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Contact Tripepi Smith
Corporatemaxdev2026-08-24T15:40:28-07:00
  • Ryder Todd Smith
    Ryder Todd Smith
    President
  • Nicole Tripepi Smith, CPA
    Nicole Tripepi Smith, CPA
    Chief Financial Officer
  • Allison Molnar
    Allison Molnar
    Talent Curator
  • Amber Stallard
    Amber Stallard
    Business Development Manager
  • Lisa Northup
    Lisa Northup
    Senior Accountant
  • Bella White
    Bella White
    Executive Assistant

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Ryder Todd Smith
President

Ryder has over 25 years of experience in government relations, technology and marketing. As president, he leads Tripepi Smith and is the ultimate project owner of its clients, which span over 200 public, private and non-profit agencies. Ryder is also the creator of the City Internet Strategies Study, publisher of PublicCEO and the Civic Business Journal and a frequent speaker on the local government circuit. Additionally, his insights have been published by industry-leading publications, such as Western City Magazine and Public Management Magazine, and local government professional organizations, such as the California City Management Foundation and Municipal Management Association of Northern California have recognized and awarded his support as a longtime partner.

Before Tripepi Smith, Ryder served as a senior vice president of operations and chief information officer for a software-as-a-service startup in the financial services sector. Prior to that, he was the technology manager for a regional staffing firm.

Ryder is a former planning commissioner for the City of Tustin. He resides in Ladera Ranch with his wife, daughter (who is currently away at college) and dog.

Fun fact: Ryder is the son of a commercial fisherman and spent several summers in Alaska working on the boat with his father. Thousands of halibut gave their lives to pay for a collection of Legos, Ryder’s first car and his college education.

Nicole Tripepi Smith, CPA
Chief Financial Officer

Nicole has over twenty-five years of experience in accounting and financial analysis, human resources and marketing. In 2002, she co-founded Tripepi Smith and has helped build it into a statewide public affairs firm with over one hundred public agencies, as well as private and non-profit clients.

Prior to launching Tripepi Smith, Nicole worked in PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Business Assurance group, where she focused primarily on real estate and benefit plan audits. She later served as the Assistant Corporate Controller and Senior Financial Analyst for a publicly-traded homebuilder located in Orange County, and then worked for multiple clients in the real estate and services industries as an independent accountant. She now serves as the CFO and Director of HR for Tripepi Smith.

Nicole’s alma mater is Claremont McKenna College, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Economics-Accounting.

Nicole previously served on the board of the VISTA Irvine Chapter of National Charity League. She is a resident of Ladera Ranch, CA. She enjoys reading, working out and cooking.

Nicole is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional.

Fun Fact: Nicole grew up in local government–her father was a California city manager.

Allison Molnar
Talent Curator

Allison Molnar brings a strong background in human resources and recruiting with extensive experience in the restaurant and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. Throughout Allison’s career, she has supported employees across the United States and among all levels. She has spearheaded corporate projects, such as revamping the performance appraisal process and developing appraisal forms. Allison has also filled a variety of positions including Director/Manager-level positions, Engineering/Scientific positions and hourly positions. She enjoys developing working relationships and supporting business needs.

Amber Stallard
Business Development Manager

Amber Stallard Talent on Tap
Lisa Northup
Senior Accountant

Lisa Northrup Talent on Tap

Lisa Northup is a Senior Accountant at Tripepi Smith, where she leads accounting services for the firm’s association management clients and supports internal financial operations. A licensed CPA in California, Lisa brings extensive experience in accounting, financial analysis and reporting. She began her career in the Business Assurance group at PricewaterhouseCoopers and holds a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Bella White
Executive Assistant

Isabella White Talent on Tap

Isabella White is an organized operations and administrative professional specializing in C-suite support, executive calendar management and cross-functional communication. She graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in business and education as a Dean’s List scholar and National Honor Society member. Isabella brings a strong background in workflow optimization, scheduling and event logistics across healthcare, nonprofit and corporate settings. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, she managed complex operations and provider scheduling as lead clinic administrator for Above & Beyond Therapy and oversaw logistics for 500+ participants as groups coordinator for Mariners Church in Irvine.

Ryder Todd Smith
President

Ryder has over 25 years of experience in government relations, technology and marketing. As president, he leads Tripepi Smith and is the ultimate project owner of its clients, which span over 200 public, private and non-profit agencies. Ryder is also the creator of the City Internet Strategies Study, publisher of PublicCEO and the Civic Business Journal and a frequent speaker on the local government circuit. Additionally, his insights have been published by industry-leading publications, such as Western City Magazine and Public Management Magazine, and local government professional organizations, such as the California City Management Foundation and Municipal Management Association of Northern California have recognized and awarded his support as a longtime partner.

Before Tripepi Smith, Ryder served as a senior vice president of operations and chief information officer for a software-as-a-service startup in the financial services sector. Prior to that, he was the technology manager for a regional staffing firm.

Ryder is a former planning commissioner for the City of Tustin. He resides in Ladera Ranch with his wife, daughter (who is currently away at college) and dog.

Fun fact: Ryder is the son of a commercial fisherman and spent several summers in Alaska working on the boat with his father. Thousands of halibut gave their lives to pay for a collection of Legos, Ryder’s first car and his college education.

