Jason Price, took over as Chair in March 2019 (appointed to the CAC in June 2015 by the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office)
Jason Price founded Mach 1 Aviation, Inc. in 2006, a flight school at Van Nuys Airport, where he serves as president and director of operations. A year later, he started Platinum Air Service, Inc., an FAA certified Charter Company specializing in aircraft rental of the Cirrus SR22, as well as a full-service charter broker. In 2009, Price added the Platinum Cirrus Training Center to the portfolio. All three entities are based at the Signature Flight Support West building at VNY.
After studying aviation at Glendale Community College, Price went on to receive his Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and become a Certified Flight Instructor with airplane, multi-engine, and instrument qualifications. He also spent time as an adjunct instructor at Glendale Community College, teaching both classroom and flight classes. As a certified flight instructor, Price is one of only 45 Platinum Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilots in North America. In addition to serving on the CAC, he is past president of the Van Nuys Propeller Aircraft Association. Price moved to Southern California in 1989, from Phoenix, Arizona.
Wayne Williams, elected Vice Chair February 2020 (appointed to the CAC in March 2007 by then Councilmember Jack Weiss and now represents Councilmember Paul Koretz)
As a board member of the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council, Wayne Williams advocated and worked successfully to implement the process of removing Stage 2 noisy jet aircraft from Van Nuys Airport.
Williams is also a member of the Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition working to diminish the impact of helicopter noise over the county. As an outspoken critic of special interest funding of elections, he is also a board member of the California Clean Money Campaign, which is working to limit the influence of money in politics and eventually bring full public funding to local, state and the federal election processes.
Williams has been a professional photographer for more than 30 years, and is now semi-retired, creating HDSereneScapes® films for hospitals, offices and individuals looking to diminish stress and create a more peaceful atmosphere for those unable to get out into nature on a regular basis.
Eliot Cohen (appointed to the CAC in July 2020 by Councilmember Paul Koretz) Brooklyn born Eliot Cohen grew up in Queens and attended Fordham University. After college, he worked as a photographer and helped organize seminars. In 1983, he decided to use his communication skills and spent 35 years as a financial advisor with major-tier investment firms.
Eliot retired in 2018, and was then coaxed back into the financial industry as a managing partner of a boutique private equity firm.
Eliot’s community service started approximately 12 years ago by joining the Encino Neighborhood Council, where he currently serves as Planning and Land Use Chair. He was later asked to serve on the board of the Homeowners of Encino Association, where he now serves as President.
Eliot moved to Encino in 2003. He and his wife Julie raised 4 daughters and 4 dogs. When not working, he enjoys photography, wine tasting hiking with his wife and social distancing with his immediate family.
Kathy Delle Donne (appointed to the CAC in May 2014 by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield)
Kathy Delle Donne lives in Tarzana and has been actively involved with community work for over 20 years. She heads the Tarzana Improvement Association and is a member of the Plan Review Board for the Ventura-Cahuenga Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan.
In 2013, she was appointed to the re:code LA Zoning Advisory Committee. This is a project under the direction of the Los Angeles Planning Department to revise the outdated L.A. City Zoning Code. Donne is the former president of the Tarzana Neighborhood Council and was instrumental in the Council’s formation.
In addition to her volunteer activities, Donne previously owned and operated a property management business.
Leonel Fuentes (appointed to the CAC in October 2018 by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield)
Leonel Fuentes immigrated to the United States from El Salvador in 1989. Since his arrival, he has served the community of the San Fernando Valley through his employment at nonprofit organizations. From 1992 to 2016, Fuentes worked for Build Rehabilitation Industries (Build) where he oversaw programs that placed people into jobs. Under his supervision, Build Industries is credited with placing over 9,000 jobs. Most people served during this time were people with disabilities and hard-to-employ individuals.
In 2016, Fuentes left Build and joined his wife, Michelle Miranda, to jointly run Alliance for Community Empowerment (ACE) in Canoga Park. ACE is a not-for-profit organization that assists young adults and their families with obtaining high school diplomas, gang prevention and intervention, vocational training, mentorship matching, and counseling to target barriers to personal and professional goals. Fuentes serves as the CEO for ACE, and is a board member for the United Chambers of Commerce.
Marykate Harris (appointed to the CAC in October 2019 by Councilmember Paul Krekorian)
Marykate Harris is an actress/dancer/director/choreographer who has successfully directed and choreographed major productions for the stage (operas, operettas, musical comedies, adapted short stories, as well as nightclub acts, church choirs and even magicians’ acts). As an actress, she has extensive credits in film and on television, and has been seen in countless television commercials and print ads.
