LOS ANGELES, January 8, 2025 – Central City Association (CCA) today announced new Board members, Policy Committee Chairs, and Political Action Committee (PAC) leadership — along with a new, unprecedented joint PAC endorsement process uniting major business organizations across the region.

The leadership additions come as Los Angeles voters head into a critical election year that will determine city and county leadership, and decide policies impacting housing affordability, small business survival, and the fiscal health of government services relied upon by millions of Angelenos.

“Downtown and main streets across Los Angeles County are at an inflection point,” said Nella McOsker, President & CEO of Central City Association. “As budgets tighten and the cost of living continues to rise, our region’s ability to support workers and families depends on keeping employers here, attracting more employers, and helping businesses grow. CCA’s leadership is focused on delivering practical policies that strengthen our economy and increase the services Angelenos count on.”

CCA’s Board of Directors represent key sectors that power the regional economy and guide the organization’s governance and advocacy, with a focus on policies that drive investment, job creation, and Downtown recovery. Priority efforts include advancing the Revive DTLA Action Plan, expanding Adaptive Reuse, addressing the Oceanwide Plaza “graffiti towers,” and preparing the region for global events including the World Cup and Olympic Games.

New members joining the 2026 CCA Board of Directors include: 

• Eric Bullard, Dean, UCLA Extension
• Dana Debel, Managing Director, State and Local Government Affairs, Delta
• David Waite, Partner, Cox Castle & Nicholson
• Jannelle Watson, Regional Public Policy, Amazon
• Maria Ventura, Regional Public Affairs Manager, SoCalGas

Though it represents less than one percent of the City of Los Angeles’ land area, Downtown Los Angeles generates roughly 30% of the City’s business, parking, and transient occupancy tax revenues. Its population has tripled since 2000, now rivaling Santa Monica, and nearly one-quarter of all new housing built in Los Angeles over the last decade has been delivered in DTLA — underscoring its outsized role in the region’s economic health.

“Los Angeles cannot succeed unless its economic engine does,” said Clare De Briere, Chair of the CCA Board of Directors and Founding Partner of C+C Ventures. “With the right leadership and smart policies, we can strengthen our businesses, protect jobs, and ensure that investment benefits communities from Woodland Hills to Wilmington.”

The CCA PAC will help lead a first-of-its-kind joint endorsement interview process, aligning the business community’s voice across Los Angeles County. Participating organizations include the Hollywood Chamber PAC, BOMA PAC, VICA PAC, BizFed PAC, and L.A. Jobs PAC, ensuring candidates hear directly from the employers and workers driving the region’s economic activity.

2026 CCA PAC Chairs include:

• Diana Boyadjian, Senior Government Affairs Manager, SoCalGas
• Amalia Paliobeis, Vice President, Co-Head of Investments, Equity Residential

The first joint endorsement meeting will take place January 14, featuring candidates seeking offices representing the San Fernando Valley, Downtown, and South Los Angeles.

CCA’s Policy Committees play a central role in shaping policy positions and major initiatives. These include: Housing & Land Use Development (HLUD); Transportation, Infrastructure & Energy (TIE); and Tourism & Economic Development (TED). 

2026 Policy Committee Chairs are:

Housing & Land Use Development (HLUD)

• Beth Gordie, Partner, Paul Hastings
• Michael Headrick, Senior Vice President and District Manager, PCL
• Jeff McConnell, Partner, Englander Knabe & Allen

Transportation, Infrastructure & Energy (TIE)

• Jessica Duboff, Director, Government Relations, HNTB
• Melissa Garrett, Director of State and Local Government Affairs, United
• Adam Lane, State & Local Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager, Waymo

Tourism & Economic Development (TED)

• Veronica Davey, Director of Community Response & Recovery, Chrysalis
• Amanda Staples, Vice President, State & Local Government Relations, JPMorgan Chase
• Arlen Valdivia, Vice President, State & Local Government Affairs, Motion Picture Association

This year’s priorities include adaptive reuse, development reform, and increasing the housing supply at all income levels for the Housing & Land Use Development (HLUD) committee; the movement and energy consumption of millions of additional visitors for the Transportation, Infrastructure & Energy (TIE) committee; and amplifying initiatives focused on job creation, investment, and community vitality through the Tourism & Economic Development (TED) committee.

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Contact

Marie Lloyd, 805-729-3118, mariesuzannelloyd@gmail.com

About CCA

Central City Association (CCA) is the premier advocacy organization in the Los Angeles region and leading visionary on the future of Downtown. Through advocacy, influence and engagement, CCA enhances Downtown’s vibrancy and increases opportunity in the region. For 100 years, CCA has produced meaningful results for its members, Downtown and the greater Los Angeles area. It represents a coalition of businesses, nonprofit organizations and institutions in Los Angeles County. For more information, please visit www.ccala.org.