Nicole Tripepi Smith, CPA
Chief Financial Officer

Nicole has over twenty-five years of experience in accounting and financial analysis, human resources and marketing. In 2002, she co-founded Tripepi Smith and has helped build it into a statewide public affairs firm with over one hundred public agencies, as well as private and non-profit clients.

Prior to launching Tripepi Smith, Nicole worked in PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Business Assurance group, where she focused primarily on real estate and benefit plan audits. She later served as the Assistant Corporate Controller and Senior Financial Analyst for a publicly-traded homebuilder located in Orange County, and then worked for multiple clients in the real estate and services industries as an independent accountant. She now serves as the CFO and Director of HR for Tripepi Smith.

Nicole’s alma mater is Claremont McKenna College, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Economics-Accounting.

Nicole previously served on the board of the VISTA Irvine Chapter of National Charity League. She is a resident of Ladera Ranch, CA. She enjoys reading, working out and cooking.

Nicole is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional.

Fun Fact: Nicole grew up in local government–her father was a California city manager.

Katherine Griffiths, APR
Principal

With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit advancement, Katherine is an award-winning writer and creative director whose work with municipal and higher education clients has earned accolades from the California Association of Public Information Officers, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the College Fraternity Editors Association. Her proficiencies include strategic planning, executive messaging, content development, proofreading and copyediting.

Katherine joined the Tripepi Smith team in November 2016. Her clients include The California Choice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Clean Energy Alliance, Energy for Palmdale’s Independent Choice, Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy, Pomona Choice Energy, Renne Public Law Group, the Blind Children’s Center and the Inland Valley Humane Society.

During her tenure with Tripepi Smith, Katherine has completed professional development programming including credentials for Accreditation in Public Affairs (APR); Social Marketing Certification from Hootsuite; the Local Leaders Academy at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy; Microsoft Excel from Beginner to Advanced through Udemy; Public Relations Media Monitoring, Customer Reporting, Social Media Marketing Industry Expertise, Foundations and Advanced Boolean training, Foundations and Advanced Social Listening with Explore through Meltwater; and a J. Lindsey Wolf Certificate from CAPIO. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Denison University, where she studied literature and writing, as well as organizational and interpersonal communication.

Jen Nentwig, APR
Principal

Jennifer Nentwig is a talented, well-rounded communications professional and project manager with more than 18 years of experience serving government organizations. She has built and implemented programs in strategic communications, media relations, internal communication, community relations and social media. Her skills include website and social media management, development of content including articles, speeches, talking points and FAQs, as well as event planning and implementation.

Jen’s clients include the City of Orange, City of Livermore, City of Lancaster, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and the County of Orange.  Jen earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s of science degree in global leadership from the University of San Diego.

She is a Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional, is Facebook Blueprint certified, and has her Accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Jennifer Vaughn, APR
Principal

Jennifer brings over 20 years of experience in the public sector working for local government and public utilities. Jennifer quickly ingrained herself in the Texas community by serving as Adjunct Faculty at Tarrant County College where she teaches Public Speaking. She also Chairs the Communication Committee for her local PTA, and joined the Board for Keller Education Foundation. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, Jennifer spent 18 years with Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) in a variety of roles. As Public Affairs Manager, she was responsible for representing the company to many Orange County cities by maintaining government and community relations. She served on several Chamber of Commerce boards and as President for the Coastline Community College Foundation. She played an advisory role on the Asian Business Association of Orange County and the Groundwater Replenishment Program. Jennifer also managed a staff promoting energy efficiency solutions to local governments in her role as Public Sector Programs and Partnerships Supervisor before promoting to Public Policy Manager where she provided policy direction and strategy.

Jennifer garnered her initial city government experience with the City of Anaheim and the City of Pasadena. She managed public relations efforts for the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau (now Visit Anaheim) during a $4.2 billion renovation of the Anaheim resort. She also served as Marketing and Communications Manager for an international economic development firm that promoted the Alsace region of France.

Jennifer earned both a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Communication from San Diego State University where she also taught public speaking.

Kevin Bostwick
Creative Director

Kevin Bostwick is an experienced Creative Director and brand designer. He partners with stakeholders to reflect powerful ideas visually, distilling unexpected brand stories from challenging content and designing media for engagement, understanding and absorption. He directs and executes for digital, interactive and print mediums…delivering across a blend of channels, particularly for learning, data-display and presentation. His work for major clients has included digital tools, logos, presentation, interactive learning, advertising and print design. He navigates the whole ecosystem, working with high-powered stakeholders to shape concepts, UX, branding, strategy, writing, asset management, information architecture, and infographics. Kevin’s client work includes City of Aliso Viejo, City of Cupertino, Pivot Charter Schools, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority and Renne Public Law Group.

Melanie James
Director

Melanie James is a talented professional who works closely with public agencies and organizations to develop and implement communications initiatives that strengthen community engagement, build trust and support organizational goals. As a director, Melanie leverages her expertise in digital communications, graphic design and WordPress website design and development to help clients translate complex information into clear, engaging content. She oversees projects from start to finish, coordinates teams and ensures deliverables meet client expectations. Her versatile skill set and dedication to client success with efficient project execution provide exceptional results and client satisfaction.