Harris grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she learned the importance of civic engagement at an early age; first at local and state levels and, later, at national levels. She has been a faculty member in the dance and theater departments at the University of Montana, Cal State Fresno, Kansas University and Pepperdine University, and has taught in private studios and workshops across the country. In addition to her performance career, she was a senior technical writer for 13 years at Intuit, and for the past 10 years has served as the President of the North Hollywood Community Garden (affiliated with the Agriculture Department of North Hollywood High School).
Harris and her husband have lived in Studio City for the past 20 years.
Harold Lee (appointed to the CAC in February 2001 by Councilmember Greig Smith)
Harold Lee is president of Air Sources, Inc., a small propeller leasehold at Van Nuys Airport. Previously, Air Sources, Inc. had a 20-acre leasehold on the northwest side of VNY under the name of Million Air Van Nuys, that was in operation from 1979 to 2007. Lee still retains an FBO leasehold at Burbank under the Million Air Burbank name and has an FBO in Oxnard, operating as Golden West Jet Center.
Between 1975 and 1993, Lee was a practicing California attorney and Certified Public Accountant (licenses in California, Texas, and Hawaii) specializing in corporate and tax matters. He is also a licensed California real estate broker; holds a current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airline Transport pilot’s license with a Citation Jet rating; and was a member of the Los Angeles World Airports and FAA Part 150 study.
Lee is retired and has five children and four grandchildren, and resides in Granada Hill.
Thomas E. Materna (appointed to the CAC in January 2020 by Councilmember David Ryu, District 4)
Thomas E. Materna has always been interested in flying and Van Nuys Airport. As a pilot, he has flown General Aviation aircraft and gliders. He became involved in the community in 2015 attending meetings of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council and participating in local community service events.
Materna graduated from California State University Northridge with a degree in Finance and Real Estate and has worked in the import industry and most recently has helped bring energy efficient LED lighting to industrial consumers.
Materna has been a resident of Sherman Oaks for over 50 years. He is passionate about nature and the outdoors and is a champion catamaran sailor.
Heren Molina (appointed to the CAC in March 2021 by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez)
Heren lives in the 7th District just down the street from the Whiteman Airport. She is a Project Manager for PPC Construction, Inc., LA, CA, where she oversees the construction of multiple water/waste related projects throughout Southern California. In 2005, she obtained her Civil Engineering degree from California State University, Northridge, and has over 15 years of professional water/waste construction management experience. Heren is a current and active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a worldwide professional society. Her extensive involvement in ASCE has led her to serve on numerous board positions. In 2014 - 2015 she served as the Branch President of ASCE Los Angeles in which she represented and served over 4,000 civil engineering professionals living in LA County.
John Parker (appointed to the CAC in February 2014 by the Board of Airport Commissioners)
John Parker is a co-founder of Parker Brown, Inc., a construction company headquartered in Canoga Park. Parker has set the tone for the company's construction operations and corporate management, employs more than 50 people and has received many awards. In 2008 and 2009, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal selected the company as one of the "Best Places to Work in the San Fernando Valley.” Parker served as president of the United Chambers of Commerce (UCC) from 2011- 2012, which is the coordinating group for most of the San Fernando Valley chambers of commerce. He now serves as the Chair of Finance for UCC, and is involved in his church. He is former president of the Men's Club and has been involved with the American Youth Soccer Association for the last 25 years.
Parker was included in the San Fernando Business Journal’s “The 200 most influential leaders in the valley areas” for 2017 and again for 2018.
He was appointed as a commissioner to the county of Los Angeles Building Appeals and Rehabilitation Board by County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and continues his service. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield appointed him as Commissioner to the City of Los Angeles Innovation and Productivity Commission.
Araz Parseghian (appointed to the CAC in March 2018 by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez)
Araz Parseghian has worked in finance for over 18 years, currently serving as senior loan officer for Allied Lending Group. He has also used that time to serve his community. Currently, Parseghian serves as a board member on the Los Angeles Valley College Foundation Board, Community Outreach Committee Chair, and was recently appointed to the Audit Committee. He also serves on a police foundation board and has chaired the Finance and Budget committee for many years, served on the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council Board for two terms and on the Professional Child Development Associates Board.
Parseghian earned his Bachelor of Science in Management and Leadership and a Masters of Business Administration. As an Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Citizens Academy graduate (a federal agency) and through his current service as a board member for the Glendale Police Foundation, he is knowledgeable of current law enforcement issues.
Parseghian has lived in northeast Los Angeles for the past 12 years with his wife and two children.
