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez served as the Riverside County Deputy Superintendent of Schools and as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Riverside County Office of Education, overseeing the day-to-day operations and coordinating the legislative link between the County Office and state and federal government officials.
Dr. Gomez earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Studies from Pitzer College, his multiple subject teaching credential from the University of Redlands, and Masters of Arts and Doctorate degrees from the California State University, San Bernardino.
Edward Ornelas, Jr.
President/CEO of Inland Empire Regional Chamber of CommerceTo learn about membership engagement opportunities with the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce schedule a call with Edward directly at https://calendly.com/edwardornelasjr/meeting
Connect with Edward on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardornelasjr/
Connie Leyva
Executive Director of KVCR & FNXConnie Leyva is currently the Executive Director at KVCR Public Radio and Television. KVCR is located on the campus of San Bernardino Valley College serving the Inland Empire on Channel 24 and FM 91.9. She oversees all aspects of KVCR including increasing community and student engagement, raising money and content.
Prior to joining KVCR in December of 2022, Leyva was the Senator serving the 20th Senate District in the Inland Empire from 2014 to 2022 representing almost a million constituents. During her tenue in the California State Senate, Senator Leyva was the chair of the Democratic Caucus, chair of Senate Education Committee and chair of the Mobile and Manufactured Homes Select Committee, as well as serving on numerous other key committees. She authored more than 50 bills signed into law including landmark legislation on statute of limitation on sexual assault and Clean Truck Heavy-Duty Registration.
Leyva has always had a heart for people and the communities they live in, she went to work for UFCW Local 1428 in 1994 and helped workers find their voice on the job. Starting in the benefits department and ultimately becoming the first woman president of that local. From 2004-2014 while serving as president she was also the first woman president of the California Labor Federation representing over 2.1 million workers though out California.
Leyva lives in Chino with her husband Al where they raised their twin daughters who are grown and have their own families.
Randy Barth
CEO of Think TogetherRandy Barth is the Founder and CEO of THINK Together and the Executive Chairman of Orenda Education (formerly Principal's Exchange). THINK Together is a nonprofit organization that partners with schools to change the odds for underserved students. They provide Early Learning Programs for 0-5 year old's and Expanded Learning Programs for students K-12. THINK Together serves more than 200,000 students across more than 600 programs at more than 50 school districts, and 50 charter schools statewide in California.
Orenda Education is a benefit corporation (B-Corp) that for more than 20 years has provided systems change for schools and school districts to drive performance in student achievement. Using its Response to Intervention for Systems (RtI4S) methodology, a research-validated school and district-strengthening model, Orenda provides professional development and coaching for teachers and administrators and develops software tools that enable the use of data to help drive performance. Some of the top performing low-income schools and school district's in California are Orenda schools & districts.
Before embarking on his work as an educational entrepreneur, Randy had a successful business career for more than twenty years, first as an investment advisor with various major Wall Street firms (E.F. Hutton, Drexel Burnham, Smith Barney) and later as a corporate CEO (National Management). Randy holds a B.A. in Economics from UCLA and did graduate work at the Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University. Along with former LA Times reporter Jennifer Delson, he is the co-author of the best selling book "Think Together: How YOU can play a role in improving education in America." Randy serves on several boards and as a Senior Fellow at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Cathy Paredes
SVP, Inland Empire Market Executive at Bank of AmericaAs the Inland Empire Market Executive for Bank of America, Cathy is responsible for implementing the Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy that drives employee engagement and leverages community partnerships to realize brand favorability and revenue growth in the region.
Cathy joined Bank of America in 2010. In her role, she works with the market’s leadership teams – including executives from all Enterprise businesses – and her national business partners to deliver the bank’s brand in the two-county area of Riverside and San Bernardino in California. She is responsible for strategic local delivery of the bank’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, strategic community engagement, charitable giving and sponsorship activities.
Cathy serves on the board of the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council and is a trustee for the Riverside Art Museum. She is a member of the Inland Empire Funder’s Alliance and Women United of Arrowhead United Way. She is the current chair of the Business Education Partnership Council of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.
Charles Henkels
Executive Director of LAUNCH Apprenticeship NetworkCharles has over 20 years of experience in the field of education and workforce development and has spent his career focused on developing and expanding registered apprenticeship opportunities for students, workers and job seekers. After observing how individuals could learn more efficiently when combining their education with meaningful work experience, and witnessing the national student debt approach $1.5 trillion, in 2016, Charles began building new partnerships within the education system to support the expansion of “earn-and-learn” models that keep students out of debt while developing the highest valued skills needed in our changing economy. In 2018, he began leading the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network, which focuses on integrating apprenticeship pathways into the K-14 and university system. LAUNCH has provided new opportunities for businesses to collaborate dynamically with their colleges and high schools using the apprenticeship model. Charles supports the California Apprenticeship Initiative broadly through statewide work, as well, and he was appointed by the California Secretary of Labor to serve as a public commissioner on the California’s interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship.