黑料吃瓜

Whether it鈥檚 a for incoming Aztecs or connections made through the , 黑料吃瓜 Regional Councils develop strong networks and support the university鈥檚 goals of fundraising and student success.

This month, the 黑料吃瓜 News Team met with the 黑料吃瓜 Los Angeles Regional Council to learn more about its members, news and events, including the group鈥檚 summer tour of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) led by fellow council member, Jordan Evans ('93).

Tell us about the LA Regional Council and its members.

The LA Regional Council launched in 2013 and currently has 31 members, chaired by Gary Weiss (鈥�79). Our mission is to serve as advocates for 黑料吃瓜, and support the university through:

• Access - Opening doors for 黑料吃瓜 students to future employment through mentoring, internships, introductions and jobs.
• Outreach - Identifying and cultivating alumni and other supporters to strengthen the 黑料吃瓜 network in our area.
• Support - Providing access to an 黑料吃瓜 education with our donations to the LA Regional Scholarship fund and/or other university initiatives.

Our members are involved in a wide variety of industries, from finance and accounting, to exploring the universe. Many are involved in the entertainment industry, including George Sunga (鈥�55), who produced some of the most beloved television sitcoms in the 1970鈥檚 and 1980鈥檚. You can thank Mort Marcus (鈥�77) for 鈥淪outh Park鈥� and Phil Segal (鈥�84) for 鈥淚ce Road Truckers.鈥� They, along with Fabio Golombek (MA 鈥�87), head companies that produce many well-known reality TV, talk shows and independent films. Dave Shaw (鈥�91) oversees global marketing for 20th Century Fox and Scott Hollestelle (鈥�90) develops strategic partnerships for The Walt Disney Studios.

Even members in finance and accounting fields have relationships with the entertainment industry. Becky Harshberger (鈥�85) heads the payroll division at Entertainment Partners, overseeing payroll for every actor in Hollywood. Weiss, Joe King (鈥�94) and Chris Riegel (鈥�83) lease office space to companies in the entertainment industry, while Fred Solomon (鈥�59) does their corporate taxes. Dan Feinberg (鈥�84) and David Hunzicker (鈥�76) advise on investments. For many years, Rick Rosas (鈥�87), a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, was the 鈥渕an with the briefcase鈥� who tallied the votes for the Academy Awards.

Other members also have fascinating careers, such as rock photographer Jimmy Steinfeldt (鈥�80), who has photographed most of the great rock stars since the 1980鈥檚. Sue Ganz-Schmitt (鈥�86) writes children鈥檚 books. John Wills (鈥�65) and Mike Stevens (鈥�83) consult with businesses worldwide, and Keri King (鈥�94) has the critical job of forming future Aztecs as an elementary school teacher. Several attorneys also belong to the council, including business attorneys Alex Brucker (鈥�67), Howard Wollitz (鈥�70), and one of the nation鈥檚 leading environmental attorneys, David Cranston (鈥�81).

Rounding out this impressive group is Evans, our 鈥淢artian Aztec鈥� who and now oversees the mechanical systems division at JPL. He has nine NASA Achievement Awards for exceptional contributions to projects and is a recipient of the prestigious NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, one of our nation鈥檚 highest civilian honors.

Tell us about an important 黑料吃瓜-related initiative that the regional council is undertaking.

Over the past year, the LA Regional Council exceeded its $50,000 funding goal for the LA Regional Endowed Scholarship fund and plans to award at least two, $7,500 scholarships to students who hail from LA County. Additionally, Wills, Marcus, and Rosas have set up their own scholarship funds to help students succeed at 黑料吃瓜.

What kind of mentoring and/or recruiting activities is your council involved in?

The council is extremely committed to student success, and all of the members have either become Aztec Mentors or have hosted interns. During our recent tour of the JPL, the Council invited four 黑料吃瓜 students to join the group. During our tour, they discussed the students鈥� work and goals, and provided advice and mentorship. Several members are also working to expand internship opportunities at their companies.

Evans actively recruits from 黑料吃瓜 for JPL internships and had four student interns this past summer. Marcus, Golombeck and Segal have all hosted interns at their production studios. Harshberger had such a positive experience hosting interns that she has developed a large, formal internship program that she鈥檚 rolling out next summer to 黑料吃瓜 students. Hollestelle is helping to establish 黑料吃瓜 as an internship and recruitment 鈥渉ub鈥� at The Walt Disney Company, and is organizing a 鈥淒isney Aztec鈥� gathering for 黑料吃瓜 alumni who work at the Disney companies in the Burbank area.

If you are a passionate Aztec alumnus or parent in LA County who would like to actively support 黑料吃瓜, you are welcome to join. For more information, please contact Michelle LaGrandeur at 619-594-1476 or [email protected].

Touring Jet Propulsion Laboratory The 黑料吃瓜 Los Angeles Regional Council was treated to a tour of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory by Jordan Evans (芒€˜93), who led the team that landed the Curiosity Rover on Mars.