SCOTT J. SVONKIN

Scott Svonkin was elected in May to the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees after serving on the San Gabriel Unified School Board.

His career focus has been in public service, particularly on education and non-profits, and as a businessman and experienced community activist. He served as a member of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley’s staff. Currently Senior Advisor to Sheriff Lee Baca, Trustee Svonkin has also served as Chief of Staff for State Assemblyman Paul Koretz and was a Deputy Councilman for West Hollywood. As a chief of staff, Scott was involved in key legislative projects such as: an aggressive anti-crime program focused on getting guns off the streets, the protection of children from tobacco and its advertising arms, and support for public education and working families. As Deputy Councilman, Scott worked on important legislation, community liaison activities, inter-governmental affairs, media relations and constituent services for West Hollywood.

Trustee Svonkin is committed to promoting educational opportunities for all through various organizations. He was recently elected President of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association and has served on the Valley College Foundation Board, the California State University, Northridge Legislative Advisory
Council, the LA PROSPER Board of the Los Angeles Community College District, the Center for Southern California Studies Advisory Board and is a former Chairman of LAUSD Advisory Council District Four. As a health care executive, he arranged for his company to donate almost one thousand computers to public schools.

Concerned about public health, Scott served on the board of the Children’s Hospital L.A. Huckleberry Fund and on the California Respiratory Board where his fellow members elected him President shortly after his appointment. Scott is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the California Credit Union, a billion-dollar financial institution. He is also Chairman of the L.A. County Insurance Commission.

A former businessman with Prudential Insurance, he began in 2001 Scott Svonkin Consulting, a marketing, communications and public affairs firm.

A native of Los Angeles County, Scott attended public schools and served two terms as the Student Member of the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees. He went on to receive his B.A. from Cal State Northridge and later taught a course at Valley College.

During his six and a half years with Prudential, Scott received the company’s Community Champions Rising Star Award for his commitment to helping others, and the Hero Award for creating a voter registration and grassroots-lobbying program.

Scott and his wife Jennifer have a daughter, Rose, and a son, Sam.

July 2011