George K. Chen - Mayor, City of Torrance

George Chen was elected Mayor of Torrance on June 7, 2022.

Originally from Taiwan and raised in the United States, George is an alumnus of UCLA with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Before his political career, George had an impressive 33-year tenure at Raytheon, where he contributed significantly to defense electronics for the Untied States' frontline fighter jets.

In 2018, George transitioned into public service as a Torrance Councilmember, driven by his goal to make his hometown pf hub of business and technological innovation. As Mayor, he envisions Torrance as a place where top global talents converge to incubate groundbreaking ideas, and where both domestic and international entrepreneurs are eager to invest.

Fran Fulton - Economic Development Manager, City of Torrance 

Fran serves as the Economic Development Manager for the City of Torrance, bringing more than two decades of expertise in business attraction and retention to this economically diverse city which is a hub for advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, alternative fuel biotechnology, retail, hospitality, and craft breweries.

Through her strategic vision and unwavering dedication, Fran ensures that Torrance remains at the forefront of economic development, innovation, and continues to evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global marketplace.

Karl Schmidt - General Council to Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, Parker Milliken Clark O'Hara & Samuelian, ACP

Danny Santana - Assistant City Manager, City of Torrance

Danny Santana is a native Angelino who began his career with the City of Torrance in 2001. Over the course of 23 years, Danny progressed through the Community Development Department from Planning Intern to Community Development Director in 2019. As Director, he promoted collaboration across technical specialties in order to advance a safe, accessible, and sustainable built environment. Since 2021, he has served as the Assistant City Manager, supporting the City Manager in the operations of a full-service City that is home to the 3rd largest local economy in Los Angeles County.

Danny received a Bachelor's degree from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Urban Studies and Political Science, a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Cal State University Dominguez Hills, a Certificate in Green Building and Environmental Design from Cal State University Fullerton, and previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Planning and Policy at LMU.

Rachid Sayouty - Director, U.S. Commercial Service, Los Angeles Downtown, U.S. Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

Rachid Sayouty is the Director of the Los Angeles Downtown U.S. Export Assistance Center in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. He leads a team of three International Trade Specialists dedicated to opening foreign markets to American products, protecting American Commercial interests abroad, promoting U.S. exports and encouraging foreign direct investment into the United States.

During his service in the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service, Rachid served as Acting Senior Commercial Office in several countries including, Portugal, UAE, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Rachid is member of several trade organizations throughout Los Angeles and serves as Executive Secretary of the Southern California Export District Council and Committee Member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce World Trade Week.

Rachid Sayouty graduated from Saint Francis College in New York with High Honors and MBA from California State University Northridge in Business Administration. Rachid is a recipient of the prestigious U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal and graduate of the U.S. Department of Commerce Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP).

Dr. Tim Stowe - Superintendent, Torrance Unified School District

Dr. Tim Stowe started his tenure as the 8th Superintendent of the Torrance Unified School District on July 1, 2020. He began his career with TUSD in 1992, and has held the positions of teacher, Middle School Assistant Principal, Middle and High School Principal, Sr. Director of Secondary Schools, Chief Academic Officer, and Deputy Superintendent, prior to his appointment as Superintendent. Dr. Stowe is a TUSD graduate, earned his Bachelor of Arts-University of Redlands, Master of Science-University of La Verne, and Doctorate-University of Southern California.

Heidi Assigal - Senior Vice President, Torrance Memorial Health

Heidi Assigal oversees the Torrance Memorial outpatient clinic operations as well as being highly involved in Torrance Memorial planning and development initiatives.  She has been at Torrance Memorial for over a decade and finds it extremely rewarding to support the dedicated clinicians and staff providing exceptional patient care to South Bay residents.   

Debbie Hayes - Sales/Community Relations representative for Discover Torrance

Debbie Hays, known around town as the "Energizer Bunny," was born and raised in Torrance. She's working her dream job as the Sales/Community Relations representative for Discover Torrance, the City's Visitor's Bureau. She considers herself one of the City's biggest cheerleaders, and all day long, she is giving a "T" for Torrance-helping to put this 21-sqaure mile city on the map!

 Jeff Guo - Branch Manager of CTBC Bank Torrance

Jeff Guo is the branch manager of CTBC Bank Torrance branch. He joined CTBC Bank Taiwan in 2013 after getting his finance master's degree of University of Rochester. CTBC Bank is an international bank based in Taiwan having over 375 outlets in 14 countries. With over 10 more years' experience in international and cross border banking industry, Jeff can explore not only the local and international banking resource but also can leverage the network to refer the professionals to facilitate the possible issues when doing cross border business expansion. Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with his two little boys.

Andrea Landi - President of Landi Renzo USA and Board of Directors’ member, Landi Renzo Group

Andrea launched Landi Renzo USA in 2010 and has been a prominent advocate of sustainable mobility. 

Llew Vaughan-Edmunds, Senior Director of Product Management & Corporate Marketing, Navitas Semiconductor

Llew Vaughan-Edmunds is currently Senior Director, Product Management and Corporate Marketing at Navitas. He has over 21 years of power semiconductor experience at leading semiconductor companies including Infineon Technologies and Applied Materials. He has held leadership roles in strategy, engineering, and product management. He holds various degrees from Chapman University and Liverpool University, with patents in semiconductor technology. He is currently Chairman for PowerAmerica and holds various board positions in power semiconductor companies and consortiums.

Felix Vollrath - Vice President, Investments, Rexford Industrial

Rexford Industrial Realty (NYSE: REXR) is one of the most active buyers and developers of industrial real estate in Torrance, and the broader Southern California submarket. Rexford owns and operates approximately 50 million square feet of industrial real estate throughout Southern California. Felix is responsible for Rexford’s investment, acquisitions and development pursuits in Torrance and the broader South Bay submarket. During his eight-year tenure at Rexford, Felix has closed over $2 billion in industrial real estate deals across 50+ unique transactions, including 10 projects in Torrance. Felix is originally from Germany and holds an undergraduate degree in International Business and Asian Markets from the Copenhagen Business School, and a graduate degree in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California.

Larry Lukanish - Senior Vice President, Development, Sares-Regis Group 

Larry Lukanish is responsible for overseeing the acquisition of development and investment properties for the commercial division. He joined the company in October of 1994, and acted as the division’s senior financial analyst and acquisition officer.

Previously, Mr. Lukanish was a secondary marketing executive for a residential mortgage banker in Irvine. Mr. Lukanish received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California at Irvine in 1992, and returned to UCI to earn his Master in Business Administration Degree in 2000. Mr. Lukanish is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association.

**Don Lee stepped in to represent the Sares-Regis Group at SELECT TORRANCE.**

Audrey King - Senior Property Manager, The Muller Company

Audrey King and has been involved in all aspects of commercial real estate for over 35 years, including acquisitions/dispositions/construction/leasing/operations of office / industrial / retail and flex properties throughout the western US.  She has spent the last the last 11 years overseeing 2 commercial property campuses in Torrance for The Muller Company, as they were transitioned into mixed office and medical uses, and recently renovated in 2022.  The Muller Company is an owner/operator of commercial properties throughout California and Phoenix, and is based in Irvine.