Lisa Petrus (appointed to the CAC in January 2020 by Councilmember David Ryu, District 4)
Lisa Petrus has been a member of Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) since 2014 and currently sits on the committees for Finance, Transportation and Land Use. Prior to being elected for SONC, she was active in the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association. She also represents CD4 on The Plan Review Board for the VenturaCahuenga Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan. Petrus has a background in the entertainment business as an actress and comedian and has been performing for 30 years throughout the USA and Canada. She and her husband, Leonard, have been residents of Sherman Oaks for over 22 years. Updated 7/8/2021
Eric Robinson (appointed to the CAC in December 2019 by Councilmember Paul Krekorian, District 2)
Eric Robinson is a Grammy-nominated producer, engineer, mixer, songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles, CA. He has worked with Taylor Swift, OneRepublic, Sara Bareilles, Kygo, Sia, Natasha Bedingfield, Switchfoot, Michelle Branch, Colbie Caillat, Matt Nathanson, For King & Country, The Milk Carton Kids, Brooke Fraser and more. On the film and television side, his credits include Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II, The Great Gatsby, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Hills, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call With Carson Daly and more. Eric was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2014 for his work on Taylor Swift’s “Red” album.
Robert Rodine (appointed to the CAC in April 2019 by Councilmember Greig Smith and now represents Councilman John Lee’s District 12)
Robert Rodine established The Polaris Group consulting firm in 1986 after 22 years in corporate finance. His most recent corporate position was Treasurer for the Port of Los Angeles.
Throughout his career, Rodine has consistently engaged in civic activities for numerous organizations. He has served on the boards of: Mid Valley Chamber of Commerce; Valley Industry and Commerce Association; Valley International Trade Association; Mission Community Hospital; Valley Economic Alliance and SCAG Aviation Task Force. He has also been an active member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and a referee for the American Youth Soccer Organization for 17 years.
Rodine served actively in the Navy for over three years and spent 26 years in Active Reserve. He also served as a U.S. Naval Academy Information Officer for 19 years. Rodine has lived in the San Fernando Valley since 1948 and currently resides in Sherman Oaks with his wife.
Doug Decker (appointed to the CAC in November 2023 by Councilmember Imelda Padilla, District 6)
Kentucky born Doug Decker grew up in Louisville and attended the University of Kentucky. After moving to California in 1977, Doug worked as an Assistant Vice President at Wells Fargo Bank in the International Banking Division. He attended night school at the University of California, Berkeley, and has a degree in Accounting.
Doug was always interested in service to his community and served as treasurer on the board of the San Francisco Food Bank for five years. Doug has lived in Lake Balboa since 2001, with his beagle, Becca. He has served on the Neighborhood Watch for 10 years. His interest in the Van Nuys Airport is as a neighborhood advisor."
Alicia Avery (appointed to the CAC in December 2023 by Councilmember Imelda Padilla, District 6)
Alicia Avery is a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich background in public relations, senior care and property management. Originally from Michigan, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors.
In her early career, Alicia served as a public relations specialist in the fashion industry where she collaborated with magazine editors, publicists, celebrities, and wardrobe stylists on red-carpet events as well as print, television, and film projects. Later, Alicia’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community service led her to establish a senior placement agency where she assisted and advocated for her clients and their families. Among many of her important accomplishments in this role, she helped underserved senior citizens secure vital resources through various government programs. Currently, Alicia owns and operates a small business specializing in property management and other real estate ventures.
Since 2015, Alicia has been a proud resident and homeowner in Lake Balboa where she resides with her husband and two daughters. Alicia is actively involved in her community where she volunteers regularly at her daughters’ schools and is a reliable participant in the Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council. In a setting where diversity, equality, and fresh perspectives are needed, she emerges as a dedicated advocate for a resilient and safe community. Alicia firmly believes in the greater good and is dedicated to respectful collaboration among citizens, VNY and local businesses alike and advocates for the best interests of the community as a whole.
Kanchan Mattoo (appointed to the CAC in March 2024 by the Board of Airport Commissioners)
Kanchan Mattoo is a co-founder of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in California. He currently serves as the Chair of the Hollywood Fringe Board of Directors. Kanchan has worked on multiple campaigns including as deputy campaign manager on the City of Los Angeles solar initiative. He previously served as Deputy District Director to former Assemblymember Lloyd Levine. Kanchan also participated in creating the landmark legislation that implemented the nation's first state-wide plastic bag recycling program.
He has been appointed as a council member on the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council by the Board of Airport Commissioners. He also served on the Los Angeles Convention Center and Exhibition Authority commission for the City of Los Angeles, including one year as the commission's President. Before joining the world of politics, Kanchan worked in the film industry on such films as Along Came Polly, Starsky and Hutch, and Dodgeball. He has a Master's Degree from the University of California, Irvine and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland.