Melanie is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional and Constant Contact Certified Solutions Provider and has completed the University of Southern California Executive Education Forum for Local Leaders, University of California, Irvine Public Policy Making Academy II and the Coro Southern California Women in Leadership Programs.

Her clients include the City of Culver City, City of Daly City, City of Palmdale, Santa Clara County Fire Department, CALED, Rowland Water District and Placer Mosquito Vector Control District.

Sara Madsen
Director

Sara Madsen has a skill set that is simultaneously wide and deep, ranging from graphic design to website development to project management; she is one of Tripepi Smith’s most trusted “Swiss Army knives.” With a formal education in marketing and environmental sustainability from San Diego State University, Sara brings technical prowess and creative savvy to the clients she serves. Her work as a Director includes providing key account management support and project leadership, while concurrently delivering on a variety of creative projects.

Her clients include the cities of Bellflower, Laguna Beach, Lomita, Paramount and Yorba Linda, as well as the California Choice Energy Authority, Clean Energy Alliance, California Community Choice Association, Lancaster Energy and Pomona Choice Energy.

Sara is certified as a Google Analytics, Constant Contact Certified Solutions Provider and Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional. She has also completed the Public Policy Making Academy II at the University of California, Irvine and the Executive Education Forum for Local Leaders at the University of Southern California.

Sydni Overly
Director

Sydni Overly is a skilled account lead and project manager with an extensive background in public policy and local government. As a Director for Tripepi Smith, she manages a wide range of complex projects and provides strategic direction for high-impact initiatives, including crisis and emergency communications, public infrastructure, environmental programs and policy education. Sydni also oversees creative projects and comprehensive content development, ranging from website redesigns and video campaigns to social media, print materials and branding. She delivers specialized training for agencies that cover crisis communication, social media strategy, media relations and digital accessibility compliance. Sydni is also the product manager for the Local Information Network of Knowledge (LINK), a community forum for California public agencies to find and share key resources and knowledge.

Sydni developed her foundational leadership skills at the City of Gardena, where she supported several municipal departments and gained experience in intergovernmental relations, emergency management, community outreach and public sector content creation. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach.

Sydni is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional. She also specializes in crisis communications and completed FEMA’s Professional Development Series and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Crisis Communication Certificate Program.

Sydni’s clients include the City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Malibu, City of Renton, City of Richland, City of San Luis Obispo and City of Vacaville.

Alexis Gillam
Director

Alexis Brown-Gillam Talent on Tap

Alexis Gillam is an experienced local government leader with over 12 years of experience in City Management, public engagement and strategic communications. She has led major efforts in economic development, placemaking, legislative advocacy and emergency response. While serving in Malibu, she directed crisis communications and supported recovery and rebuild efforts during the Broad, Franklin and Palisades Fires. She also led a multi-agency strategy to improve safety along Pacific Coast Highway including public educations, special legislation and infrastructure. She guided the Malibu Community Lands Project, a citywide engagement initiative to determine future uses for over 60 acres of public land. In Imperial, she oversaw cross-departmental operations, led capital projects and secured state and federal funding to support community priorities. Alexis was recently recognized by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) as one of the Top 100 Local Government Influencers in the United States.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Devry University while working full-time and building a career in city management. After more than a decade on the city management track, Alexis made the intentional decision to shift her career to prioritize starting a family while continuing to serve the public good. Her role with Tripepi Smith allows her to stay rooted in the work she believes in, supporting local governments, while creating space for a more balanced life. She is grateful that her passion for services allows her to live out her values, leading with purpose, guided by faith and creating opportunities for others to thrive.

Her clients include City of Ojai, City of Rancho Palos Verdes, City of Rolling Hills, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Camarillo, Town of Yucca Valley and City of San Bernardino.

Michael Egan
Director

Mike Egan Talent on Tap

Michael Egan is an accomplished local government executive with nearly 30 years of experience capped with 20 years of City Manager responsibilities in the cities of Bellflower and Norwalk. During his tenure as City Manager, he was active in regional governance and local government-affiliated groups. He is a Past President of the Gateway City Manager’s Group and former Chairman of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments City Manager’s Committee. He also served 18 years on the California Contract Cities Association’s Liability Trust Fund Oversight Committee and Claims Boards.

Michael’s many accomplishments include balanced budget management; multiple successful bond issues and improved agency bond ratings; implementing and expanding community policing programs, including the opening of a local Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Station; expanding recreation facilities by developing new parks, bicycle and walking trails, and public aquatics center; upgrading water and sewer infrastructure; successfully implementing local revenue measures; and executing on multiple economic development projects. Michael is passionate about local government and effective, ethical leadership.

He is an alumnus of Cal Poly Pomona, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Behavioral Science and was a founding member of the Cal Poly Chapter of Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology.

He lives in La Habra with his wife of 34 years, Teresa, a public schools administrator. He has a daughter, Jennifer, a local government professional; son-in-law, Nick, a Structural Engineer; and a granddaughter, Ellie, a curious and busy toddler.

