ABOUT
Community Connections is a woman-minority-owned small business prime. Our team reflects the history and culture of the community with over 100 years of combined experience within the Greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Our team consists of fully bilingual personnel in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Armenian, and Romanian. We have various completed and ongoing projects with LACMTA, OCTA and various cities, providing the community with valuable information that will enhance their quality of life. We specialize in partnering with key stakeholders and community-based organizations and have ongoing relationships with numerous elected officials. Our stakeholder engagement, strategic planning and outreach strategies will far exceed your agencies goals for a successful project or program.
MEET THE TEAM
Theresa Martinez
Principal-in-Charge
Ms. Martinez has more than 25 years of experience integrating her expertise in grassroots community outreach in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. She has successfully organized and managed large public outreach and engagement programs, including facilitating high-profile events and activities for the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce. Skilled at building strong working relationships with local government, targeted organizations and community stakeholders, Ms. Martinez has a superior record of working with underutilized community demographics to formulate beneficial programs and issue resolutions.
Ms. Martinez founded the non-profit National Latina Business Women Organization serving as their National President. She is a commissioner on the Hospital Supplier Diversity Commission and serves as a Board Director for the Wall Las Memorias and the Hispanic Coalition of Small Business (HCSB).
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Desiree Portillo-Rabinov
Strategic Project Manager
Ms. Portillo-Rabinov is an experienced senior project manager and community development professional with a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget. She has strong communication skills to resolve complex issues, analyze and prepare reports and summaries, and effectively lead cross-functional teams to facilitate and innovate for project execution.
She currently serves as a Strategic Project Manager in providing transportation planning and outreach strategies in Southern California. Ms. Portillo-Rabinov worked for Los Angeles Metro for over 30 years and coordinated developing the Transit-supportive Planning Toolkit and implemented a web-based format for the TOD program, grant-funded 8 cities within a $3.1 million budget for Round 5 for TOD and TIF planning documents, co-developed the West Santa Ana Branch TODSIP implementation award corridor program. She currently serves as Board Trustee for Glendale Community College and on The Trust for Public Land, State Co-Chair, California Advisory Board, the National Women’s Political Caucus - Los Angeles Chapter as past President,American Planning Association, Los Angeles Chapter member as well as the Walk Bike Glendale- Arroyo Verdugo Trail Committee Co-Chair.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Frank Banos
Community Outreach Specialist
Mr. Banos is an outreach specialist with strong leadership, market analysis and staff coordination capabilities. He has solid networking skills, having developed city, state, and federal government contacts instrumental to the success of community programs. He has revitalized programs and achieved significant public support.
Mr. Banos has implemented various plans with community stakeholders to ensure integration of common objectives. He has superior communication skills based on directing staff and community relationship management.
His role is currently that of Community Outreach Specialist for the Mobility Wallet Project for LA Metro, supporting Metro staff as interpreter in CBO program workshops to share the Mobility Wallet application/link and register individuals for the program as well as conducting bus intercepts.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Attila Juhas
Digital Communications / Website Specialist
Subcontractor
Mr. Juhas has 20 years of experience in media production. He provides exceptional media services including Architectural 3D Visualization, 3D Animation, video production, graphic design, and web design. His goal is to use his experience and love for design to help people and companies stand out from the crowd, draw an audience, and convey their messages clearly. Mr. Juhas wants the videos and stunning designs he creates for his clients to tell stories capable of keeping their audience’s attention – and to effect change even when words aren’t present. Mr. Juhas recently developed a new technology (IAV | Interactive Architectural Visualization) where agencies can present their upcoming project in an interactive 3D scene. Mr. Juhas founded AJ Design in 1997.
