Sumi Parekh is the Executive Director for the Group Effort Initiative (GEI), an organization launched and financed by Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively that exists to create a pipeline for members of underrepresented communities to get real experience towards lasting careers within the entertainment industry. To date, GEI has secured over 1,230 entertainment jobs for its participants and works in over a dozen cities across the world.
Prior to her role at GEI, Sumi held several positions in the office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, including the Executive Officer to the Deputy Mayor of Economic Development, where she served as a thought partner to the Deputy Mayor and as the Mayor’s Business Team Director and entertainment liaison, focusing on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within Hollywood. While in Mayor Garcetti’s office, she started the Evolve Entertainment Fund, an alliance between the City of Los Angeles, industry leaders in entertainment and digital media, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions, dedicated to building career pathways into film, television, and music for women, people of color, and low-income Angelenos through paid internships, focused mentoring, and an ongoing series of workshops and panels. She also helped to launch LA Collab, an unprecedented effort to connect Latinx talent, executives, and creators to opportunities in the entertainment industry — and double Latino representation in Hollywood by 2030.
Sumi was also a Program Manager at the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving life for all Angelenos, and prior to that she was the Director of Legislative Affairs and Programs at the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC).
Sumi currently serves as a Board member for Act to Change, a national nonprofit organization working to end bullying for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth, that started under President Obama’s White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in October 2015. She also serves as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions Board, is a member of the LA Collab Board, and a member of Reimagine L.A. County, a coalition of advocates, community organizations and neighbors continuing to push Measure J investments across the County.
Sumi graduated in 2013 from the University of Southern California with a master’s in public policy. Before moving to California to pursue her master’s, Sumi worked as an actuarial consultant in Dallas with Mercer and Towers Watson. She is a graduate of the University of Texas with a B.S. in Mathematics.
Elected by Retired Police Members
Term Expires: June 30, 2024
Commissioner Zimmon was elected to the Los Angeles Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners effective July 1, 2019.
Prior to becoming a Commissioner, Mr. Zimmon had a 37 year career at three law enforcement organizations.
He joined the LAPD in 1973 and retired in 2002 at the rank of Commander. In his LAPD career, he worked assignments in patrol, administration, and detectives. A few key LAPD career highlights include overseeing the development of a strategic plan for the LAPD, the implementation of Community Policing throughout the agency, and the assimilation of another law enforcement department into the LAPD. In his last assignment at the LAPD, Mr. Zimmon was directly responsible for managing the specialized detective divisions within the Detective Services Bureau.
Commissioner Zimmon retired from the LAPD to assume the position of Chief of Police in San Bernardino, California, where he oversaw an agency of approximately 350 employees.
In 2008, Commissioner Zimmon became an Assistant Director in the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) of the US Department of Justice. In that role, he oversaw all ICITAP law enforcement assistance and development programs for the Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Caribbean regions of the world.
He possesses a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a master’s degree in Management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He also holds certificates from a number of nationally recognized programs, including the Harvard University Kennedy School Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Command College, and is a graduate of the 134th Session of the FBI National Academy.
Appointed Commissioner
Term Expires: June 30, 2026
Andrea Ambriz is an experienced strategist and advocate for working families and communities. She currently serves as Deputy Secretary of External Affairs at the California Natural Resources Agency, cultivating strategic partnerships to facilitate the agency’s stewardship of California’s natural, historic and cultural resources. She served prior as Chief Operating Officer at nonprofit River LA, executing key initiatives to revitalize communities across Los Angeles along the LA river. Previously, Andrea served as Chief of Staff at Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015.
Andrea formerly served 44th U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House as Deputy Director of Private Sector Engagement, crafting innovative partnerships with business, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders to benefit American workers and communities. From additional held positions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Andrea worked on domestic and international policy development and legislation, and collaboratively with U.S. Congress, consumer advocates, and businesses to strengthen the U.S. economy and build wealth for American families. Notably, as the Director for Policy and Strategic Engagement for the myRA program at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, she helped lead the creation, outreach, and launch of the new, national retirement savings program for underbanked communities.
Andrea has also worked in both the California State Senate and Assembly, advising legislators on diverse policy areas, ranging from the environment, labor relations, and education. During her tenure, she helped pass landmark statewide legislation, including the allocation of over $400 million equitably to park-poor neighborhoods across California and initial consumer finance legislation for the future creation of the CalSavers/California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program.
Andrea currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of the Municipal Improvement Corporation of Los Angeles and on the Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries Working Group within the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. She is a Los Angeles native, and earned undergraduate degrees from DePaul University in both Public Policy-Urban Studies and Sociology, and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Elected by Active Fire Members
Term Expires: June 30, 2027
Rigo Arellano is a Firefighter with the City of Los Angeles. He is currently assigned to Fire Station 99 on Mulholland Drive, serving the Beverly Glen Community.
