Lori Ann Farrell

Lori Ann Farrell
Lori Ann Farrell

Lori Ann Farrell

Joint Venture Partner

Lori Ann Farrell is a local government and finance expert with 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Farrell is an innovative and inspirational leader recognized for her leadership in municipal administration, expertise in financial management, passion for improving quality-of-life services in the communities she serves, and an unwavering commitment to ethics in government.

Most recently, Farrell served as the City Manager for the City of Costa Mesa, California. Appointed in 2019, she managed the oversight of City operations across eight departments and over 600 employees, including police, fire, development, public works, parks, information technology and finance departments. During her tenure, the City experienced a

$10 million increase in its General Fund and related reserves, and received a record $16.5 million in Federal, State and County grants for parks and open space. Farrell’s negotiations with the Las Vegas Raiders for their 2024 Summer Training Camp led to a $700,000 investment in local sports fields, a new mobile recreation van for underserved youth, and over $1 million in food and beverage sales for local hotels. In addition, Farrell’s strong relationships at the State level led to a historic $3.5 million planning grant awarded to the City for the future disposition of the 113 acre former State owned developmental center.

Prior to her post as the City Manager of Costa Mesa, Farrell served at the City of Huntington Beach for nine years, as the Assistant City Manager, and as the City’s Chief Financial Officer, where she was responsible for oversight of the City’s 10 departments and $344 million budget. Under her leadership, Huntington Beach achieved its first ever AAA bond rating from Fitch Ratings and increased its General Fund reserves by almost $11 million.

Appointed to the prestigious Board of Harbor Commissioners by former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Farrell served for two years as President of the Board for the second largest container port in the country, responsible for $180 billion in international trade and 30,000 local jobs. She served on the Board for six years in all, participating in global trade missions to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Denmark, Germany, and ports throughout Latin America.

Farrell previously served as the City Controller, and later, Chief Financial Officer, for the City of Long Beach, the 5th largest City in California, overseeing a citywide budget of $2.3 billion.

 

Her leadership and financial acumen are well recognized and have led to numerous awards including the prestigious “Golden Hub of Innovation Award” from the Association of California Cities – Orange County Chapter, and awards from the League of California Cities.

She has been featured on Bloomberg News, ABC News, the Journal of Commerce and National Public Radio for her creative strategies to address local government challenges.

Farrell received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Columbia University and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Barnard College of Columbia University.

Celine Cordero

Celine Cordero
Celine Cordero

Celine Cordero

Executive Vice President

Celine Cordero brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across local, state, and federal government, paired with deep expertise in media relations, crisis communications, and litigation communications. Her career reflects a rare blend of legal training, executive decision-making, and hands-on political acumen, making her an invaluable strategist for public affairs, government advocacy, and crisis response.

Most recently, Celine served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, overseeing deputy mayors responsible for communications, public safety, community safety, and economic opportunity, helping to drive citywide strategies at the highest level of municipal government.

Previously, as Director of External Affairs for Los Angeles World Airports, she managed community relations and air service development, strengthening the city’s global connectivity while ensuring meaningful community engagement. During Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s administration, Celine held several senior roles, including Deputy Mayor for Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations, where she directed the city’s legislative agenda across local, state, and federal levels and built critical coalitions with policymakers. She also served as Associate Director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety, coordinating efforts across law enforcement, emergency management, and public safety agencies. Earlier in her career, she served as a Legislative Aide in the California State Assembly and as a Field Director for the California Democratic Party.

Celine’s commitment to civic leadership extends beyond government. She is a Marshall Memorial Fellow, TELACU Scholar, and Jesse Marvin Unruh State Assembly Fellow. She has contributed her expertise to numerous civic boards, including the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, the Long Beach Mayor’s Education Fund, the Mexican American Bar Association, and the Latina Lawyers Bar Association.

She holds a B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach, and a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law. She is an active member of the California State Bar.

Tim Gallagher

Tim Gallagher
Tim Gallagher

Tim Gallagher

Associate

Tim Gallagher is a go-to guy for developers, non-profits, business owners and government officials who need to get their message out. Gallagher’s vast network of connections makes him an invaluable part of the strategy for public messaging and successful business planning. He has worked with major colleges, national organizations, business associations, developers, cities and counties, political and sports figures, as well as the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization.

