FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
April 19, 2024

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO – Mayor Todd Gloria today announced the following appointments and reappointments to City boards and commissions:

Dr. Cindy Lin is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Dr. Lin is an ecologist, environmental engineer, data scientist, and expert on the environmental impacts of land use and human activities on ecological habitats. Currently, she is the CEO and co-founder of Hey Social Good, a social-impact tech company, and previously worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she designed national environmental standards, worked on cutting-edge research, implemented policy to address environmental pollution and sustainability, and managed multiple government and private entities to meet environmental standards. She is being appointed to a two-year term in the Council District 1 seat.
 
Josh Dean is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. He is the executive director of the California Energy Alliance and has over 12 years of experience in the sustainability, construction, and real estate industries, with projects ranging from energy retrofits and LEED certifications to supervising commercial new construction and residential development. Mr. Dean has worked with multiple government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits to deliver projects and education around sustainability. He holds a Bachelor of Science in construction management from Southern Polytechnic State University and a Master of Science in energy policy and climate from Johns Hopkins University. He is being appointed to a two-year term in the Council District 2 seat.
 
Mahayla Slackerelli is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Ms. Slackerelli is an account manager at Calpine Energy Solutions, where she works on community choice client programmatic success; leads implementation for the California Energy Commission’s Market Informed Demand Automation Server requirements; monitors regulatory proceedings, including Demand Flexibility and Energy Efficiency OIRs and development strategies with Recurve Analytics to support CCA EE and DR programs. Ms. Slackerelli holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Sarah Lawrence College and a Master of Science in energy, technology and policy from Humboldt State University. She is being appointed to a two-year term in the Council District 3 seat.
 
Dr. Madison Swayne is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Dr. Swayne an assistant professor of city planning in the School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University. She is a social science researcher who uses mixed methods – including big data, automated computing methods, and primary data sources – to answer research questions about environmental justice and land use. Dr. Swayne teaches courses in environmental planning, environmental law, and sustainable urbanism. She holds a Ph.D. in urban planning and development from the University of Southern California and a Master and Bachelor of science in environmental studies from the University of Southern California. She is being appointed to a two-year term ending in the Council District 4 seat.
 
Alexa Marie Kerr is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Ms. Kerr is an assistant planner with the County of San Diego, Department of Planning and Development Services, Long Range Planning Division, Housing and Transportation Team. Prior to this role, she served as an assistant consultant and environmental scientist with WSP USA, Earth and Environmental. Ms. Kerr holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies from UC Santa Barbara. She is being appointed to a two-year term in the Council District 5 seat.
 
Kelly Lyndon is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Ms. Lyndon is an engineering executive, community advocate and consultant. For almost 30 years, she served as a senior director of engineering for Qualcomm, leading high-performance, multi-disciplinary teams to deliver innovative technologies. Ms. Lyndon volunteers with the San Diego Building Electrification Coalition, the University City Community Association, the University Planning Group, the League of Women Voters of San Diego, San Diego Girl Scouts and the San Diego LGBT Center and Family Matters Board. She holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering from UC Santa Barbara and a Master of Science in software engineering from Boston University. She is being appointed to a two-year term in the Council District 6 seat.
 
Whitney Pearce is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Ms. Pearce is a senior associate at The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP -- an architect firm based in Seattle and San Diego that applies a regionalist design philosophy rooted in sustainability to their projects. She is a registered architect who serves on the San Diego Green Building Council and the San Diego Downtown Partnership. Ms. Pearce holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Interior Architecture Dual Degree Program from Auburn University, College of Architecture Design and Construction. She is being appointed to a two-year term in the Council District 7 seat.
 
Elisa Velazquez is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Ms. Velazquez is a student volunteer who focuses on environmental services and activism. She believes that the power of environmental literacy and climate equity is essential to battle climate change effectively. Ms. Velazquez founded and presided over Crawford High School’s Green Club to promote environmental literacy on campus along with hands-on learning opportunities. She is also deeply involved in other environmental organizations like San Diego 350, where she is a youth volunteer assisting in providing opportunities to residents in City Heights. Ms. Velazquez is a student at Crawford High School who hopes to study environmental engineering at a four-year university after graduation. She is being appointed to a two- year term in the Council District 9 seat.
 
Jason Anderson is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Mr. Anderson is the president and CEO of Cleantech San Diego – a business organization that positions the greater San Diego region as a global leader in the cleantech economy. Cleantech San Diego's members include more than 120 businesses, universities, governments, and nonprofits committed to advancing sustainable solutions for the benefit of the economy, the environment and all members of the community. Before joining Cleantech San Diego, Mr. Anderson was vice president of business development for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC). He holds a Bachelor of Science in corporate communications from the University of Texas in Austin. He is being appointed to a one-year term in a general member seat.
 