Mark Pulone
Director

Mark Pulone Talent on Tap

Mark Pulone brings 35 years of municipal government experience, highlighted by 19 years as a city manager in Orange County. Known as a proven leader and consensus builder, he has built a strong reputation for exceptional customer service and effective community engagement. Mark has extensive experience managing a wide range of municipal contracts, including law enforcement, fire, solid waste, road maintenance and building and safety services.

Allison Molnar
Talent Curator

Allison Molnar brings a strong background in human resources and recruiting with extensive experience in the restaurant and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. Throughout Allison’s career, she has supported employees across the United States and among all levels. She has spearheaded corporate projects, such as revamping the performance appraisal process and developing appraisal forms. Allison has also filled a variety of positions including Director/Manager-level positions, Engineering/Scientific positions and hourly positions. She enjoys developing working relationships and supporting business needs.

Kjerstin Wingert
Senior Graphic Designer

Kjerstin Wingert is a senior graphic designer with Tripepi Smith. After studying business administration at both the Ecole Supérieure Libre Des Sciences Commerciales Appliquéesis in Paris and Concordia University in Irvine, Kjerstin went on to receive her Advanced Production Certificate in Graphic Design from Golden West College in Huntington Beach. She began working as a freelance graphic designer in 2012 and joined the Tripepi Smith staff in 2015.

Kjerstin has advanced knowledge of various creative platforms, including Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign. Kjerstin has experience leading an array of creative projects including layout, graphic design, illustration, photography and creative concept development. Kjerstin is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional. She also completed the University of Southern California Executive Education Forum for Local Leaders and the University of California, Irvine Public Policy Making Academy.

Her client work includes the City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Culver City, City of Duarte, City of Cupertino, City of Livermore, City of Menlo Park, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority and Costa Mesa Sanitary District.

Nina Garcia
Senior Graphic Designer
Nina Garcia is a Senior Graphic Designer with extensive experience across in-house, agency and freelance roles, specializing in marketing and product design. She created brand identities and assets that boosted visibility, engagement and revenue for companies and clients. An expert in Adobe Creative Suite, Nina is adept at managing projects from concept to completion for both print and digital platforms. She graduated with a BA in Graphic Design from UCLA.

Her clients include the City of Palmdale, City of Tracy, City of Orinda, City of Dixon, City of Los Alamitos, Paradise Irrigation District and California City Management Foundation (CCMF).

Kaitlyn Wu
Senior Business Analyst
Kaitlyn Wu is a seasoned outreach professional with more than a decade of experience in communications and marketing. Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has spearheaded content strategy and copywriting for newsletters, annual reports, websites, social media, op eds and more. In addition, she has managed water education programs and workforce development initiatives for K-12 students and beyond. Through strategic communication efforts, Kaitlyn helps organizations educate stakeholders and produce positive change within their communities.

Kaitlyn graduated summa cum laude from California Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and psychology. She is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional and holds the J. Lindsey Wolf Certificate in Communications from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO). In addition, she has completed CAPIO’s Emergency Communications Academy, hosted in partnership with CalOES.

Her clients have included Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Del Paso Manor Water District, East Palo Alto Sanitary District, Galt Arno Cemetery District, Jurupa Valley Community Services District, Patterson Irrigation District, Santa Clarita Valley Water District and the cities of Azusa, American Canyon, Costa Mesa, Jurupa Valley, Menifee, Morgan Hill, Napa, Orinda, Rialto, South Gate and Winters.

Devyn Fisher
Senior Business Analyst

Devyn is a detail-oriented and results-driven communicator, who is committed to understanding an organization’s mission and values to craft key messaging that aligns with organizational objectives. She graduated from Cal Baptist University with a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication. Equipped with a strategic communication mindset, Devyn brings comprehensive experience in developing engaging content for traditional and social media within the local government sector. She began her career in local government with the City of Flagstaff, and continued to strengthen her skillset with the City of Fontana and City of Jurupa Valley. Devyn is recognized as a go-to resource for social media trends, website management, and creative brainstorming techniques, instrumental in fostering effective communication and engagement through successful campaigns and outreach events.

She is certified in Crisis Communication through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Social Media Marketing through Hootsuite. Her clients have included the City of Cupertino, City of Pleasanton, City of San Fernando, City of Palmdale, City of Walnut Creek, Jurupa Community Services District and Harlingen Waterworks Systems.

Sienna Boyd
Senior Business Analyst

Sienna Boyd is a strong people and project manager with a background in sales and customer experience. After studying political science at California Baptist University, she went on to enter the marketing and communications space, constantly shattering sales and retention records. Sienna believes that solid storytelling is the key to an empathetic communication ethos. She has over a decade of team building and interpersonal communication experience and is passionate about strategies individualized to context, need and community. As a senior business analyst for Tripepi Smith, Sienna manages a wide range of projects, continues to produce quality content, provides communication insights and develops outreach strategies for clients. 

Her clients have included the City of Palmdale, City of Menifee, Fresno Council of Governments, City of Tulare, City of Cerritos and the City of Westlake Village.

Kaetlyn Hernandez
Senior Business Analyst

Kaetlyn Hernandez has grown with Tripepi Smith as an intern, Junior Business Analyst, Business Analyst and, now, Senior Business Analyst. In all these roles, Kaetlyn has proven her expertise in event planning, project management, social media management and communications campaign planning and execution. She particularly specializes in conference and partnership management, connecting both Tripepi Smith and several private agencies with the local government community. 

