Area Planning Commissions

Gerlie Collado

Commissioner Collado leads grants, administration, and the Flow Fund for Climate Justice for the Panta Rhea Foundation. She has more than 20 years of experience with nonprofit direct service and grantmaking organizations in the areas of communications, artistic programming, community engagement, and grantmaking. Commissioner Collado has a master’s degree in arts management from the Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of San Francisco.

Amber Sheikh

Commissioner Sheikh is a nonprofit/social sector consultant with Thurlow/Associates where she tenaciously works to raise the capacity of organizations trying to solve the toughest issues facing Los Angeles. She is an active community advocate and serves on the boards of Social Venture Partners LA, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, and Maternal Mental Health NOW. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis.  

Araz Parseghian

Commissioner Parseghian has more than 12 years of experience in the real estate and mortgage lending industry and owns a company in this field. Previously, he worked in a corporate environment within the banking sector for 10 years prior to venturing into the mortgage industry. Commissioner Parseghian has a master’s degree in business administration from Woodbury University.

John Bagakis

Commissioner Bagakis has been a small business owner in San Pedro for the past 15 years. His restaurant has received numerous awards and recognition for being a generous community partner. He also serves on the Little Italy of Los Angeles (LILAA) Board of Directors and as Vice Chairman of the Board for the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. He attended Cal State Long Beach.  

Esther Hatch

Commissioner Hatch is currently employed at the Los Angeles Unified School District. She managed the 2000 and 2010 Decennial Census operations for downtown Los Angeles and Torrance. Ms. Hatch has served on the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC) and the Neighborhood Council Review Commission.

Jaqueline Orozco

Commissioner Orozco is an attorney who represents government agencies in matters related to public works projects. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Watts Village Theater Company and a former law clerk for the City of Los Angeles' Office of the City Attorney. Ms. Orozco holds a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a doctorate in Law from University of Iowa.

Eric D. Bates

Commissioner Bates is a Special Assistant Inspector General with the California Office of the Inspector General. Previously, he served as a Deputy Attorney General with the Office of the Attorney General in the California Department of Justice. Mr. Bates holds a doctorate in Law from Whittier College.

Subscribe to Area Planning Commissions