Cristina Marquez is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Ms. Marquez is a certified journeyman sound technician who serves as an environmental organizer with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569, San Diego and Imperial Counties. There, she combats climate change through policy and advocacy for renewable energy. Previously, she served as an outreach coordinator for the Electrical Training Institute of San Diego and Imperial Counties, San Diego. Ms. Marquez holds an Associate Degree from Palomar College and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from San Diego State University. She is being appointed to a one-year term in a general member seat.
 
Tanisha-Jean Martin is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. She is a climate community director / climate ambassador with the San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition, where she leads, organizes and facilitates climate coaching workshops and dialogue around equity involving community conversations and events centered around community resiliency. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Triple Major in geography, sociology and political science from San Diego State University and a Master of Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego. She is being appointed to a one- year term in a general member seat.
 
Amy Ly is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Ms. Ly is an associate capital planner at UC San Diego, where she assists in planning and approving budgets for construction projects on campus. She recently graduated from Portland State University, where she obtained her Master’s Degree in urban and regional planning. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in urban studies and planning with a focus on the environment. Ms. Ly is being appointed to a one-year term in a general member seat.
 
Kelly Mills is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Ms. Mills serves as a corporate strategy-strategic insights and analytics manager with Teradata, where she founded and led the Green Agenda inclusion community for the Americas region. Additionally, she established a structured governing board and drives engagement company-wide to champion environmental initiatives. She is a part of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce LEAD Advance Cohort and a volunteer for the Citizens' Climate Lobby. Ms. Mills holds a Bachelor of Arts in information technology and informatics from Rutgers University. She is being appointed to a one­ year term in a general member seat.
 
JD Weidman is being appointed to the Climate Advisory Board. Mr. Weidman is the parking and transportation services director at San Diego State University. He manages the campus' TDM programs, transit pass services, permitted parking, vanpool, Zipcar, micro-mobility, and other sustainable transportation initiatives. He participates in regional planning efforts and initiatives and collaborates with partners across SDSU on sustainable transportation work. Mr. Weidman holds a Master of Science in real estate and infrastructure from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in building construction from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is being appointed to a one-year term in a general member seat.
 
Marlyn Carrillo is being reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Marlyn has extensive experience as a press and digital media specialist who founded a women’s art collective with members in over 30 cities. Currently, she manages communication platforms and media strategy for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Her commitment to building quality public services for immigrant and female-identifying communities led her to help create the Latinx membership specialist at Girl Scouts San Diego. Within this role, Marlyn built strong relationships in the diverse and underrepresented communities she worked with, reflected in hundreds of new volunteers and community partners she trained and recruited. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in a member seat.
 
Wendy Urushima-Conn is being reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. She is president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. Ms. Urushima-Conn has more than 25 years of experience in community outreach, fundraising and marketing. She previously served as president and CEO of the Asian Business Association and associate executive director of the Center for Community Solutions, where she was the chief fundraising and marketing officer focusing on sexual assault / domestic violence intervention and prevention. She serves as chair of the Southern California Diversity Council and chair of the Board of Library Commissioners. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in a member seat.
 
Gail Friedt is being reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Ms. Friedt has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry with leadership experience in pharmaceutical drug development from early development through commercialization. She has held positions in commercial, clinical operations and medical affairs with both biotech and large pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott, Genzyme, Sanofi, Raptor and La Jolla Pharmaceutical. Her areas of expertise include nephrology, critical care, solid organ transplant, hepatology, and rare diseases. Ms. Friedt has maintained certifications as a critical care registered nurse and certified research associate. Ms. Friedt earned her B.S.N. from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, and her Master's from the University of California, Dominguez Hills. She is also a retired captain, U.S. Navy Reserve. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in a member seat.
 
Solange Jacobs is being reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. She is the founder of Solange Was Here marketing agency, which enables, empowers, and enhances the impact of social ventures, nonprofits, and mission-driven brands. She also serves as executive director of a nonprofit supporting a K-7th grade school in northern Namibia, managing the organization, and is the development director for a local conservancy, overseeing its membership and donor portfolio. Additionally, she serves on the community advisory committee for the Old Globe Theater, guiding the implementation of its social justice initiatives. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in a member seat.
 
Dana Toppel is being reappointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. Ms. Toppel is the chief operating officer of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, where she provides overall leadership for the impact-driven, multi-service organization. She also serves as chair of San Diego for Every Child and as a commissioner on the California Commission of Aging and is the founder of Make Work Work For Moms. Ms. Toppel holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin, a Master's Degree in social work, and a Master's Degree in business administration from San Diego State University. She is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of California. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in a member seat.
 