Kaetlyn flexes her skills with the City of Culver City, City of Indian Wells, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, California Contract Cities Association, CHEERS and ConSol, Climatec, Municipal Management Association of Northern California, Municipal Management Association of Southern California and National Demographics Corporation.She also serves as the marketing supervisor for Tripepi Smith.

Kaetlyn is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing and Sprout Social Professional, Constant Contact Partner and has completed the following Udemy courses: ‘Ninja Writing: The Four Levels of Writing Mastery’, ‘Writing with Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer’, ‘The Complete Graphic Design Theory for Beginners’ and ‘Writing Tools Hacks.’ In addition, Kaetlyn has completed the Coro Southern California Women in Leadership Program

Kalee Cummings
Senior Business Analyst

Kalee Cummings is a Senior Business Analyst at Tripepi Smith, specializing in strategic communications, campaign leadership and stakeholder and executive communications for public agencies. She leads client engagements, guiding messaging strategy and supporting the delivery of integrated communications efforts.

Kalee partners with agency leadership to translate complex initiatives into clear, credible narratives and leads cross-functional teams, coordinating the development and delivery of integrated campaigns. Her work spans message development, community engagement and crisis communications, with a focus on alignment, clarity and public trust. Her work aslo includes experience supporting economic development initiatives, annual reporting, ad campaign management and creative storytelling efforts.

Her approach is grounded in data and insight, incorporating analytics, market research and social listening to inform strategy. She also brings technical expertise in web platforms and digital communications, strengthening how agencies engage with their communities online.

Kalee holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Claremont McKenna College, with a focus on public policy and organization, and a sequence in data science. She maintains certifications in Google Ads Display, Meltwater Social Listening and Boolean search and the Sprout Social platform.

Her client experience includes municipalities such as American Canyon, Napa, St. Helena, El Cerrito, Orinda, Healdsburg, Windsor, San Pablo, Larkspur, Atherton and Dixon, as well as organizations including Pivot Charter Schools and HdL Companies.

Melanie Moore
Senior Business Analyst

Melanie Moore, a Bay Area native, brings experience in financial research and marketing, complemented by her bachelor’s degree in economics from Claremont McKenna. She started as a junior business analyst, quickly advanced to a business analyst in 2022 and was promoted to a senior business analyst in 2024. Since joining the team, Melanie has played a pivotal role in managing clients, crafting compelling narratives and actively engaging with communities to fulfill unique client needs. At the core of Melanie’s expertise lies her ability to develop innovative communication strategies and create targeted content.

Melanie has certifications for Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional and Sprout Social Specialist. Additionally, Melanie has a specialty in Prop 218 processes, communications assessments and AI strategy.

Her clients include the City of Hercules, City of Livermore, City of Los Altos, City of Lancaster, City of Maywood, City of Menlo Park, City of Mountain View, City of Salinas, City of Sunnyvale, City of Vacaville, City of Vallejo, Town of Los Altos Hills and Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department.

Kylie Benzing
Senior Business Analyst
Kylie Benzing brings a diverse skill set to the team from her experience in several industries, such as litigation services, academic administration and music marketing. She graduated from Biola University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in business management. She has a strong background in social media strategy, website development, writing and scheduling and high-volume operations due to her experiences as an Administrative Assistant at Biola University, Marketing Intern at Transparent Productions, Social Media Marketing Manager at TSE Worldwide Press and Operations Associate at TSG Reporting.

Kylie is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional. She works closely with clients on communications related to municipal district formation and Senate Bill 1383. She also takes lead on recruitments for Tripepi Smith Talent Solutions.

Her clients include the City of Laguna Beach, City of Needles, HSITAG, City of Rancho Cucamonga, City of Lakeport, City of Fountain Valley and City of La Cañada Flintridge.

Peter Johnson
Senior Business Analyst

Peter Johnson brings nearly a decade of media experience to the Tripepi Smith team and an expertise in writing, community relations and local government policy. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, he spent five years as the assistant editor of a San Luis Obispo County newspaper, honing his skills communicating the ongoings of local government and politics to the public through his award-winning journalism. Peter possesses a diverse skill set which he deploys creatively with a strong drive to produce quality and impactful results for clients. He graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in communication.

Peter is certified in Hootsuite Social Marketing and in Creating Boolean Searches and Media Monitoring by Meltwater. He also holds a Professional Certificate in Public Engagement from the Davenport Institute of Public Engagement and Civic Leadership.

His clients include the City of Grover Beach, City of Marina, City of Arroyo Grande, City of Baldwin Park, City of Rancho Palos Verdes, City of Pico Rivera, City of Palmdale, MCE and Clean Energy Alliance.

Dana Sovinec
Senior Business Analyst

Dana Sovinec is a public affairs and communications professional with focused expertise in local government and team leadership. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, Dana served as Public Information Officer to Stockton Mayor, Kevin Lincoln, managing strategic messaging, public outreach and engagement, media relations and crisis communications. She graduated from Sacramento State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a minor in Sociology. After college, she gained foundational government experience working for Governor Schwarzenegger and Brown, and then continued her passion for serving the public through creative productions and communications at a local church.
Dana is certified in Emergency Response Planning and Communications.