Mr. Juhas worked on virtual flyover video of the Vermont Transit Corridor Project route as well as many other Metro projects.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Everett Bell
Deputy Project Manager
Reverend Everett Bell, Jr. has been championing the causes of underserved populations for over 20 years. As the Founder and Director of Impact Southern California CDC in Los Angeles, he has addressed these problems in some of the most marginalized communities in Southern California. He believes that by creating solution-oriented partnerships with elected officials, corporate partners and non-profit organizations, the obdurate community challenges such as anemic economic development, reentry, trauma relating to violence, and the absence of job placement can be addressed.
Mr. Bell served as the Deputy Project Manager for the Vermont Transit Corridor Project (VTC) for 15 months and was instrumental in coordinating community-based partnerships with the African American churches along the VTC. He currently serves as a Senior Outreach Coordinator for the Mobility Wallet Project for LA Metro serving the African American community in Southeast Los Angeles.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Anna Finlay
Digital Communications
Subcontractor Kleinfelder Construction Services
Ms. Finlay is a highly motivated, creative, and versatile community outreach and graphic design professional. She provides comprehensive community outreach/public relations consultation strategies to public agencies on multi-million dollar transportation infrastructure projects. Her experience includes facilitating and overseeing the implementation process, and providing quality control for various projects, branding activities, and special events. She is adept at developing public outreach campaigns that garner meaningful support from key stakeholders and building a rapport with impacted communities in order to highlight project benefits, ultimately creating project champions.
In addition to working closely with community partners and stakeholders to increase project awareness, she designs a wide variety of marketing materials for transportation, public works, and private sector projects such as annual reports, financial reports, posters, static and digital displays, fliers, websites, directional signage, brochures, advertisements, motion graphics, direct mailers, multimedia displays, interactive presentations, interactive maps, catalogs, newsletters, and display booths. Ms. Finlay is also responsible for drafting, launching, and maintaining social media campaigns for numerous projects.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Ray Galan
Director of Digital Marketing
Norma Gomez
Senior Outreach Specialist
Ray Galan is our Director of Digital Marketing. Ray provides support with projects specializing in online marketing, e-commerce, web development, and online branding. Ray has worked on various contracts with city and privately funded community projects throughout the United States and abroad, with recent contracts with LAUSD, City of Montebello, City of Arroyo Grande, CA and Los Angeles Regional Centers.
Ray has proven results in helping organizations with their online business model: How to revamp their site to improve ROI, strategize and apply new web development tools to improve performance, implement CRM solutions to strengthen business and customer relationships, and implement e-commerce solutions to create sales. Ray also is an expert in E-Marketing; specializing in planning, executing, and maintaining a strong online marketing mix to maximize online efficiency, branding, and reach targeted audiences.
Ray has served on our Metro Vermont Transit Corridor Project and reached over 2,000 stakeholders along the corridor to gather input on their thoughts for a bus rapid transit or rail system along the corridor.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Ms. Gomez’ 20 year plus career includes working in Public Accounting, Corporate Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Community Outreach, Supplier Diversity, Non-Profit and most recently in the Financial Services and Insurance Sector.
Ms. Gomez served as Senior Outreach Specialist for our Metro Title VI Limited English Proficiency Study, conducting focus groups in Spanish and English with CBO's.
Ms. Gomez started her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in the Audit and Business Advisory Services. She eventually led the West Region in Diversity Recruitment, where she worked with numerous organizations to create and attain the tools necessary for the hiring and promotion of women, people of color, and underrepresented groups.
In 2007, Ms. Gomez joined the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) as their first Chief Operating Officer. In 2019, she joined the LA Latino Chamber of Commerce as their CEO. In her most current role at New York Life, she has facilitated financial literacy workshops at businesses and University campuses educating underrepresented communities on the importance of financial planning.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Joseph Perez
Senior Community Outreach Specialist
Erika Dominick
Graphic Designer/Public Outreach Specialist
Subcontractor Kleinfelder Construction Services
Mr. Perez has more than 20 years of experience working with public and private agencies to develop, implement, and manage environmental, labor compliance, outreach, and sustainability programs. He began his career using AutoCAD and Softdesk to create street improvements designs, storm drain and water improvement plans, grading plans, tract maps, street details, and exhibits for DreamWorks, LA Metro Segment 3 Redline extension, and MTA Headquarters Building/Space Plan Interior Design.
