MARK J. ROBERTSON Commission Chair

Commissioner Robertson was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Robertson is President/CEO of Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation, a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution which provides financial and educational assistance to Los Angeles County small businesses. Robertson previously spent 17 years in banking. PCR administers four small business loan programs and operates as a Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Robertson is a graduate of UCLA with a Bachelor’s degree in economics.

W. STEVEN TEMPLE Commission Vice Chair

Commissioner Temple was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Mr. Temple is the founder and Chief Financial Officer of Business Affairs Management Inc. (BAM), a business management firm that provides financial management services to individuals, businesses, enterprises, and non-profit organizations. Mr. Temple was a Panelist Speaker on the Goldman Sachs LACC 10,000 Small Business Program and has been awarded a “Board Executive Leadership Certificate” by the African American Board Leadership Institute. He has been a business management panelist on several entertainment industry festivals.

ROSE ACOSTA YONAI Commissioner

Commissioner Acosta-Yonai was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Hilda Solis. Yonai is CEO and Principal of Tierra West Advisors, Inc., a licensed full service real estate and financial advisory firm; providing cities, public agencies and private entities with economic development strategies. Tierra West is a certified, small, women owned business and has been located in Boyle Heights/Los Angeles since 2008. Yonai graduated from Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles and has served on several boards including the LMU/Latino Alumni Association, whose mission is to promote the education of Latino students through scholarship support. Additionally, she has also established her own scholarship fund through LMU for local inner city youth who attend the University.

CINDY ALLEN Commissioner

Commissioner Allen was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Janice Hahn. 

Cindy Allen, President of Agency ETA, leads a multi-million dollar full-service ad agency based in Long Beach, California. Cindy was honored as the entrepreneur of the year for the business category by the Long Beach Press Telegram. She was also hand-selected by Goldman Sachs to complete an executive program at Dartmouth School of Business as part of the 10,000 Small Business Initiatives.

Cindy was born in Lexington Kentucky and moved to Long Beach as a teenager where she attended Long Beach Poly. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and went on the get her Master’s in Public Administration from Cal State Long Beach. Cindy was a Meritorious Award-winning police officer in the city of Long Beach with more than 40 commendations during a 10-year law enforcement career. An injury in the line of duty, as well as her natural affinity for community relations and growing interest in research and marketing, led her to embark in her agency career.

Her move to becoming a business owner came in 2005 when she bought a failed Long Beach franchise of Money Mailer and quickly established Money Mailer of Long Beach as one of the most successful company franchises in the country.

Cindy has served on leadership cabinets for the UNCF, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association, Musica Angelica, Special Olympics Southern California, LB Rotary, Women’s Business Council, Women’s President Organization, LB Memorial Hospital, and the Long Beach Police Foundation.

Cindy is married to her husband of 27 years, Long Beach Police Department Commander Randy Allen. They have two children in college, David and Erin.

WILL CAMPBELL Commissioner

Commissioner Campbell was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. 

Will Campbell is Chairman and CEO at Quantasy, LLC. Will’s more than twenty-year career can be most easily summarized by the quote “If you want to come up with new answers, you have to ask new questions.” It is with this vision that he’s co-founded and led the growth of the agency to what now amounts to more than 50 people as one fully integrated, cultural marketing force.

Since founding Quantasy, named by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest growing private companies in 2018, Will has used his unique method of blending advertising, technology, entertainment and culture to deliver business growth results for world-class clients including Google, Lionsgate, American Honda, the State of California and Wells Fargo Bank. Alongside his work with top tier corporations and government organizations, Will counsels and serves some of the world’s most renowned and iconic public figures including Magic Johnson, Bishop TD Jakes and Kevin Hart.

Will remains committed to the community as every year he invites local High School students into the Quantasy offices where he helps mentor and inspire the next generation of marketing professionals.

Will completed his undergraduate studies at Occidental College in Los Angeles and post graduate studies in the Advanced Management Education Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

ANN CARPENTER Commissioner

Commissioner Carpenter was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Janice Hahn. 

KERRY DOI Commissioner

Commissioner Doi was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. Mr. Doi is one of the founders of Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE), a 501(C)3 non-profit community development corporation (CDC) that was founded in 1976. He has been the executive director and president of PACE for the last 39 years. Mr. Doi is an active member of the Board of Directors of a California statewide community development association, California Community & Economic Development Association (CCEDA) and chaired a national Asian Pacific Island community development association, National Coalition of Asian Pacific American Community Development (NaCAPACD).

JOZEF ESSAVI Commissioner

Commissioner Essavi was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Essavi is a small business owner and currently works in the fields of financial and real estate services and serves as private trustee. Essavi served on the Los Angeles County Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Commission, which merged with Alcohol Commission. He now serves as Commissioner on Alcohol and other Drugs Commission. Essavi and his family emigrated to the United States as Assyrian Christian Religious Refugees from Iran during 1980s. He previously served as Assistant Chaplin to our Juvenile Halls and has been involved in numerous private and public efforts to help youth stay away from addiction to drugs and alcohol, mainly through faith and responsibility building programs.

JAMES FINNEY-CONLON Commissioner

Commissioner Finney-Conlon was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

ANGELA GIBSON Commissioner

Commissioner Gibson was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas in 2017.  Gibson is a public affairs veteran with more than 35 years of experience in small business outreach, and community engagement. Gibson has received honors from the National Congress of Black Women, 94.7 The Wave, GLAAACC, National Action Network LA, LA Focus, Our Authors Study Club, Recycling Black Dollars, The Black Business Association, LA Focus, The National Association of University Women, and the Women in NAACP, among others. Gibson currently serves as president of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce.

