Erikk Aldridge, Vice President of Impact, LA28

 
Erikk Aldridge has dedicated his life to advocating for and developing social impact programs that have enriched the lives of thousands of Angelenos. At LA28, Erikk serves as the steward for delivering the organizing committees’ commitments to community engagement, impact and legacy ahead of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He is charged with expanding LA28’s commitment to economic empowerment including supporting the development of community business and procurement opportunities and workforce pathways and local hiring ahead of the 2028 Games. Erikk joined LA28 after an extensive career in public relations, social impact, community relations and corporate philanthropy with AEG, Disney, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Lakers and was responsible for driving several nationally and locally recognized programs and initiatives for youth, community members and businesses. Erikk spent 6 years in nonprofit leadership as the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Venice. He also served for seven years as an adjunct professor at USC in the Annenberg School of Communication and is currently on the board of directors for UC San Diego Athletics and UC San Diego where attended undergrad and played on the baseball team. Erikk is a native of Inglewood, California. 

Andrea Ambriz, General Manager of Exposition Park, and President of the Exposition Park Foundation 

Andrea Ambriz serves as the General Manager of Exposition Park, one of the largest public, open spaces in the heart of Los Angeles welcoming millions of visitors annually. With a commitment to building healthy, vibrant and safe communities, General Manager Ambriz was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to steward Exposition Park and bring her experience working successfully in community and policy development and engagement. As well, Ambriz serves as the founder and President of the Exposition Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to foster public-private partnerships to build the next 100 years of Exposition Park and meet its community development, infrastructure, and sustainability goals prior to the LA2028 Games and beyond. 

She is Board President of the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Commission and Vice President of the Municipal Improvement Corporation of Los Angeles. She is a Los Angeles native, and earned undergraduate degrees from DePaul University, and holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Ken Billups, Vice President of Economic Inclusion and Social Impact, AECOM

Ken Billups is AECOM’s Vice President of Economic Inclusion and Social Impact for the company’s Southern California region. He leads the regional strategy and implementation across business participation, workforce development, access to career opportunities, youth-focused educational initiatives, and strategic community engagement. As a proud Angeleno and nearly two decades of experience, Ken is recognized for championing access, opportunity, and meaningful engagement across projects that support local hiring, small business growth, and community investment. 
 
Most recently, he served as the business, workforce, and community lead for the Intuit Dome project, home of the LA Clippers and is now AECOM’s Lead for Impact and Legacy as the Official Venue and Infrastructure partner for the LA28 Games. 

He also supports key regional strategies for clients such as the City and County of Los Angeles, LA Metro, Los Angeles World Airports, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. 

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, 37th Congressional District in Los Angeles County.  

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, and the House Committee on the Judiciary. She is the Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Brazil Caucus, and Policy Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. 

In Congress, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove aspires to L.E.A.D. by prioritizing Land, Economic Justice, Art, and Democracy. Through her work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove was able to help secure the release of her constituent Eyvin Hernandez, a Los Angeles County Public Defender who was wrongfully detained in Venezuela for nearly two years. Additionally, she passed the GRATEFUL Act to ensure that locally-employed U.S. embassy staff—especially those from countries in the developing world—can immigrate to the U.S. as promised after an honorable career of service. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove is also a fierce advocate for the African diaspora both in California’s 37th District and around the world.

Prior to her time in Congress, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove spent her career advocating for communities and families. Upon graduation from the University of Southern California, she worked to advance job creation and public arts programs with Rebuild LA and the Los Angeles Festival, two nonprofits dedicated to uplifting communities in Los Angeles.  

In addition to her advocacy work, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove brings to Congress nearly a decade of experience serving the people of Los Angeles in local office and the state legislature. In 2013, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove was appointed to the Los Angeles County Commission on Children and Families, and in 2015, she was elected to the Los Angeles Community College Board. She successfully ran for California State Assembly in 2018 and California State Senate in 2021. She will always be a strong voice for justice and our most vulnerable community members as she continues her commitment to public service in the House of Representatives. She lives in the district with her husband, stepchildren, and rescue cat.

Abigail Marquez, General Manager, Community Investment for Families Department, City of Los Angeles

Abigail Marquez has dedicated more than twenty-two years to public service with the City of Los Angeles, advancing anti-poverty programs and policies that support low-income communities.

Mrs. Marquez has built a distinguished career with the City of Los Angeles, advancing innovative, equity-focused programs that expand opportunity for diverse and underserved populations. She has championed sector-based workforce strategies to connect low-income Angelenos to quality, better-paying jobs and led the expansion of HIRE LA’s Youth, increasing participation to 20,000 youth annually. Her work has consistently focused on designing and scaling impactful initiatives that address systemic barriers to economic mobility.

In her current role as General Manager, she oversees the City’s Consolidated Plan, directing approximately $120 million annually in federal funding to support capital projects and critical social service systems. She has driven major initiatives, including Los Angeles’ $38 million Guaranteed Basic Income pilot—one of the largest in the nation—and homelessness prevention strategies. Across her tenure, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing inclusive, data-driven solutions that improve outcomes for communities across Los Angeles.