His familiarity with public sector projects allowed him to transition into managerial roles including Vulcan Materials Company/Solution Strategies Inc., and Outreach, Community Programming, and Strategic Planning Divisions for the Greater Los Angeles Area.
He has successfully managed, developed, and implemented community outreach programs for various public and private sector programs and projects to create solutions and resolution to common goals. He worked in the capacity of Strategic Outreach Manager for the VTC project, Title VI LEP project and the MW project.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Ms. Dominick is a professional graphic designer with over five years of experience and a history of achievement and innovation in producing high quality materials for outreach, marketing and advertising projects.
She designs a wide variety of marketing materials for transportation, public works and private sector projects, such as annual reports, financial reports, posters, static and digital displays, flyers, websites, directional signage, brochures, advertisements, motion graphics, direct mailers, multimedia displays, interactive presentations, interactive maps, catalogs, newsletters and display booths.
She is also a Community Outreach Specialist and has worked on our Vermont Transit Corridor Project (VTC) and Mobility Wallet Project (MW) for LA Metro providing support for workshops and events as well as final report design and implementation.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Ed Dielman
Public Outreach Specialist / Graphic Designer
Subcontractor Kleinfelder Construction Services
Tamara Gould
Graphic Design and Visual Communication Specialist
Mr. Dielman is an innovative and versatile Graphic Designer with 17 years of experience creating and producing high quality materials for outreach, marketing, and advertising projects.
Working closely with clients to understand each project’s requirements and ultimate goals, Mr. Dielman works collaboratively to develop compelling and effective print and digital marketing materials tailored to the targeted audiences.
He has an advanced mastery of the latest design software and has experience designing a plethora of marketing collateral — from informational brochures and signage to advertisements, presentation materials, and promotional giveaways.
Mr. Dielman has worked to support our Vermont Transit Corridor and Mobility Wallet Projects.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Ms. Gould has nearly 25 years of professional experience as a branding specialist, graphic designer and artist. Before founding her business, Waking State Design, Ms. Gould worked closely with some of the most esteemed design visionaries of our time, Deborah Sussman, Paul Prejza, and Jon Jerde. These experiences coupled with her fine art education informed her professional vision, work ethic, creativity and open-minded approach to solving design problems.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Jessica Stock
Outreach Support
Subcontractor Kleinfelder Construction Services
Gina Chapa
Bilingual Public Outreach Coordiantor
Subcontractor Kleinfelder Construction Services
Jessica Stock is a resourceful, motivated, results-driven public relations professional with experience gained through both classroom and hands-on environments. She is proficient in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel and skilled in social media marketing, event planning, fundraising campaigns, copywriting, and partner relations/communications. Jessica is an excellent communicator with the ability to connect with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
Ms. Stock brings a fresh eye and a valuable perspective to each new project and has worked on our Vermont Transit Corridor and Mobility Wallet Projects.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Gina Chapa is an experienced Bilingual Public Outreach Coordiantor which relevant public realations, marketing, and client relations experience. She has skillfully fostered relationships with federal agenecies as well as community partners by utilzing her connections with consultants and public interest groups. She has built strong relatioships with tribal and native indigenous communites, educating, and faciliating leadership camps. Ms. Chapa is a fluent Spanish speaker and writer. She is proficeint in Portguues and is trained in Community Based Particpaorty Research, Program Planning and Implementation.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE
Jocelyn Jimenez-De Leon
Bilingual Public Outreach Coordiantor
Subcontractor Kleinfelder Construction Services
Jocelyn Jimenez-De Leon is an experienced Bilingual Public Outreach Coordinator with relevant public relations, marketing, and client relations experience. She has skillfully fostered relationships with federal agencies as well as community partners by utilizing her connections with consultants and public interest groups.
FULL BIO INFORMATION: CLICK HERE