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American Society for 
Public Administration 
Southern California 
Chapter 
 
October 2014 Newsletter

66th Annual Awards Luncheon Recap

On June 25, 2014, over 100 Southern California ASPA members and friends including government and nonprofit administrators, scholars, educators, and students gathered at the California Endowment in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the 66th Annual Awards Banquet and Installation event.

 

Rod Gould, City Manager of City of Santa Monica served as the Master of Ceremony of the annual event recognizing individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact in the field of public administration in both the professional and academic realms. The Chapter Council members as well as the past Chapter Presidents were also acknowledged for their continued support and commitment to advancement of the art, science, teaching and practice of public and non-profit administration through various programs and services facilitated by the organization.

For a complete list of the 2014 awardees and full photo album from the event, please visit our website.
Congratulations to the 66th Annual Award Recipients!

SAVE THE DATE 
for the 67th Annual Awards Banquet -
Thursday, June 18, 2015 at the California Endowment
FEATURE ARTICLE
Why student-professional dinners?
Hear one member share her story of why you should attend Southern California ASPA's next student-professional dinner.


 

 
by 
Megan Schmidt-Weymans
  


 

In August of 2013 I began the Masters of Public Administration program at the University of La Verne.  At that time  Mrs. Claude Bahouth introduced me to the idea and benefits of attending student-professional dinner events hosted by ASPA Southern California Chapter. Throughout my course work, my professors would mention the various events the Chapter hosts in the region, and encourage students to attend. Since then, I attended two ASPA Student-Professional Network dinners and an ASPA awards luncheon. These events have allowed me the opportunity to mingle with professionals that I would not have otherwise been able to meet or speak to in such close quarters. These dinners gave opportunity to myself and many other students alike to learn from these professionals' ways to grow while on the path to a career in the public sector.


 

At the first dinner I attended, each of the guests that were not students of the university were asked to mix with the students at the dinner tables. I was lucky enough to sit at the same table with Mr. Terry Ford, LA County Assistant Chief Financial Aid Officer of Public Health. He spoke with the students at the table during the presentation and subsequent discussions.  At the end of the night he left his contact information for each of the students as a professional resource. As he walked away he told me, "I expect to see you, you're going to do great things," a statement I will remind myself of at each step I take in my career.  It was a small pat on the back from a professional I may have never had the chance to speak to on such a casual level, and to receive such encouragement meant a lot to me. Mr. Ford is only one of the many professionals that I have been able to meet, speak, and create a network with because of the ASPA Student-Professional Networking dinners. ASPA has helped me to create a network I never thought possible to engage with because I am a student. Student-Professional dinners give students the opportunity to think of themselves as a professional in progress. ASPA has given me that opportunity, what are you waiting for? 


 

 
* * * 


 

Megan Schmidt-Weymans is a Masters of Public Administration student at the University of La Verne. She currently works for the Department of Defense at the Defense Contract Management Agency in Santa Ana, CA as a Pathways Student Trainee (Administration and Office Support). Megan has a Bachelors degree in Political Science with a minor in Speech Communications from the University of La Verne.


 

Take Megan's Advice

and plan to attend a student-professional this year!
To learn more about upcoming events, visit http://www.socalaspa.org/apps/calendar/.
 
PAST EVENTS
February 18, 2014 
USC Bedrosian Center/ASPA Spring mixer
In partnership with the USC Price Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public Enterprise, SoCal ASPA co-sponsored an evening reception at USC that focused on Women in Public Administration with Geraldine Knatz, former executive director of the Port of Los Angeles and Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports.

The reception featured hors d'oeuvres, beverages and the opportunity to mingle and network with two outstanding female leaders in Public Administration, USC faculty and students.  The event was structured to offer a casual and intimate setting that allowed for attendees to approach both Ms. Knatz and Ms. Lindsey more easily.  During the mixer, both speakers shared their career paths, highlighting challenges and opportunities, and the importance of strong professional network that not only offer career opportunities, but also functions as a strong professional support system.  
April 10, 2014 
ULV/ASPA Student-Professional Networking Dinner 

The April 10, 2014 Student-Professional Networking Dinner was presented by the Southern California Chapter of ASPA in partnership with the University of La Verne's College of Business and Public Management. The event brought together students, professionals, and academics in the field of public administration to share the evening

with former Riverside Mayor, Dr.

