Areva Martin
Chair
California Legislative Black Caucus

Areva Martin is the founding and managing partner of Martin & Martin, LLP, selected as one of Los Angeles’ top African-American law firms in 2007 by LA Focus Newspaper. She is a member of the firm’s Litigation, Labor and Employment, and Education Practice Groups. Ms. Martin handles matters involving single plaintiffs, and multi-party litigation involving sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation (based on public policy and whistleblower statutes), wrongful termination, independent contractor/common law employee status, overtime and other wage and hour issues, and various other contract and tort theories.

She successfully defends employers against administrative claims including discrimination charges filed with the EEOC and DFEH, and Labor Code Section 132a retaliation charges before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. She has extensive experience reviewing personnel policies and employee handbooks and advising employers regarding terminations, wage and hour issues, employment contracts, severance agreements, workplace violence, and trade secrets/confidentiality issues. Ms. Martin also has extensive experience representing governmental entities and high-profile individuals, managers and executives.

Ms. Martin has tried cases in state and federal court, and before administrative tribunals. She formerly served as an arbitrator and mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court where she mediated nearly 100 matters. Ms. Martin has conducted workplace investigations and provided training regarding employment issues, such as common law employee/independent contractor issues, sexual harassment and termination policies. She has argued matters before the California Courts of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In her business litigation practice, Ms. Martin represents clients in complex multi-party breach of contract, fraud, real estate disputes, judicial foreclosures and breach of promissory note actions. She represents Fortune 500 companies, municipalities, non-profit organizations and financial institutions.

Ms. Martin is a sought-after public speaker and is a regularly featured keynote speaker and workshop and seminar leader. She serves as a panelist at professional seminars and conferences regarding a wide range of topics including employment litigation, education and special education, leadership, entrepreneurship, business development and trial advocacy. She also appears on national and local television and radio as a legal commentator and expert. Ms. Martin has been featured in local and national publications including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and the National Law Journal. She currently serves as a legal commentator for the Dr. Phil Show.

Ms. Martin is a syndicated columnist and published author. She has published over 100 articles in national and local newspapers and magazines including Law Crossing and the Los Angeles Daily Journal, where she writes a monthly column. Ms. Martin has written on topics ranging from diversity in the workplace, employment issues, public speaking, leadership, education, special education and careers. She has authored two career and leadership guides for women, Journey to the Top and Real Leaders Wear Pink.

LA Focus Newspaper lists Ms. Martin among the top African American Lawyers in Los Angeles. She was selected as 2007 Women of the Year by Los Angeles County Commission on Women. In 2008, she was awarded the Leadership Award from the Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. and the Smart Cookie Award from Cookie Magazine. First AME Church of Los Angeles awarded her the Trailblazer Award.

Ms. Martin has also been named a Phenomenal Woman and a History Maker Making Black History by the public affairs department of local radio stations. She is featured as Wonder Woman in Wondertime Magazine, a national Disney publication. In 2006, Bank of America awarded her a Neighborhood Hero Award and selected her to be featured in a statewide campaign, which acknowledges individuals making a difference in the community. The Mayor of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Council, Supervisor Yvonne Burke, the Cities of Long Beach and Inglewood and numerous non-profit organizations have recognized Ms. Martin for her work on behalf of women and children with disabilities.

Ms. Martin is the co-founder and Chairperson of Special Needs Network, Inc. She also serves on the Board of Directors of AbilityFirst, the California Black Women’s Health Project and the United Healthcare Foundation, Inc. In 2007, she founded Advocates for All, a free legal clinic that provides free legal advice, self-help materials and resources to low-income and indigent individuals throughout the county. The clinic has received special commendations from Our Weekly newspaper for its service to the community. Ms. Martin is the only African-American female appointed to the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.

Ms. Martin received her law degree with cum laude honors from Harvard Law School where she served as Chief Editor for the Black Law Journal. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Chicago.

Edmond Lelo
Executive Vice President Area Managers
Wells Fargo Bank

Edmond Lelo is area head of Wells Fargo Commercial Banking Group in the greater Los Angeles region and manages offices in downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Woodland Hills and West Covina.

Lelo oversees a team of 82 commercial banking professionals who provide loan, treasury management and deposit products to companies with annual sales of more than $15 million.

Before assuming his current position in 2004, Lelo served three years as regional vice president for Wells Fargo’s South Colorado Regional Commercial Banking Office (RCBO). Under his leadership, the RCBO enjoyed a 400-percent increase in loan activity over a three-year period ending in 2003. Prior to that, Lelo served four years as division manager of Wells Fargo Business Credit Inc. in Denver, managing a staff of 73 in four offices covering eight Northwest states. He’s also served as a relationship manager, credit underwriter, and auditor since joining Wells Fargo in 1988.