Tim started The 20/20 Network in 2007 after 29 years as a reporter, editor and publisher at newspapers in New Mexico, Texas and California. While editing The Albuquerque Tribune in 1994, a reporter at the newspaper won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. Those years in the media fed his appetite for public affairs, which continues in his work at the 20/20 Network. “I hate politics, but I love public policy,” Tim says. His incredible set of contacts helps to create partnerships and opportunities for his clients. “I like solutions.”

Tim and his wife, Cheryl, live in Simi Valley, Calif. They have six children and four grandchildren.

Larry Ash

Larry Ash
Larry Ash

Larry Ash

Associate

479-466-1767

Larry has three decades of experience in business, government and academia. He brings fifteen years as a senior public affairs executive for Southern California Gas Company and Pacific Enterprises (now Sempra Energy), where he ran the company´s Sacramento government relations office. In Washington, Larry served as Assistant to the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Larry specializes in helping major corporations, trade associations and high-profile individuals transform public attitudes on critical issues. He brings a combination of private and public-sector experience to advance the client’s interests. As a seasoned communications professional, Larry applies the tools of media relations, advertising, direct marketing and political strategy to a wide variety of crisis and other communication challenges.

Larry has served clients in a wide variety of industries including agriculture, education, energy, entertainment, environmental management, public safety and telecommunications. He holds a BS in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University and a PhD in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Gary Townsend

Gary Townsend
Gary Townsend

Gary Townsend

Joint Venture Partner

213-741-1500, ext. 560

Gary brings decades of experience to EKA’s Land Use and Property Tax consulting practice. Active in politics since the 1960s, Gary has garnered an unrivaled expertise in government affairs and legislative advocacy. His wealth of experience and understanding of the issues has helped shape successful outcomes for clients and causes.

From 1990 to 2011, Gary served as chief deputy to the last four Los Angeles County assessors. As Chief Deputy, Gary oversaw the largest assessment jurisdiction in the nation and an assessment roll of over one trillion dollars. Prior to working in the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office, Gary served as district director for Congressman Matthew Martinez and chief deputy to Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Woo.

Gary attended California State University at Los Angeles where he was student body president and a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He earned a BA in political and later became president of the Alumni Association. In 2004, the California State University at Los Angeles’s Alumni Association honored Gary with the University Service Award.

Active in numerous charitable endeavors, Gary serves on the board of directors for First Tee of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Junior Golf Foundation and the “Advot” Project. Gary resides in Los Angeles with his wife.

Douglas Rose

Douglas Rose
Douglas Rose

Douglas Rose

Joint Venture Partner

213-741-1500 x525

Doug’s extensive law enforcement experience as a Deputy Sheriff and Deputy District Attorney provides a unique perspective to our litigation and crisis communications practice. Doug served for 26 years as prosecutor in the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the sixth-largest prosecutor’s office in the nation. Doug performed nearly 150 jury trials, serving as the public face of the prosecution in those cases and managing relationships between various parties and witnesses.

In addition, Doug served 12 years as an elected trustee on the pension board for San Diego County, twice being elected chairman of the Board. During that time, he was elected by pension trustees statewide to serve two terms as President of the State Association of County Retirement Systems, a statewide organization for pension systems in California.

In his various roles as prosecutor, trustee and President of a statewide organization, Doug was required to communicate with the media on high profile cases and issues. His real-world experience in working with the media and the public make him an invaluable member of our Crisis Communications teams, where the crafting of responses and presence on camera are vital skills.

Doug is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles where he majored in history. He earned his law degree at Southwestern School of Law.

Jeff Michael

Jeff Michael
Jeff Michael

Jeff Michael

Joint Venture Partner

Jeff Michael is an award winning, veteran television journalist who has been reporting in Los Angeles for three decades.

Most recently Jeff co-anchored the CBS2 News at 5pm, 6pm & 11pm while also appearing on KCAL9 evening newscasts. Prior to that, for eighteen years, Jeff anchored and reported for KTTV, Fox11 News. He co-created and launched Fox11’s 5pm news-interview show, Studio 11 LA  and was the Co-Anchor of the Fox11 10 O’clock News.