Her clients include the City of Suisun City, City of Richland, WA, Town of Windsor, City of Santa Paula, City of Modesto, City of Dublin and Inland Valley Humane Society and S.P.C.A.

Barbara Beran
Senior Business Analyst

Barbara Beran Talent on Tap

Barbara Beran is a dynamic and results-driven public relations professional with more than a decade of experience in executing tailored communications strategies. She has a background in media relations, crisis management and event planning across nonprofit, water, transportation, government and healthcare sectors. She graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies. She has a proven track record in building brand awareness, strategic partnerships and managing high-profile client accounts. She is passionate about effective communication and dedicated to making a positive impact.

Barbara’s clients include the City of Calabasas, City of Palm Springs, City of Los Altos, City of Livermore and 1st Public Hydrogen Authority.

Amber Stallard
Business Development Manager

Amber Stallard Talent on Tap
Lisa Northup
Senior Accountant

Lisa Northrup Talent on Tap

Lisa Northup is a Senior Accountant at Tripepi Smith, where she leads accounting services for the firm’s association management clients and supports internal financial operations. A licensed CPA in California, Lisa brings extensive experience in accounting, financial analysis and reporting. She began her career in the Business Assurance group at PricewaterhouseCoopers and holds a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Cailyn Thompson
Business Analyst

Cailyn Thompson brings a strong work ethic and open-minded dynamic to the Tripepi Smith team with a background in recreation, collegiate athletics and event management. She graduated from St. John’s University (SJU) with a master’s degree in business administration, strategic management and a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management with a minor in Business Administration. She developed her skills in leadership, organization and event management during her time at SJU with on-campus internships, the graduate assistantship program and summer employment with the City of Cypress Recreation.

Cailyn is certified in Meta Blueprint (Digital Marketing Associate, Media Planning Professional, Media Buying Professional and Creative Strategy Professional), Google Ads (Display), Hootsuite Social Marketing and Sprout Social. She recently earned her professional certificate in public engagement from the Davenport Institute.

Her client list includes the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, City of La Cañada Flintridge, Galt Arno Cemetery District, Fair Housing Foundation, City of Yorba Linda, City of Vallejo, City of Huntington Beach, City of Los Alamitos and El Toro Water District.

Valerie Nevarez
Business Analyst

Valerie Nevarez is a strategic and detail-oriented professional with a strong background in public relations and social media management. Passionate about delivering meaningful results, she brings a client-focused approach to every project she takes on. She graduated from California Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations in 2019 and a Master in Business Administration in 2020.

Valerie strengthened her skills during her time at Loma Linda University Health, where she was responsible for content development, strategic writing and project management. She has a collaborative spirit and the ability to translate client needs into compelling campaigns.

Valerie holds a Certificate in Principles of Public Relations and a Professional Certificate in Public Engagement For Local Government from the Davenport Institute at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. Her clients include City of Bellflower, City of Lynwood, City of Tulare, Ellis County Emergency Service District 5, 6 and 9 and many more. 

Abby Romano
Business Analyst

Abby Romano brings a strong writing background to the Tripepi Smith team with experience in journalism and leadership in the higher education setting. She graduated from California Baptist University (CBU) with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations (concentration in International Public Relations) and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Abby’s career has included communications experience in social media, research and online and email marketing communications. She has strong administrative knowledge and interpersonal communication skills, and has thoughtfully handled sensitive and private client information. Hardworking and organized, she gained leadership skills from positions such as Managing Editor of the Banner Newspaper where she led a staff of 40 student writers, designers, photographers and editors in the creation of the award-winning campus newspaper.

As a business analyst with Tripepi Smith, Abby assists with local government and private sector agencies in carrying out their messages with impact. She also provides business development support for the firm’s higher education arm and Spanish translation support.
Abby is certified in Public Engagement by the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, Hootsuite Social Marketing, Digital Advertising (Hubspot Academy), Sprout Social and Constant Contact.

Her clients include the City of Indian Wells, City of Palmdale, City of Napa, City of El Cerrito and the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED).

Nolan Voge
Videographer

Nolan Voge offers creative insight and technical solutions to the Tripepi Smith team with extensive knowledge in video systems, creative media projects and venue production. As a graduate of San Diego State University (SDSU), he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Television, Film and New Media with an emphasis in Production and a minor in Theatre Arts. He displayed his strong work ethic outside of the classroom by participating in nearly sixty projects relating to production. He further enhanced his experience as a content creator for the College of Education at SDSU, followed by employment in the government space. He previously practiced event videography, project management and his knowledge of video systems, computer systems and software with Empire Media Productions.
Nolan is Hootsuite Social Marketing and Sprout Social certified and holds a certification in Dante for audio solutions in production work. He is also FAA certified to conduct commercial operations with drones.

His client work includes: City of Bellflower, City of Fullerton, City of Huntington Beach, the California JPIA and City of Villa Park.