Ronald Loveridge. After dinner and networking, attendants were able to learn insightful lessons from Dr. Loveridge's 33 years of public service. Of special interest was Dr. Loveridge's perspective on realizing effective city governance. His views have been shaped through his experience as an elected official and the successful intersection with his own research on urban politics and public policy.

 








by Adrian Velazquez, So Cal ASPA Council Member & Assistant Professor at ULV 
MEET THE 2014-15 COUNCIL 
The Chapter Council is the governing body for the Southern California Chapter of ASPA. It is made up of public administration professionals, academics and students who serve in a volunteer capacity for a two-year term. The Chapter Council leads and guides the Chapter's efforts throughout the year, and members have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and increase their network for strategic relationship building and information sharing through interactions with practitioners, academics and students in the field of public administration throughout Southern California.
 
Please welcome the new members who joined 
the Chapter Council in July 2014:
  • Hugo Asencio, Assistant Professor, CSU Dominguez Hills
  • Stephen Harding, Consultant Kosmont Companies
  • Brandon Mims, Human Services Director,  City of San Bernardino
  • Borris Ricks, Associate Professor, CSU Northridge
To see a complete list of the 2013-2014 Chapter Council, 
please visit our website.
 
Christie Bautista, President (2014-2016)

Christie serves as an Environmental Scientist for the California Environmental Protection Agency Department of Toxic Substances Control. She has specialized in environmental policy for the past 16 years with experience in private industry, local government and state government.  One of her favorite duties is providing classroom instruction to regulators throughout the state on principles of environmental inspection and enforcement.  Christie joined ASPA because of her passion for public service and helping others advance in their goals as government professionals.  She obtained a Bachelor of Environmental and Occupational Health, and a Master of Public Administration from California State University Northridge.  Currently, she is a Doctoral candidate of Public Administration at the University of La Verne.  For leisure Christie is a group fitness instructor in the Los Angeles area and enjoys taking up new challenges. 

 

E-mail [email protected]

In This Issue
Feature Member Article
Past Events Recap
Meet the 2014-2015 Council
Upcoming Events

 

UPCOMING 

EVENTS

 

Student-Professional Dinner in Burbank at the Ovrom's 


 

Monday, October 20th, 2014

6 pm - 9 pm

Registration is now Closed 

Location:
Burbank, CA 

Guest Speaker
Mark Scott, City Manager, City of Burbank
Jeff Kolin, City Manager, City of Beverly Hills

....


 

California State University Dominguez Hills 

Student/Professional Event


 

Thursday, November 13, 2014

6:00-8:00 p.m.

Registration Open Soon

Location:
Cal State University, Dominguez Hills

Guest Speakers:
Lisa Garrett, Director of Personal Department of     Human Resources, Los Angeles County
Ed Newcomer, Deputy Resident Agent in Charge, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement
 

.... 

 

California State University Fullerton

Student/Professional Event


 

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

 

 

Location:

Alumni House

 

 

Guest Speakers:
TBD
 

.... 


 

ASPA Southern California Chapter 67th Annual Awards Banquet & Installation Event
 

Thursday, June 18, 2015


 

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
Registration Open in 2015

Location:
The California Endowment

 

 

We would like to hear from you!

 

The ASPA Southern California Chapter Council is planning additional panel discussions and student/professional networking events. If you have suggestions for issues you would like to see explored in a panel discussion, are interested in hosting a student professional dinner, or in getting more information about any of our events and our chapter, 
please e-mail [email protected]

 

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Thoughts or comments on our newsletter? 

We'd like to hear your thoughts on future topics, areas for improvement, etc.  
Please contact our editor, 
Euria Chung, Vice President
of Marketing & Communications, at
[email protected]

ASPA- Southern California Chapter