Who is on MiPAAC?

MiPAAC members are drawn from local professionals in the field of public service from the federal, state, local government and non-governmental organizations. Representatives are persons with experience as senior members of a public service organization with a commitment to preparing professionals in public service for the 21st century. Biographic information on our current members is noted below:

• Thomas Tan, Chair is the Director of Network and Computer Services (NCS) for the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. He completed his Bachelors in Quantitative Economics and Decision Science from the University of California - San Diego, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. He has worked at school districts in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.

• Kyle D. Brown, Ph.D., ASLA, is a Professor of Landscape Architecture in the College of Environmental Design at Cal Poly Pomona University, and in the past has served as Director of the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, and Interim Dean of the College. He is Chair of the City of Pomona Planning Commission and has previously worked as a planner for numerous municipalities and educational institutions. He received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Landscape Architecture and Ph.D. in Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts.

• Brenda Diederichs is the Assistant CEO/HR Director for the County of Riverside. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the public sector in executive level positions with the City of Riverside, County of Orange, LA METRO, and the City of West Covina. She began her public sector career while attending Cal Poly with the San Bernardino County Human Resources Department. While working at LA Metro she attended law school and spent 17 years practicing labor and employment law for public agencies. Brenda is focused on leading organizational transformation and building HR to be an established business partner in the organization. Brenda makes building her teams and developing leaders a priority. In her current role, she has the full gamut of HR functions, from general liability, talent management, benefits, payroll, employee and labor relations, learning and organizational development and overseeing a County run health plan.

• Kathrene Hansen is the Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles Federal Executive Board. There are 28 FEBs nationwide; the Los Angeles Federal Community is one of the largest in the United States with more than 275 separate agencies employing over 125,000 Federal employees. With almost 17 years in this position, Ms. Hansen has a unique perspective of the Federal Government throughout Southern California and extensive contacts with State, Local and Community organizations as well. Prior to joining the FEB staff in October 1995, Kathrene spent 10+ years with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in positions of increasing responsibility in Clarksburg, WV, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Throughout her career, Ms. Hansen has received numerous awards for her consistently outstanding performance and has been recognized by numerous community organizations. Her career also includes assignments with the Lieutenant Governor for the State of Idaho and the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, which provide additional perspectives of the role of Government. She received her Masters in Public Administration from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Idaho State University.

• Kevin Kearney is the City Manager of the City a Bradbury, one of the most affluent residential communities in the country. He is responsible for managing day-to-day operations, overseeing all city administration and functions, providing a board perspective to land use development, and maintaining relationships with residents in his community. In 2017, the California City Management Foundation recognized Kevin as a “Rising Star” in the city management community for his accomplishments as one of the youngest city managers in California. He was also listed as a “Rising Star” in 2016 by the University of California, Riverside’s Professional Studies. Kevin is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Policy, Planning, and Development from the University of Southern California, and earned a MPA from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a B.A. from the University of California, Irvine. He is a Certified Public Manager though the University of California, San Diego.

• Dominic Lazzaretto has served as the City Manager for the City of Arcadia, CA since 2012 and brings nearly 25 years of experience to the full service community with an annual budget of $120 million with a full-time staff of 302 employees. He is the Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Council Of Government’s City Managers Technical Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of the Cal-ICMA Talent Initiative. Prior to 2012, Dominic served as City Manager for the City of La Palma, CA after being promoted from the position of Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director. He also worked private sector for a consulting firm specializing in redevelopment, economic development, and general municipal management. Dominic has earned a Master in Public Administration from Cal State Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science from The Pennsylvania State University. 
  

• Tamara Letourneau, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, City of Costa Mesa, has over 30 years of extensive local government experience in six communities, including serving as a city manager in Yorba Linda and Sierra Madre, California. She also served the cities of Claremont, Arcadia, and Monrovia, California, in a variety of increasingly responsible positions. Her background also includes experience in organizational development, team building, and strategic planning as well as functional responsibilities that include operating and capital budgeting, human resources/risk management, labor relations, and intergovernmental relations. Most recently, she was a Senior Manager with the consulting firm Management Partners prior to joining the City of Costa Mesa in early 2014. Tamara is a founding member and current board member of Women Leading Government and the League of Women in Government. In 1999, Tamara received the J. Michael Dutton Award from the Municipal Management Assistants of Southern California for her contribution to local government.

• Stephany Luevano is a proud Cal Poly Pomona alumna with a BA degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business and a Masters in Public Administration. She currently work for the West Covina Mayor Pro Tem as his Chief of Staff, as well as the Executive Coordinator for his Real Estate/Mortgage company. Her interest in obtaining a MPA was rooted in her aspiration of helping local communities utilize their resources and staff efficiently to better serve their community.
  

• Mohsen Moayedi is the Crisis Manager at the City of Los Angeles where he has served for 25 years. Prior to his work with city government he served as a corporate economist for an investment corporation. Dr. Moayedi has a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University in Government and a B. A. in Economics from Cal-State Fullerton. He has been an adjunct faculty member in political science department/MPA program since 1981. Dr. Moayed has expertise in Crisis Management with special emphasis in international terrorism including weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical and biological). He is a national and international lecturer on International Relations and government and International Terrorism/Crisis Management.

• Margo Morales retired from the County of Los Angeles following a 32-year career where she held operations and administrative positions in six County departments. In her final capacity she served as the Deputy Director for Administration in the Department of Mental Health where she had responsibility for the department’s $2 billion budget, human resource services for 5,000 staff, contracts with 127 community-based service providers, and other administrative functions. Ms. Morales is active in her local community of Long Beach where she was recently appointed by Mayor Robert Garcia to the newly formed Ethics Commission. She received her BA in Political Science/Public Administration from Cal Poly Pomona. 
  
  

• Beverly Speak is a community member of MiPAAC representing the nonprofit sector. She has a Master’s in Public Health and teaches courses in nonprofit management as an adjunct faculty member in Cal Poly’s MPA program. She has also taught education courses at Chaffey College and health courses at Georgia Southern University. She has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, including CEO positions in several health and human services organizations and foundations. She has also served on numerous nonprofit boards of directors. She recently retired from her position as CEO of Kids Come First, a nonprofit children’s health program, and as president of the Community Clinic Association of San Bernardino County. She especially enjoys mentoring and supporting graduate students/interns who are interested in building collaborations between public sector and private nonprofit agencies