Lucas Coleman is being reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Mr. Coleman is a senior manager on the World Trade Center team at the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, where he oversees the team's three pillars of work: exports, foreign direct investment, and global identity. Activities under his purview include executing the MetroConnect export assistance program, stewardship of foreign investment projects, outbound international trade missions, and collaboration with regional stakeholders. Mr. Coleman has a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University with an emphasis in Japan / East Asia. He is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in the civic organization seat.
 
Benjamin Eastman is being appointed to the International Affairs Board. Mr. Eastman is the senior director of tourism development of the San Diego Tourism Authority, where he oversees the organization’s efforts to promote San Diego to tourism partners as a top destination for leisure travelers – with a particular emphasis on international visitors. Prior to joining the SDTA, Eastman was the internet and in-market corporate sales manager at the San Diego Zoological Society, where he drove sales to the two parks via internet and local corporate sales. Mr. Eastman is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego where he received a Bachelor of Science in psychology. He is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in the community member seat.
 
Dr. Luc Lenain is being appointed to the International Affairs Board. He is an associate research scientist and the director of the Air-Sea Interaction Laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. His research focuses on topics ranging from physics, fluid mechanics, remote sensing, marine robotics and autonomous vehicles, numerical modelling, air-sea interaction, surface wave dynamics, atmospheric and oceanographic research, scientific instrumentation development, coastal geomorphology, climate change impact and adaptation. He is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in the community member seat.
 
Dr. Shahrzad Kamyab is being appointed to the International Affairs Board. Dr. Kamyab is the president of the San Diego-Tijuana Sister City Society within the San Diego International Sister City Association. For nearly 40 years she has served as an international educator in higher learning. She is a published author, having published articles and book chapters in the areas of youth unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa, the Syrian refugee’s higher education crisis and the internationalization of higher education. Dr. Kamyab holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from Pahlavi University, Shiraz, Iran, a Master of Arts in teaching from Oklahoma City University, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Florida State University. She is being appointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in the community member seat.
 
Melissa Floca is being reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Ms. Floca is the director of strategic partnerships at the CICORE Division of the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego, where she brings together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers around complex challenges that require cyberinfrastructure and digital technologies for solutions at scale. Prior to joining the San Diego Supercomputer Center, she served as the associate director of UC San Diego's Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, where she led the development and implementation of the Center's academic programming and research agenda. During her time there, she focused on issues of education, workforce development, and economic competitiveness and directed the Mexican Migration Field Research Program. Additionally, Ms. Floca worked at the Mexico City-based office of McKinsey & Company, serving clients on projects related to financial inclusion, public health, and low-income housing. She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Columbia Business School and is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in the civic organization seat.
 
Karen Higareda is being reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Ms. Higareda is a proud binational border resident passionate about delivering positive results and adding value to her community through collaborative projects around youth empowerment, city planning, politics, and gender equality in STEM. She serves as the director of public relations and government affairs for Cross Border Xpress. Ms. Higareda has a Bachelor's Degree in architecture from Universidad Iberoamericana in Tijuana and a Master of Science in landscape and urbanism from Woodbury University San Diego campus. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in the community member seat.
 
Dr. Leila Naderi is being reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Dr. Naderi is an award-winning entrepreneurial leader with over 15 years of international / domestic experience in strategic partnerships, business development, operations management, corporate relationships, and social impact. She is the director of partnership development at Alliant International University, founder of Yoga for Leadership, and co-author of a highly acclaimed book (The Yogi Leader: Discovering the Seven Elements of Leading with Mind, Body, & Heart). As an adjunct professor, she teaches various doctoral and master-level courses by integrating the ancient wisdom of yoga into leadership and management. She also serves on the Economic Development & Advocacy Advisory Council of the North San Diego Business Chamber and the ENACTUS United States Faculty Advisory Committee. Dr. Naderi holds a doctorate in Leadership, a Master's Degree in business administration and a Bachelor's Degree in electrical and electronics engineering. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in the community member seat.
 
Kenia Zamarripa is being reappointed to the International Affairs Board. Ms. Zamarripa serves as vice president of international and public affairs at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she oversees the Chamber's international and public policy efforts and works to advance business, political, and cultural relationships across the regional business community. Formerly director of marketing and international affairs for the Sportfishing Association of California, Ms. Zamarripa fostered close working relationships with key government, business, industry, and association officials in Mexico and San Diego. She also led key projects with the Mexican government to establish new permitting protocols for foreign tourists. In addition, she coordinated regular public outreach efforts to educate and provide updates from the Mexican government on issues and regulations pertinent to the sport fishing community. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in marketing administration from CETYS Universidad in Tijuana, Mexico, and completed her MSc in Global Marketing Management from the University of Liverpool, U.K. She is being reappointed to a two-year term ending March 1, 2026, in the civic organization seat.
 
The appointments will be heard at the City Council on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. 

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