He holds both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a master’s in international management from Thunderbird – Thunderbird School of Global Management.

He is a member of the board and vice chair of American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles. Other board memberships include California Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, board of trustees of the California Science Center Foundation, and the Latin Scholarship Fund.

Melanie Shelby
Director of Supplier Diversity
PG&E

Melanie M. Shelby was recently appointed to the newly created senior position of Director of Supplier Diversity for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Francisco, California. PG&E, a gas and electric utility company with 20,000 employees, delivers safe, reliable and responsive gas, electric and customer service to 15 million people (or 5% of the United States population) throughout Northern and Central California. Melanie will lead, develop and execute the strategy to increase PG&E’s $358 million supplier diversity program. PG&E President and CEO Tom King shared in a press release, “Creating this new role in our organization is a reflection of the priority we place on this goal. Melanie has the skills and commitment, and will provide the focus to let us hit that target in short order.”

Previously, Melanie served as Manager, Federal Governmental Relations for PG&E Corporation in Washington, DC. In that capacity, Melanie lobbied on a variety of utility issues. She worked with the California delegation, Congressional Black Caucus and other Members and committees of interest to the company. She also managed the corporation’s national philanthropic relationships with affinity groups representing African Americans, consumers, seniors and women. Melanie relocated to Washington, DC from Oakland, California in February 2005.
In California, Melanie held a variety of public affairs positions during her 5-year tenure at PG&E. During this time, she managed community and government relations in the Bay Area, worked closely with elected officials, community-based organizations, chambers, business associations, nonprofits and community leaders. Prior to The Utility, Melanie managed political campaigns, fundraised for national nonprofits and recruited students for the University of California.

Melanie, a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), participates in a host of community and professional activities. Her current involvement includes the California Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, Edison Electric Institute’s supplier diversity committee, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Corporate Advisory Council and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators’ corporate roundtable. Other memberships include but are not limited to: Washington Government Relations Group, UCLA Alumni, National Fuel Funds Network, Oakland Housing Authority, Museum of Children’s Art and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys the theater, cultural and civic events and playing golf.

Greg Gorman

One of Los Angeles’ most highly-regarded trial and real estate lawyers, Gregory G. Gorman has garnered more than 20 years of successfully handling complex business issues, particularly those involving real estate, legal malpractice and employment issues.

Mr. Gorman heads the real estate law department for Yum! Brands, a Fortune 500 Company. He is in charge of domestic real estate for Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Long John Silvers and A&W Restaurants. He was previously the general counsel of US Asthma Care, LLC, an asthma treatment company with locations throughout Texas and in Illinois.

In private practice, Mr. Gorman was the first African-American Partner at Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory, one of the foremost real estate law firms in the Western United States. He was recognized as one of Southern California’s “Super Lawyers,” a distinction reserved for the top five percent of the state’s practicing attorneys and his work was often featured in the Los Angeles Daily Journal.

A frequent lecturer, Mr. Gorman has moderated the seminar “Fundamentals of Commercial Real Property Practice” and is the former chair of the Real Estate Litigation Section of the California State Bar, Southern California section. He also teaches at local colleges and universities, including Organizational Decision-Making and Business Modeling for doctoral candidates at Phillips Graduate Institute. In addition, Mr. Gorman has presented to several international companies on the fundamentals of conducting business in the United States, and his article “Alter Ego Planning for Foreign Corporations” was published in the United States, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. His article on indemnity agreements was the subject of a panel discussion at a national meeting of the American Bar Association.

Committed to the community as well as his profession, Mr. Gorman serves on the board of directors of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce, the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California, and Straightline Nonprofits, Inc., an organization that provides capacity building services to non-profit organizations.

Mr. Gorman earned his juris doctorate from the Northwestern University School of Law in 1987 and his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism in 1984. He was admitted to practice law in the State of California in 1987. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Central and Northern Districts of California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Andrew K. Antwih
Legislative Advocate
Shaw/Yoder Inc.

Sedrick M. Spencer
Senior State Government Affairs Manager
Roche Labs

For over fifteen years, Sedrick Spencer has directed his passion toward making a difference in his community. He optimized this ability by getting involved in decisions, developing political strategies, interacting with community leaders and by lobbying, negotiating, and overseeing public policy issues. Currently, Sedrick represents Hoffman-La Roche and its subsidiaries at all levels of state government. Through this position he is able to be an agent of change in the realm of medical access, pharmaceutical and Medicaid policy and other programs that affect citizens in California, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii.

Sedrick’s love for his community was cultivated at California State University at San Bernardino, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Industrial Relations and Masters in Public Administration. He used his education to propel him toward being accepted as an Assembly Fellow for the California State Legislature and a senior research Fellow for the California Institute in Washington DC. In addition, he has worked as Chief Consultant for the California State Assembly Elections, Reapportions & Constitutional Amendment and Utilities and Commerce Committees. He also served as a Chief of Staff in the California State Senate. These positions gave him the experience necessary to excel at his current job and advance in his profession.