Jeff began his Los Angeles reporting career at KABC-TV in 1990 as a Crime Specialist; a niche that had brought him national attention while reporting for WSVN-TV in Miami, Florida.

He has covered every major Southern California news event over thirty years including the beating of Rodney King, the LA Riots, the arrest and trial of O.J. Simpson, the funerals of presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and more wildfires than he cares to count.

Jeff has also reported on many national and international news events including the Oklahoma City bombing, the Aurora Colorado theater mass shooting, the US arrest of Manuel Noriega in Panama, national political conventions, presidential elections, both space shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters and three of the country’s last four major hurricanes. He is the recipient of a number of Emmy, Golden Mic and Associated Press awards.

Marcia Lewis Smith

Marcia Lewis Smith
Marcia Lewis Smith

Marcia Lewis Smith

Joint Venture Partner

Marcia applies her extensive background as a successful producer and writer of network television and documentaries to the benefit of EKA’s clients. Her understanding of people and how to talk to them is her tool to tell your story in a way the audience can consume easily and understand quickly. Marcia takes complicated ideas and makes them simple.

Keeping a project or client on message is critical to a positive outcome. Marcia creates a coherence and voice for each project that reflects the values of the audience, stakeholders and venue to which it is being portrayed. In working across many of our practices, she gives our clients the talking points and language with which to communicate their vision; creating a comfort zone for them in their appearances with decision makers and the public. Her scripts for commercials, project videos and to-the-point web segments deliver the client’s messages with an effectiveness that is measurable.

Marcia has been associated with EKA since its inception in 2005 and is a veteran of many campaigns including political, development, community education and reputation management. As a television producer and writer, her programs have received multiple award nominations and recognition. She is a Senior Lecturer for Boston University’s College of Communication and a twice appointed former Beverly Hills City Commissioner.

Kathy Jones Irish

Kathy Jones Irish
Kathy Jones Irish

Kathy Jones Irish

Joint Venture Partner

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Ms. Irish has more than 30 years of public and private sector professional experience in program management, project and personnel management in the fields of transportation, engineering, procurement, local government, waste management, water resource planning, workforce development, and corporate philanthropy.

In 2013, Kathy was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Board of engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. During 2015, her colleagues elected her to serve as President of the Board and she is presently a member of the Board. Kathy is involved in Board outreach to encourage licensure among aspiring engineers and regularly works with Board staff on matters relating to vendor procurement.

Kathy is a graduate of Occidental College and holds a Certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the Claremont Graduate School. She is a former Coro Fellow, served as a Congressional intern for United States Congressman Don Edwards, and was a Legislative Intern for former State Legislator and Congressman Alan D. Wheat. Kathy has received numerous commendations for public service, public policy engagement and community investment. She lives in Pasadena, California and is the proud mother of her son, Brandon Carleton Irish.

Jennifer Andrews

Jennifer Andrews
Jennifer Andrews

Jennifer Andrews

Joint Venture Partner

Jennifer Andrews is an award-winning communications professional with a proven track record in developing and executing innovative strategies across multiple industries. Renowned for her corporate issues, crisis management, and media relations expertise, Jennifer transforms complex issues into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.

Previously, Jennifer was Director of Communications for Waste Management, Inc. (now WM), responsible for the company’s comprehensive communications strategy and reputation management. She directed high-profile crisis communications efforts, including those involving litigation and regulatory challenges, ensuring the company maintained a positive public image and strong stakeholder relations.

She was also Director of Communications at Cox Communications, developing and implementing statewide internal and external communications strategies for California. Her leadership ensured cohesive and effective organizational communication, enhancing brand reputation and customer engagement.

Jennifer served as a key member of the corporate communications department at Sempra Energy, the parent company of SoCal Gas and San Diego Gas & Electric. She managed media relations and financial communications, both domestically and internationally, strengthening the company’s public and financial profiles.

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from New York University. She has advanced her professional skills through prestigious programs such as the Public Relations Leadership Forum and the Arthur W. Page Society’s Future Leaders Experience.

An active member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Jennifer is dedicated to advancing best practices in communications. She regularly contributes her expertise to these organizations, helping shape the profession’s future.

With her extensive experience and recognized expertise, Jennifer Andrews is a leader in the communications field. Her strategic approach and ability to manage complex issues make her an invaluable asset to any organization.