At the direction of the Mayor, Mrs. Marquez is currently leading the consolidation of four City departments—CIFD, the Youth Development Department (YDD), the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), and the Department of Aging (DOA)—into the newly formed Community Investment Department. This effort is focused on creating a more unified and coordinated service delivery system that better aligns resources, reduces fragmentation, and improves outcomes.

Hugo Ortiz, Vice President, CRCD Enterprises

Hugo Ortiz is an operations executive and geospatial professional with over 20 years of experience in public sector leadership, project management, and GIS-driven operations. In his current role as Vice President of Operations and Administration at CRC Enterprises, he oversees enterprise systems development, operational strategy, and cross-functional team management, with a focus on streamlining processes, integrating geospatial technologies, and improving organizational efficiency.

Hugo’s work centers on geospatial systems development, operational process optimization, and data-driven project management. He has helped organizations improve service delivery and infrastructure management, including building enterprise geodatabases, implementing workflow and reporting systems, and deploying GIS-based tools for planning and decision-making. Known for his ability to translate complex data into actionable insights, Hugo brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to projects that require cross-functional coordination, systems thinking, and stakeholder engagement.

Before joining CRC Enterprises, Hugo held senior leadership roles with the City of Los Angeles, including District Director positions where he managed capital improvement programs, infrastructure tracking systems, and community-focused initiatives. His background includes work in government administration, economic development consulting, and public infrastructure planning, giving him a broad perspective on how data, policy, and operations intersect to drive community impact.

Hugo is especially passionate about leveraging technology and data to improve public services and organizational performance. He is committed to delivering efficient, transparent, and community-centered solutions, and his work is guided by values of collaboration, innovation, and service.

He holds a Master of Science in GIS from the University of Redlands and a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and is a certified FAA Remote Pilot.

Councilmember Curren Price, Council District 9, Los Angeles

Since 2013, LA City Councilmember Curren Price has been a catalyst for positive change in South Central Los Angeles. A native of the district he represents, Councilman Price has spearheaded efforts to increase wages, enhance worker protections, stimulate economic growth, and cultivate a cleaner, safer environment.

His unparalleled leadership has resulted in landmark labor policies, such as wage raises for hotel workers, the implementation of a $15 minimum wage for LA workers, and the successful advocacy for the Ban the Box ordinance, which prohibits employers from inquiring about criminal convictions on job applications, and the Los Angeles Fair Work Week policy, requiring large retail establishments to offer advance notice of work schedules, rest periods, and predictability pay. Price’s advocacy extends to decriminalizing street vending, where he played a crucial role in establishing the City’s sidewalk vending ordinance. Known for actively combating generational poverty, he has worked tirelessly to create pathways for opportunities for working families, with a particular focus on supporting immigrant communities and people of color.

In 2021, Price launched the nation’s largest Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program—an initial $6 million initiative for Council District 9 that expanded to a $40 million effort, benefiting over 3,200 households citywide. Moreover, Councilmember Price has been instrumental in securing billions of dollars in private investments for District 9, including the acclaimed Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and BMO Stadium (formerly known as Banc of California Stadium), which is the proud home of Major League Soccer team, the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). These transformative projects have not only revitalized the community but also fostered economic growth by creating thousands of jobs, prioritizing local hires, and offering valuable job training and business opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses.

Re-elected with resounding support in 2017 and 2022, Councilmember Price remains steadfast in his commitment to addressing the housing crisis, reducing homelessness, supporting businesses, enhancing public safety, and improving the overall quality of life for District 9 residents.

Veronica Vitela, Director of Economic Development, CRCD.

With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Veronica leads initiatives that empower underserved communities through small business development & financial education. 

She oversees a wide range of services to support entrepreneurs and small business owners, including access to capital, business planning, permitting, certifications, and workforce development. Veronica also manages CRCD’s Financial Education Services, including the VITA Tax Assistance Program, with a focus on current and former foster youth. Her team delivers workshops and coaching on budgeting, credit building, banking, entrepreneurship, and soon, homeownership. Equipping individuals and families with tools for long-term financial stability. 

As a former small business owner herself, Veronica brings a personal connection to the work. It feels especially meaningful to now support other entrepreneurs through their journeys, offering the guidance and resources she once needed. Her lived experience helps her serve as both a coach and a connector, making sure no one feels like they have to figure it out alone. 

Veronica studied psychology at Cal State LA, which continues to shape how she approaches economic development. She understands that building a business or changing financial habits isn’t just about tools, it’s also about mindset. The psychology of money and entrepreneurship plays a big role in how people take risks, recover from setbacks, and build confidence in their own potential. 

Libby Williams, Director of Small Business & Policy, City of Los Angeles, Office of Mayor Karen Bass  

Libby Williams is currently the Director of Small Business & Policy for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, where she is responsible for driving initiatives, policies, and programs that support small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the City of Los Angeles. Her passion for the success of local small businesses comes from her experience in the Mayor’s Office, Los Angeles LDC, LAUSD and LA Community College District’s Small Business Programs, USC Center for Economic Development, the blue-ribbon Los Angeles Economy and Jobs Committee, Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation, her economic development consulting company, Williams Consulting and from the LAEDC where she began her career. She has a BA and an MPA from California State University Long Beach, a Masters in Leadership from USC, and a certificate in Real Estate from the USC Lusk Center.