Sedrick carries his love of the community into his personal life as well. He is heavily involved in community service activities by serving as a regional officer for his fraternal organization, coaching youth and high school basketball and mentoring African-American boys to be tomorrow’s leaders. Sedrick continues to seek life experiences that will further his contributions to society.

Isadore Hall
Councilmember
4th District

A native of California, Isadore Hall III has held several high-ranking governmental positions in our community. Since 2003, Isadore has served as a Compton City Councilmember. Isadore enjoys his service as a member of the ministerial team at Compton Double Rock Missionary Baptist Church.

EXPERIENCED, DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP

As a current Compton City Councilmember, representing the 4th District Isadore works daily to improve the quality of life for his constituents. As the 4th District representative, Isadore serves on the Metropolitan Water Board, the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).

Isadore has also held the following positions:

• Compton Mayor Pro Tem
  
• President, Board of Trustees, Compton Unified School District
  
• Director, City of Los Angeles Community Services Department
  
• Senior Analyst of Classified Personnel, Lynwood Unified School District
  
• Director, Lynwood Employment and Economic Development Center
  
• Real Estate and Economic Development Specialist
  
• Ministerial Team Member, Double Rock Missionary Baptist Church
  

BRINGING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPTON

Isadore knows how important economic development is to Compton and 52nd District and believes in creating partnerships between the community and local businesses for the benefit of all.

As a Councilmember, Isadore created the quarterly Business-2 Business Breakfast Roundtable to facilitate and strengthen these relationships. More than 200 people attend these events to learn how to start and grow their businesses, how to start and grow their businesses, how to both collaborate and compete locally and what it takes to be successful in a global economy.

Isadore has also strengthened our economy:

• Created over 1,000 new jobs for local residents
  
• Developing Compton’s $80 Million Shopping Center with Best Buy, home Depot, Target, Staples, Marshals and a 24 Hour Sports Center
  
• Provided raises for our city workforce
  
• Balanced and passed Compton’s budget on time with notable reserves
  
• Received our Enterprise Zone Designation bringing millions of dollars to Compton

Clinton Killian
Attorney at Law

Clinton was born and raised in Hickory North Carolina. He moved to California in 1975 to go to Stanford University on an academic scholarship. He fell in love with Oakland and has made it his home.

He has lived in North Oakland, West Oakland, Crocker Highlands and Montclair neighborhoods. Clinton is a successful attorney in Oakland who helped establish The Oakland Free Legal Clinic. He is a former Oakland Planning Commissioner who fought to increase home ownership for all people. He is a former member of the AC Transit Board of Directors who is fighting to increase public transportation options. He is a Stanford University graduate who volunteers as a student mentor. And he is an advocate for working people who helped build a grass roots coalition that stopped an illegal 600% utility tax increase in Oakland.

Tamara Rasberry
Governmental Relations Advocate
California State Council of Service Employees International Union

Danny J. Bakewell, Jr.
President & COO
The Bakewell Company

Well, this definition certainly describes Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., the energetic 42-year old President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of The Bakewell Company.

Mr. Bakewell, Jr. is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) Real Estate Development and Finance Program. He is an active member of the USC Real Estate Alumni and Friends (REAF), The USC Lusk Real Estate Advisory Council and a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). He has a vast knowledge of both the construction and development business, having literally grown up in the real estate business working beside his father, The Bakewell Company Founder and Chairman, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr.

Mr. Bakewell, Jr. is a licensed general contractor in both the states of California and Louisiana. He was appointed President and COO of The Bakewell Company by his father in April of 2007. He oversees the company’s day to day operations, development, management and construction which include over 4.5 million square feet of residential, retail, office, industrial and commercial space throughout Southern California.

Since becoming President and Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel, the paper has been voted by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), as the Number 1 Black Newspaper in America. The Los Angeles Sentinel has more than doubled its distribution outlets and home deliveries; and has launched a new and exciting web based presence for the paper (www.lasentinel.net.)

Mr. Bakewell, Jr. has also guided The Bakewell Company into the broadcast industry with the historic purchase of WBOK, an African American Heritage Radio Station located in New Orleans, Louisiana. This station was devastated during Hurricane Katrina but is now back and fully operational.

With all of this, Mr. Bakewell, Jr.’s social and community accomplishments are just as impressive as his business commendations. He is a life member of the NAACP, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; on the Board of Directors of Sabriya's Castle of Fun Foundation, Forgiving for Living, USC Black Alumni Association and The Next Vision Foundation (Detroit, Michigan). Mr. Bakewell, Jr. holds the record for use of minority and women-owned businesses in the cities of Pasadena, Hawthorne, Compton and Los Angeles.