Alumni: Past Honorees

Amy Valenzuela-Mier

Sarah Carrasco — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 19:35:00 +0000

Amy Valenzuela-Mier is descended from the Tongva, Yaqui, Mexican and Irish people. She grew up with a strong connection to the land, hearing stories of her family’s deep Californio roots, and farming with her maternal grandfather. She attended LBCC and earned a full scholarship to Reed College, later also earning a Master’s degree in Public Health from UCLA. Early experiences stoked a strong social and environmental justice impulse, fed at each school she attended.

Dr. Ardel Avelino

Sarah Carrasco — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 22:33:00 +0000

Dr. Ardel Guillamas Avelino, hospital executive, is Senior Director of Operations at St. Mary Medical Center, Dignity Health. A transformational leader, he has extensive experience in healthcare operations. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the hospital as incident commander and was designated as administrator in-charge to partner with the State of California to establish a community drive-thru testing site; 6,313 people in the community were tested.

Dr. Blas Villalobos

Sarah Carrasco — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 22:28:00 +0000

Dr. Blas Villalobos is the Chief Executive Officer of Centerstone’s Military Services. As the Chief Executive Officer, Villalobos leads the organization’s delivery of mental health and substance use disorder services to veterans, active duty military personnel, and military families. Villalobos also leads the organization’s partnerships with other military-friendly organizations, including partnerships with Wounded Warrior Project, Cohen Veterans Network, and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.

Janeen Steel

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 21:00:00 +0000

Co-Executive Director, Learning Rights Law Center - 2018 Honoree

Janeen is one of Southern California’s foremost experts in special-education law. She founded the non-profit Learning Rights Law Center in 2005 to advocate for equity in education for disadvantaged children with disabilities. She has received several awards for her work, has held a number of teaching positions, and has spoken at numerous conferences and workshops. Janeen received a Viking of the Decade Award at the LBCC 85th Anniversary Gala.

Graduated: Spring 1990.

John Fylpaa

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:54:00 +0000

Community Volunteer, LBCC Dean & ASB Cabinet Advisor (Ret.) - 2018 Honoree

John says he sleeps in Fountain Valley but lives in Long Beach. He has dedicated his entire career to bettering LBCC and Long Beach. He currently serves on Meals on Wheels, LBS Financial Credit Union, LBCC Foundation Board of Governors, Grand Prix Foundation, Steel Magnolias, American Legion, and Long Beach POA. John was awarded LBCC Distinguished Alumni, Alumni of the Decade (60’s), Outstanding Colleague (2000), National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development, Administrative Leadership Excellence Award.

Stephen Bowles

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:48:00 +0000

Commander - Support Services, Seal Beach Police Dept. - 2018 Honoree

Stephen has twenty-four years of diverse and varied exemplary law enforcement experience with the Seal Beach Police Department in both the Operations and Support divisions as a Police Commander, Patrol Sergeant, Administrative Sergeant, and Chief’s Adjutant, Traffic Sergeant, served in the Detective Bureau as a Detective Corporal, Patrol Corporal, Volunteer in Police Services Coordinator, Field Training Officer, and Drug Recognition Expert.

Dee Andrews

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:41:00 +0000

Former Vice Mayor, Long Beach City Council 6th District - 2018 Honoree

Dee served as the City Councilman of the Sixth District for thirteen years. He was elected in 2007 in a special election and later re-elected to office in 2008 and 2012. Dee won his third term as a write-in candidate in the 2016 primary election and served until 2020. He has lived in the Central Long Beach area since the age of 5 and is well known throughout the district he so lovingly represents and calls home.

Edwina Romero

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:40:00 +0000

Author, Historian - 2019 Honoree

Edwina is a prolific author of fiction, poetry, and historical works largely centered around Las Vegas, NM. She worked at California State University, Dominguez Hills until 1981 when she moved to New Mexico and began attending a graduate program at New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU). She later earned her Ph.D. in English at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque while teaching at NMHU.

Chuck Martucci

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:38:00 +0000

Community Services Manager, City of Lakewood - 2019 Honoree

Chuck is the Community Services Manager for the City of Lakewood, where he has worked for the past 39 years. In 1992, he organized Lakewood’s first Special Olympics program and, in 1995, established the city’s first Teen Program at the Lakewood Youth Center. In 2000, he was honored as the Special Olympics Volunteer Coach of the Year for Southern California. In 2018, Chuck coached the Lakewood Dirtbags to a silver medal in the Special Olympics USA Games Softball Tournament.