He has been a part of the UFLAC Benefit Board for the last 9 years, in the role of Trustee and became well versed in benefits, medical, dental plans, long-term disability, investments, and life insurance for the Members.
-Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science
-Wildland Firefighter for LACoFire for 13 years
-Union Steward for LACoFire for 9 years
-Union Steward for LAFD for 7 years
“Your Family and your Pension is a priority to me”.
Elected by Retired Fire Members
Term Expires: June 30, 2025
After 32 years of service, Commissioner Ken Buzzell retired from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 2007 as a Captain 2. During his tenure on the LAFD he was certified as both an EMT and Urban Search and Rescue Technician.
Commissioner Buzzell has served as the retired Fire Department representative on the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners since first being elected in October of 2017.
Mr. Buzzell has an extensive background in leadership and administration. He was a member of the executive board of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112, International Association Fire Fighters (IAFF), for 24 years, where he served 10 years as President and 18 years as the local’s chief negotiator. Other significant service included three years as the 8th District Vice President of the California Professional Firefighters (CPF), IAFF; eight years as an executive board member of the Los Angeles Retired Fire and Police Association; ten years as an executive board member of the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS); five years as the co-chairman of the NCPERS Trustee Education Seminar (TEDS); and three years as the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) representative on the National Fire Protection Association’s 1710 Committee that developed the Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments.
Prior to joining the LAFD, Commissioner Buzzell worked three years in management as a Labor Relations Representative at the B-1 and Space Divisions of Rockwell International, Inc.
Mr. Buzzell is a graduate of UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.S. in Management.
Appointed Commissioner
Term Expires: June 30, 2027
William “Billy” Chun has over two decades of experience in economic development projects and investment deals. He currently serves as an investment and social impact advisor.
Previously, Mr. Chun served as Deputy Mayor of Economic Development for Mayor Eric Garcetti. He oversaw seven departments totaling over 6,000 employees and a combined budget of over $8 billion: Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports, Department of City Planning, Department of Building & Safety, Department of Convention & Tourism Development, Economic & Workforce Development Department, and Department of Cannabis Regulation. He was also charged with growing a prosperous and inclusive economy by creating jobs, attracting investments, supporting the sports and entertainment industries, and increasing tourism. He worked on key initiatives such as raising the minimum wage, reforming the business tax, assisting on the Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, recruiting the Lucas Museum, creating the Mayor’s Tech Council, and launching the Evolve Entertainment Fund and Urban Movement Labs.
Before joining the Mayor’s Office in 2013, Mr. Chun was Vice President at Capri Capital, a private equity and investment firm with almost $4 billion of assets under management. He was responsible for sourcing and underwriting acquisitions, asset management and equity investment activities including origination, direct, and joint venture investing.
Prior to Capri Capital, he was at the Community Redevelopment Agency and at CBRE’s consulting group (NYSE: CBRE).
A native Angeleno, Mr. Chun holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics at Wesleyan University.
Elected by Active Police Members
Term Expires: June 30, 2025
Brian Churchill is a Sergeant-II with the Los Angeles Police Department, assigned to Training Division where he is charged with leading the LAPD Leadership Program.
From 2018-19, Brian was a White House Fellow working as a Senior Advisor for the Indo-Pacific with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, formerly the US Government’s development finance institution. He authored the Administration’s strategy for development finance in the Indo-Pacific, co-wrote bilateral and multilateral agreements between the US and Singapore, Japan, Australia, and the Asian Development Bank, led the team that financed $1bn of strategically vital projects to national security, and conceptualized the Blue Dot Network – the US strategy to create sustainability, transparency, and prosperity in emerging markets.
Previously, he was assigned as an officer-in-charge of LAPD’s Media Relations Division, worked as an Assistant Watch Commander, Gang Enforcement Detail OIC, Archangel Officer, FTO, and as Patrol Officer. Concurrently, he serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Coast Guard Reserve, assigned to Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. He began his military service in the California Army National Guard, where he was deployed to Kosovo.
On behalf of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, he developed policy for the Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior to enhance freedom of the press and establish cooperation between media and law enforcement. He has recently worked with the Ministry of Information in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State to provide equipment and guidance to state officials. He also conducts leadership training throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
Brian volunteers with the Sister Cities Organization, Boy Scouts of America, and other youth programs in the Los Angeles area. He earned a Master of Science from the University of London’s Centre for Financial and Management Studies and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from Boston University.
Appointed Commissioner
Term Expires: June 30, 2025
Michael A. Lawson currently serves as the President & CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL), one of the oldest and most respected civil rights organizations in the United States dedicated to providing economic empowerment, educational opportunities, and the guarantee of civil rights for underserved communities in the Los Angeles area. He began his service as Interim President & CEO in November 2017 and was appointed to be the President & CEO of the LAUL in February 2018.
In September 2013, he was nominated by President Obama to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN specialized agency, a position that Commissioner Lawson held from July 2014 to January 2017. The 36-members of the ICAO Council set the standards and recommended practices and policies in support of the international civil aviation sector worldwide.