Josh Hernandez
Videographer

Josh Hernandez is a driven, creative professional with over 11 years of experience in the audio/visual and TV production industry. Josh attended Saddleback College, where he participated in the Cinema/Television/Radio Department to strengthen his skills in TV production, directing, storytelling and video editing. Josh started his career in local government as a graphic designer for the City of Aliso Viejo and then furthered his experience in council meeting broadcasts with the City of Santa Ana and the City of Huntington Beach. He also has vast knowledge of audiovisual systems and has been a part of many A/V implementations.
Josh is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing professional and is licensed with the FAA to fly drones.

His clients include the cities of Huntington Beach, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest and Rossmoor.

Michael Garcia
Videographer

Michael Garcia brings 20 years of expertise in live television broadcasting, with roles spanning all aspects of live sports, video production and documentaries, and includes skills in lighting, sound mixing, camera and editing. A 2007 Television Production certification was formally recognized by the Mayor of the City of Commerce and further Film/Television Crafts certification from West Los Angeles College. In 2014, Hollywood Cinema Production Resources awarded him a certification in Entertainment Artists Technicians and Crafts.
He is highly adaptable and performs well under pressure, ensuring production integrity.

His client work includes videography for the cities of Bellflower, Fullerton, Palmdale, Baldwin Park, Lomita, Huntington Beach, Yorba Linda and Calabasas, the Town of Yucca Valley and Cal Choice Energy Authority.

Daniel Ceruti
Videographer

Daniel Ceruti Talent on Tap

Daniel is a video production specialist with a wide array of experience and skills in narrative and live video production, writing, editing, graphic design and more. Daniel has built his expertise throughout his educational path after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Central Florida and a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production at Chapman University. In his career, he has built a passion for effective storytelling and visual communication.

Daniel is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional. He offers both creative and writing services to various clients.

Jenni Wechsler
Graphic Designer

Jenni Wechsler brings over 4 years of graphic design experience. She is a strategic thinker and a team player with a bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology from the University of Southern California, she knows not only how to tell a story, but how to creatively tailor it to convey the vision and values of an organization. Her graphic design projects at Tripepi Smith have ranged from print designs such as flyers, newsletters, signage and more to digital designs such as social media, animated videos and e-newsletter templates.

Jenni’s client work includes graphic design for City of Menlo Park, City of Palmdale, City of Culver City, City of Jurupa Valley, City of San Fernando, City of Southgate, City of Lomita, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Orinda, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Pomona Choice Energy and Clean Energy Alliance (power provider for the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, Solana Beach and Vista). Jenni is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional.

Alexis Mendez
Graphic Designer

Alexis Mendez is a visual communicator and problem solver, specializing in motion graphics, illustration, layout and brand identity. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design. He developed his skills as a graphic designer during a college internship at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), where he designed digital and print materials to produce flyers, brochures, posters and advertisements that reached over 30 cities. Additionally, he created work for the California Express Lanes, including reports, charts, forms and maps.

His client work includes graphic design for the City of Palmdale, City of Indian Wells, City of American Canyon, City of La Cañada Flintridge, Palmdale EPIC Energy and City of Orange.

Jessa Laboissonniere
Graphic Designer

Jessa Laboissonniere Talent on Tap

Jessa Laboissonniere is a graphic designer with Tripepi Smith. She holds bachelor’s degrees in visual communication design and theatre arts from San Francisco State University. Prior to joining the Tripepi Smith team, Jessa served as Senior Graphic Designer with the Associated Students of San Francisco State University, where she supported 13 student-run programs with marketing materials.

In addition to her graphic design background, Jessa worked as a scenic designer on a variety of theatrical productions across the Bay Area. Her background in theatre has given her an audience-centered approach to her work. She is thrilled to be using her skills while supporting clients with Tripepi Smith.

Jessa’s client work includes graphic design for the cities of Malibu, Indian Wells, Menlo Park and Napa, as well as Renne Public Law Group.

Madeline Wilson
Business Analyst

Madeline Wilson is a marketing professional with a versatile set of skills, including social media management, marketing strategy, copywriting, project management and more. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and is passionate about using her skills to educate. Madeline developed her skills in a variety of industries including non-profit, technology and local government and has been a key player in expanding the reach and effectiveness of communications for small businesses.
Madeline is a certified Hootsuite Marketing Professional and has a strong understanding of Meta and Spotify advertising.

Her client work includes the Town of Yucca Valley, City of Menlo Park, City of Lancaster, Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department and the California Municipal Revenue and Tax Association.

Morgan Teruel
Business Analyst

Morgan Teruel is a digital media and communications professional with a strong foundation in creative strategy, public engagement and operational leadership. She has managed executive recruitment efforts, supported cross-functional teams and developed tailored messaging across press releases, newsletters, websites and social media. Her experience includes conducting audience research, running digital ad campaigns and increasing engagement across diverse communities. Combining creative insight with a data-informed approach, she has led teams in producing high-impact deliverables such as graphics, articles and social content to ensure alignment with organizational goals and values.
Morgan has obtained a Professional Certificate in Public Engagement from the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership. She is also a part of Tripepi Smith Talent Solutions as a recruitment coordinator.

Her clients include the City of Suisun City, City of Walnut Creek, City of Orinda, City of Norco, City of Dixon and Pivot Charter Schools.