TYRONE HAMPTON Commissioner

Commissioner Hampton was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Mr. Hampton owns Pasadena Construction and Interiors, a full service, one-stop construction, maintenance, and interior decorating company. Mr. Hampton, who is legally blind, serves as Director of the Northern La County Black Business Association, President of Eye Dreams Inc. 501 © 3, member of Sons of the American Legion, Community Advisory Board Member of Los Angeles Battalion. He is a founding member and past president of the Black Business Association and the Minority Contractors’ Association.

R. CHRISTINE HERSHEY Commissioner

Commissioner Hershey was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. Hershey is president and founder of Hershey Cause Communications. She was a founding member of ANGLE (Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality), a political action committee which spotlights gay and lesbian issues. Her first book, the Communications Toolkit, was published in 2005. Chris also co-authored “2-Minute Answer Guide for Nonprofits,” with The Center for Nonprofit Management. Honored as 2010 Women in Business Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. She is a founding member of the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers, serves on the boards of The R. Scott Hitt Foundation, Southern California Grantmakers, and on national boards of RaiseAChild Foundation and PetSmart Charities. She was appointed to the Los Angeles County “Arts for All” Executive Committee.

FRIEDA HOVSEPIAN Commissioner

Commissioner Hovsepian was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Kathryn Barger. 

Frieda Hovsepian has over 25 years of experience in the engineering and manufacturing industry.  She is currently the Vice President of a manufacturing company— Riedon Inc. Her expertise in digital marketing has resulted in the exponential growth of companies. She specializes in introducing companies to international markets. She also advises local businesses and start-ups on operations expansion and competition in the digital world. 

Frieda is also a board member for two of non-profits.  The first is the One Bicycle Foundation which connects students in developing countries to schools through the power of bicycles.

The second is the Communitas Initiative, which partners with individuals and families to create a pathway out of poverty. They provide comprehensive and personalized poverty prevention and recovery programs. 

JOHN DEANE LEAVENWORTH Commissioner

Commissioner Leavenworth was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

ARTHUR LENSKY Commissioner

Commissioner Lensky was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

SCOTT MAYERS, Ph. D Commissioner

Commissioner Mayers was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

LUCIA MORENO LINARES Commissioner

Commissioner Moreno Linares was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Janice Hahn. 

ANDREW E. RODRIGUEZ Commissioner

Commissioner Rodriguez was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. 

Andrew Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of Walnut, and currently serves as Mayor. When elected and sworn-in, Andrew was California’s youngest councilmember serving in municipal government. During his tenure on the Walnut City Council, Mayor Rodriguez has worked to provide exceptional service to the residents of Walnut; he and his colleagues have balanced the city’s budget annually, updated the city’s general plan for the first time in forty years, and have worked with law enforcement to address public safety issues.

Born and raised in Walnut, Andrew attended public schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Andrew graduated Cum Laude from Rutgers University in New Jersey with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Minor in Planning and Public Policy. While at Rutgers, Andrew found his passion for municipal management and land use policies, gaining valuable experience working for a non-profit redevelopment corporation dealing with urban revitalization issues in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He also worked for a public affairs firm in New York City, with clients in both the private and public sectors.
Andrew returned to California after earning his degree and performed an AmeriCorps service year in Los Angeles, working with high school students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has had private sector experience working as a land use consultant on projects throughout California and has a Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) from the University of Southern California.

In 2014, Andrew spent several months in Australia studying comparative politics at the University of Melbourne. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, Strong Towns and other non-profit organizations.

ANNA S. WU Commissioner

Commissioner Wu was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Janice Hahn. She has a B.A. in Business from California State University, Fullerton. Wu is a former White House Intern for the office of Media Affairs. She has worked for NBC Universal Studios, South Coast Air Quality Management District, City of Pasadena, Bank of America Mortgage, and Wells Fargo. July 2016, Anna Wu was named a finalist for the 2016 Asian Business Award from the Los Angeles Business Journal. Wu is the president and Founder of Wu & Associates, a small, minority, woman-owned, Intellectual property and Business Consulting firm headquartered in Diamond Bar, CA.

KY CHUEON KIM Alternate Commissioner

Commissioner Kim was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke. Kim has decades of experience in investment banking and education, particularly with the Korean community and his native South Korea. Kim is president of the U.S. Procurement Institute in Los Angeles. Kim is Honorary President and a former President of the Korean American Commissioners Association. Kim, who has a Ph.D in Business Administration from Graduate School of The Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio.

ONNIK MEHRABIAN Alternate Commissioner

Commissioner Mehrabian was appointed to the Small Business Commission by Supervisor Michael Antonovich in 2015.

Patrick Wilson Alternate Commissioner

Commissioner Wilson was appointed to the commission by Supervisor Janice Hahn.

Patrick Wilson is the founder of Fast Lane Transportation, Inc., a full-service intermodal transportation and equipment service company with locations in Wilmington, Long Beach, Oakland, and Adelanto, California. Patrick was recently elected to the City Council and now serves as Mayor for the City of Rolling Hills where he has lived for the past 20 years. He is married with three children.

Now Immediate Past President, he was President of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce for 12 years and was a founding member and Treasurer of the Wilmington Neighborhood Council since 2002.  Patrick also serves as Board Chair for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor and is a board member on the Wilmington YMCA, the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce, and the Harbor Trucking Association.

One of his favorite affiliations is serving as Chair of the International Trade Academy Advisory Committee and board member of the International Trade Education Programs (ITEP).  In this position he is able to reach out directly to the underserved youth at Banning High School in Wilmington to help prepare these promising young students for college and careers in the maritime and transportation fields.