Before serving as the US Ambassador to ICAO, Commissioner Lawson served on the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) for Los Angeles World Airports from 2005 through 2011 and as President of the BOAC from 2008 – 2011. During his tenure, the Board was responsible for the overall management of the system of airports under its control, including Los Angeles International Airport, LA/Ontario International Airport, and Van Nuys Airport.
From 1980 to 2011, Commissioner Lawson practiced law at the prestigious international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in their New York and Los Angeles offices until his retirement in 2011. Skadden is one of the largest law firms in the world with 1,700 attorneys in 22 offices around the world. The firm specializes in mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and other practice areas. The M&A Journal named Skadden “Law Firm of the Year” in its April 2010 issue. Skadden also received the magazine’s top recognition in 2009. He led the Executive Compensation and Benefits Group in the Los Angeles office; worked in all facets of executive compensation and benefits matters, including stock options and other equity-based compensation arrangements, tax-qualified and non-qualified pension plans, fiduciary responsibility, structured finance transactions, bankruptcy proceedings, and proxy contests. Chambers USA consistently recognized Lawson as one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Commissioner Lawson received his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1978 and his BA in Political Science and Economics from Loyola Marymount University in 1975. He is admitted to and continues to be a member in good standing of the following bar associations: New York; District of Columbia; and California.
During Commissioner Lawson’s professional career, he has held positions of significant responsibility on several charitable, educational and administrative boards, and committees including:
The Board of Trustees of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (the second largest public pension fund in the United States with assets totaling $192.9 Billion (as of 11/30/2016); appointed by the Governor of California from 2011 – 2014)
Chair of the Oversight Board for the Community Redevelopment Agency for the City of Los Angeles, which was responsible for overseeing the dissolution of the Community Redevelopment Activities of the Successor Governing Board of Community Redevelopment Agency for the City of Los Angeles (2012 – 2014)
The Board of Trustees, Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA (2010 – 2014)
The Board of Trustees, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA (2009 – 2014)
Chair/Member, Constitutional Rights Foundation (2003 – 2010)
Vice Chair/Member, Board of Directors, Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County/The Music Center (2004 – 2014)
Member, Board of Directors, Music Center Foundation (2010 – 2014)
Member, Western Regional Selection Panel for the White House Fellows Program (2010 – 2011)
Member, Board of Directors, The Advancement Project (2002 – 2014)
Member, Board of Directors of Navient Corporation (August 2021 – Present)
Appointed Commissioner
Term Expires: June 30, 2028
Raul Perez is the co-managing partner and a civil litigation attorney in the Los Angeles office of Capstone Law. He is a graduate of Harvard College (B.A. Government 1990) and Harvard Law School (J.D. 1994). Mr. Perez has significant experience prosecuting consumer and wage and hour class actions, as well as defending toxic tort claims and representing artists, producers, managers, agencies, record companies and video game manufacturers in transactional and litigation matters.
For his efforts in advocating to protect worker and consumer rights, Mr. Perez was the recipient of the prestigious 2015 CLAY award in employment law, an honor given by California Lawyer magazine to the Attorney of the Year.
Prior to joining Capstone Law, Mr. Perez was a partner at various Los Angeles boutique firms, including Liner Law, Pond North, and Fox Spillane. Mr. Perez also worked for some of the City’s more prestigious firms including Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Manatt Phelps & Phillips and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. He is especially proud of having served a six-month assignment as Assistant to the Special Interim Legal Counsel to the City of South Gate (Alvarado Smith & Sanchez) where he was part of a legal team assigned to restore integrity and good government to the scandal-plagued City.
Mr. Perez is committed to being a citizen-lawyer. He has served in a variety of public service and non-profit positions. He was appointed for a second term by Mayor Bass to serve on the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Board, having served on that commission for Mayor Villaraigosa from 2009-2013. From 2018 to 2023, he served on the Los Angeles Civil Service Commission (President 2020-2023), which rules on hundreds of appeals from city employees. In 2013, he was appointed to the Board of Commissioners for Los Angeles World Airports (LAX), and was responsible for setting airport policy for the third busiest airport in the country.
Mr. Perez is also the former President of Beverly Hills Little League and the Latino Lawyers Association. He served on the board of Padres Contra El Cancer, the Latino Theatre Company, Girls Inc., and the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project. He is currently on the Advisory Board for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and the Board Chairman for Good Sheppard Catholic School.
Prior to beginning his legal career, Mr. Perez was selected as a California Senate Fellow in 1991 and was assigned to Senator Quentin Kopp representing the City of San Francisco.
Mr. Perez is the youngest son of Mexican immigrants who spent most of their working life as farmworkers in the Central Valley. He has three children, including twins and a granddaughter. His family lives in South Carthay Circle in Los Angeles. He was a participant in the Senior Baseball League of Los Angeles and managed his own team, the California Angels, to a championship.
Los Angeles
