Our People

FOUNDERS

James H. Ackerman
Dr. Vance Caesar
Brent Hunter
Dr. Curtis McCray*
Gloria St. Michael
Peter Ridder*
Gina Rushing
Donald Westerland

ALUMNUS OF THE YEARS

Jim Ackerman Alumnus of the Year Award Recipients

James H. Ackerman was a celebrated Long Beach attorney but he was so much more to all who knew him. Jim was a generous man who gave his time and talent to many organizations, and Leadership Long Beach was one of them. Jim was a founding member of LLB in 1989 and was a member of the Honorary Board of Governors. Throughout his life, Jim remained a major program supporter of Leadership Long Beach. Even in his passing, the family of James H. Ackerman proudly continues the legacy of giving to and supporting Leadership Long Beach. The Jim Ackerman Alumnus of the Year Award was established by Leadership Long Beach in 1994 and in 2000 was named in honor of Jim’s fine example of leadership, integrity, commitment, and community trusteeship.

1994 – DARICK SIMPSON, LLBI ‘92
1995 – JILL ROSENBERG, LLBI ‘92
2000 – GAYLE CLOCK, LLBI ‘90
2001 – PAM SPOO, LLBI ‘96
2002 – JUDY ROSS, LLBI ‘90
2003 – MINNIE DOUGLAS, LLBI ‘94
2004 – WENDY CHANG, LLBI ‘98
2005 – DAVE NEARY, LLBI ‘95
2006 – ANNE EMIGH, LLBI ‘01
2007 – ANTHONY W. BATTS, LLBI ‘94
2008 – CJ HARMATZ, LLBI ‘01
2009 – LOU ANNE BYNUM, LLBI ‘93
2010 – DENNIS SMITH, LLBI ‘99

PAST PRESIDENTS

1989-1991 Peter Ridder Former Publisher Press-Telegram

1991-1992 Curtis McCray Former President California State University, Long Beach

1992-1994 Gayle Clock (LLBI ’90) Retired

1994-1995 Jill Rosenberg (LLBI ’92) Realtor Coldwell Banker

1995-1997 Henry Taboada Former City Manager City of Long Beach

1997-1998 Wayne T. Kistner (LLBI ’93) Attorney at Law Bennett & Kistner

1998-1999 Lou Anne Bynum (LLBI ’93) Vice President, Economic Development Long Beach City College

1999-2000 Wilma Powell Retired Director Port of Long Beach

2000-2001 Dave Neary (LLBI ’95) President Westland Construction, Inc.

2001-2002 Minnie Douglas (LLBI ’94) Principal Douglas Consulting

2002-2003 Mike Murray (EQS ’F95) External Public Affairs Manager Verizon

2003-2004 Dennis C. Smith (LLBI ’99) Co-owner Stratis Financial Corporation

2004-2005 Chirstina Pizarro Winting (LLBI ’94) City of Santa Monica Human Resources Department

2005-2006 Wendy Chang (LLBI ’98) Director Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation

2006-2007 CJ Harmatz (LLBI ’01) Government Relations Representative Long Beach Memorial Medical Center

2007-2008 Colleen Bentley (LLBI ’93) Director, Special Projects CSU Chancellor’s Office

2008-2009 Denny Moore (LLBI ’06) Commercial Real Estate Broker Sperry Van Ness

2009-2010 Carolyn Smith Watts (LLBI ’01) President Bolphs’ Specialty

2010-2012 Tom Farrand (LLBI ’08) President Farrand Research Corporation

2012-2013 James Kruger (LLBI ’08) President/CEO Expertow

2013-2015 Rolando Cruz (LLBI ’10) Executive Vice President Long Beach Transit

2015-2016 Veronica Davalos (LLBI ’09) Vice President Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles

LEADERSHIP LONG BEACH EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

1989-1992 Patti Mitchell

1992-1995 Norm Reed (LLBI ’91)

1995 (Interim) Judy Ross (LLBI ’90)

1995-1997 Daphne Ching (Jackson)

1998-2005 Janey Roeder (LLBI ’96)

2006-2007 Michelle Perrenoud (LLBI ’02)

2007 Paul Fornell (LLBI ’00)

2007-8 (Interim) Margaret Brewer (LLBI ’93)

2008-2010 Peter Bostic

2011-2019 Jeff Williams (LLBI ’08)

2019-2020 Kerri Cisna