Board of Directors

Kenn has a Bachelors of Science (BS) degree in Psychology from California State University Northridge (CSUN) with a minor in Math. Kenn is a strategic and tactical business and community advocate with more than 35 years of experience successfully building consensus through a diverse partnership of business, government, community and education.

As President/CEO of the Valley Economic Alliance, Kenn was responsible for fund raising, strategy and management, including all tasks to pursue the organization’s mission, vision, and strategy, as well as maintaining its financial success. His efforts resulted in the successful execution of programs throughout the 5-city regions of Burbank, Calabasas, Glendale, Los Angeles and San Fernando. Examples of these successful programs include the Valley Accelerator and the Women’s Collaborative mentoring programs.

Kenn has 30 years of experience in property management, is a licensed California Real Estate Agent and a licensed California tax preparer volunteer for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Dr. Maltese has a PhD from the University of California Riverside and post doctorate training at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She is the co-founder and President/CEO of the Child Development Institute (CDI), a non-profit organization whose mission is to help all children reach their full potential by supporting the relationships and environments that shape early development.

Dr. Maltese is a clinical psychologist with more than 40 years of experience working with high-risk infants, toddlers, and their families. She has been on the faculty of the Early Childhood Education Graduate Program at California State University, Northridge and has developed a wide range of training curiculae in early brain development and family mental health.

She is one of the people responsible for the vision and oversight of CDI’s Early Learning Centers in Canoga Park and Reseda, a volunteer-run, nature-based drop-in center for children and families to play, grow, and learn about child development.

Ariel is a licensed Architect. He graduated from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona with a Bachelor of Architecture and obtained a Masters Degree in Christian Education from Azusa Pacific University. He is currently working on his Doctorate in Collegiate Education from Azusa Pacific College. He has served as an Adjunct facility and juror for several colleges and schools of Architecture.

Ariel has been a Federal and State representative and lecturer for numerous education programs involving sound construction practices.  He has served in the Office of Emergency Services for the Governor of California. Ariel is deeply passionate about people, especially those in need. Ariel serves as the Executive Director of Armenian Relief and Development Association (ARDA), a global Christian humanitarian organization to help impoverished Armenians. In addition to his humanitarian efforts Ariel is an ordained Minister serving as a Pastor ministering to Young Adults. He and his wife Kohar have six adult children and one grandchild and are waiting for 20 more.

Georgia has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health both from California State University in Long Beach.

Georgia recently retired after 30 years of working for both the City and County of Los Angeles. Georgia served in a variety of positions throughout her career. At the time of her retirement, she was Chief Deputy Controller for the City of Los Angeles. Georgia also served as a special budget and strategic advisor to the Sheriff for Los Angeles County. In 2012, she was appointed as Los Angeles County Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Public Safety, with oversight of 14 different County departments including the Sheriff, District Attorney, Coroner, Fire, Probation and the Superior Courts with budgets totaling over $7 billion annually.

Prior to working for the County, Georgia worked for 22 years for the City of Los Angeles, and in 2010 was appointed as Deputy Mayor for Budget and Financial Policy by then Mayor Antonio Villaragosa. She was responsible for balancing the City’s $6.9 billion budget when the City was facing an unprecedented $500 million budget deficit. In 2004, she also appointed as the first female, civilian, Deputy Fire Chief for the Los Angeles Fire Department overseeing their finance and administrative functions with an operating budget of over $600 million annually. In addition, Georgia spent many years as an analyst managing and overseeing various budgets, large capital/construction projects as well as working with and for numerous elected officials.

Jules has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a specialty in Accounting from California State University Northridge where he graduated cum laude. He earned his Jurist Doctorate from UCLA.

Jules is a business, government, and trial lawyer, specialized in crafting solutions to complex business challenges, often where government plays a role in regulation, contracting, or enforcement. His clients have included major companies in commercial, financial, insurance, technology, radio and television broadcast, entertainment, manufacturing, real estate, energy, health care, and both domestic (U.S.) and foreign governments. He has had a parallel career in government and politics.

In government he has served in multiple roles and capacities, from Chief of Staff, to appointed member of commissions overseeing municipal and state departments. He has overseen, developed, or managed multiple projects as well as high-profile and diverse public-private commissions and advisory boards, frequently consulting as Special Counsel in sensitive matters.