Roger Kemp

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:36:00 +0000

Retired Municipal CEO - 2019 Honoree

Roger has been a City Manager for the cities of Seaside, CA; Placentia, CA; Clifton, NJ; and Meriden, CT. While working full-time in the Office of the City Manager for the City of Oakland, CA he attended school in the evening to earn his Ph.D. He taught graduate seminars at leading universities including the University of California, California State University, Golden Gate University, Rutgers University, Farleigh Dickinson University, University of Connecticut, and the University of New Haven. He wrote, edited, and was a contributing author to nearly 50 books dealing with cities.

Chan Hopson

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:35:00 +0000

Executive Director, Khmer Parent Association - 2019 Honoree

Chan is a former teacher who co-founded the Khmer Parent Association and has served as its volunteer Executive Director since 1995. She has established numerous events, forums, and training in Long Beach dealing with health, inter-generational communication, and employment issues in the Cambodian community. Chan is also the founder of the South-East Asian Scholarship, which has been presenting annual awards to 15 graduating high school seniors for the past 25 years. She has provided over 10,000 volunteer hours to St.

Fidel Aguayo

Paula Barrow — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:26:00 +0000

Assistant City Treasurer, City of Long Beach - 2019 Honoree

Fidel is the Assistant City Treasurer for the City of Long Beach. He plays a vital financial leadership role that ensures funding for the City’s capital projects and infrastructure improvements. His direct responsibilities have a significant impact on the City’s economy and long-term financial condition. As Assistant City Treasurer, he oversees the City’s $3 billion debt portfolio consisting of 44 outstanding bond transactions issued on behalf of the Airport, Gas and Oil, Marinas, Port, and Utility System.

Cynthia Terry

Paula Barrow — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:27:00 +0000

Educator/Administrator

Cynthia Terry is a longtime resident and community volunteer in Long Beach. She obtained her associate degree from LBCC in 1968. She went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from CSULB, and a master’s degree in School Management and Administration from Pepperdine University. Terry is a retired high school principal from the Long Beach Unified School District where she served 38 years. After retirement she became a certified educational leadership coach with the Los Angeles Office of Education, providing personalized support to secondary-level aspiring administrators.

Charles Parks

Paula Barrow — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:26:00 +0000

Retired Long Beach Police Commander

Charles parks earned his AA from Long Beach City College in 1964. He went on to his bachelor’s degree from California State University Long Beach, and his master’s degree from Yale University/Occidental College. Parks was also a graduate of leadership programs that include POST Command College, Leadership Long Beach, and was a National Urban Fellow. Parks was with the Long Beach Police Department for 33 years and retired as a Commander. After retirement, he served as president of the Long Beach Water Commission during two terms of service.

John Malveaux

Paula Barrow — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:24:00 +0000

Concert Promoter/Arts Presenter

John Malveaux became a partner in the concert company World Wide Production in 1967 ad steered the first Motown Review on the west coast, featuring Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, Etta James, and Martha & the Vandellas to the Long Beach Area in 1968. Before moving to Long Beach in 1955, John played French horn in a high school band and orchestra.

Sylvester “Duke” Givens

Paula Barrow — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:17:00 +0000

Photographer

Sylvester “Duke” Givens graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1989 and joined the US Air Force, where he served until 1993. Upon his return, he was given a camera by his parents, which prompted him to take a photography class. That photography course at LBCC sparked his lifelong passion for capturing images of everyday people and was the start of Givens’ career as an award-winning photographer, documentarian, and social activist. He has photographed everything from album covers for his friend Snoop Dogg to the day-to-day life in Long Beach’s 6^th District.

caryn desai

Paula Barrow — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:14:00 +0000

Artistic Director, International City Theatre

caryn desai is the artistic director of the international City Theatre. She earned an AA in acting from LBCC, BA from CSULB in acting and directing, MFA in directing from UC Irvine, and a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London. She also has certificates in Arts Administration, Marketing, and Fundraising. With a full Fellowship, she completed an Executive Program at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business as one of 50 arts leaders in the nation selected for the initial program.