Kendall Lowery
Business Analyst

Kendall Lowery is a capable analyst and communicator with a wide range of skills, including content strategy, writing and website management. With a bachelor’s degree in economics and writing & rhetoric from Scripps College, Kendall is passionate about crafting concise, informative and accessible communication. She has honed her skills at organizations ranging from the Long Beach Post to online grocer Thrive Market, and has become a thorough researcher, a keen editor and a skillful webpage developer.

Kendall is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional and Public Entity Claims Professional. Her clients include the City of Ojai, Clean Energy Alliance and the California JPIA.

Amy Gallagher
Business Analyst

Amy Gallagher is a detail-oriented individual with a wide range of skills, including writing, photography and social media management. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State University, Long Beach, Amy is passionate about storytelling through words and imagery. She has led digital campaigns, managed client accounts and produced thousands of high-quality images.

Her clients include the City of American Canyon, City of Marina, First Public Hydrogen Authority, NHA Advisors and OCCMA. In addition to her client work, she serves as managing editor of PublicCEO.

Devin Antonio
Business Analyst

Devin Antonio is a driven and creative individual with a background in photography, social media management, brand partnerships and customer relations. She graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s of arts degree in business administration – marketing. Throughout college, she gained experience with content development, market research and writing where she found her passion in storytelling. She enhanced her photography and marketing skills through freelancing and her marketing internship. As a business analyst, Devin is inspired to help her clients with marketing to communicate creatively and informationally.

Devin is certified in Hootsuite Social Marketing and Search Engine Optimization through HubSpot Academy and certified in Public Engagement for Local Government through Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership. Her clients include City of Malibu, California City Management Foundation (CCMF), City of Lomita, City of Blythe, City of Renton and City of Big Bear Lake.

Olivia Rizzuto
Business Analyst

Pairing her commitment to community service with a strong public speaking presence, Olivia Rizzuto brings experience in communications, event planning and research to Tripepi Smith’s public clients. Olivia graduated summa cum laude from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology. During her time in college, Olivia was a leader in the SDSU Ambassadors program, where she enhanced her presentation skills by leading campus tours and new student orientations. She knows how to deliver clear messages and ensure there is purpose in every interaction. Olivia is passionate about having a positive impact in the community and applies her tenacious work ethic and strong sense of responsibility to making a difference.

Olivia is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing, Constant Contact and Sprout Social Professional. She also holds additional certifications in Google Ads Creative, Google Ads Display, Google Ads Video and Google Ads Search. Olivia also supports the Tripepi Smith marketing team.

Her clients include the City of Maywood, City of Pico Rivera, City of Paramount, City of Richland, Blind Children’s Center, Renne Public Law Group, California Choice Energy Authority, Energy for Palmdale’s Independent Choice, Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy and California Institute of Integral Studies.

Alexis Kalugin
Business Analyst
Alexis Kalugin is a detail-oriented professional with a background in project management, community engagement and social media management. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Biola University, where she gained hands-on experience in content creation, social media and community outreach through two internships with community development nonprofit organizations. She further developed her project management and marketing skills as a Marketing Coordinator at Inspiration Travel, where she supported more than 20 clients by coaching them on promotional strategies and ensuring the timely delivery of all marketing assets.

Her clients include the Town of Windsor, City of Arroyo Grande, City of Grover Beach, City of Westlake Village and California Municipal Revenue and Tax Association (CMRTA).

Mia Valenzuela
Business Analyst

Mia Valenzuela Talent on Tap

Mia Valenzuela is a community-oriented writer with a background in the arts supported by strong organizational and communication skills. She received her bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in philosophy from Scripps College. Mia is enthusiastic about serving the public through informative storytelling and is proud to do so with Tripepi Smith.
Mia is certified in Sprout Social.

Her clients include the City of Menlo Park, City of Hercules, City of Suisun City, City of San Luis Obispo, Town of Atherton, City of Commerce and City of Marina.

Hannah Wedepohl
Business Analyst

Hannah Wedepohl Talent on Tap

A strategic communicator with a passion for community engagement, Hannah Wedepohl has experience in social media management, digital media design and client relations. Hannah brings an interdisciplinary perspective with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies and minors in Communications and Political Science from Denison University. During her time at Denison, Hannah co-led a nonpartisan civic engagement initiative that registered students to vote and conducted civic education events. She also has broad experience managing social media accounts and designing content for higher education, non-profits and philanthropy.

Hannah is certified in Hootsuite Social Media Marketing, Sprout Social and Constant Contact. Her clients include Erickson-Hall Construction Company, City of Palmdale, MCE and the Independent Cities Finance Authority.

Emma Catuara
Business Analyst

Emma Catuara Talent on Tap

Emma Catuara is a talented creative writer with a drive to tell stories using her various writing skills. Emma gained countless editing, writing, communication, analysis and research skills at California Baptist University while working toward her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. During her college career, Emma helped students become better communicators through writing at the university writing center. Furthermore, she honed her editing, communication and research skills as an editorial intern for Penn State University Press. In her endeavors to become more well-versed, she became social media manager for the writing center where she curated content to inform students about the offered services and create a welcoming student community. Emma works to tell the stories of her clients over many platforms to effectively inform the public.
Emma is certified in Hootsuite Social Marketing and Sprout Social.

Her clients include the City of Baldwin Park, City of El Cerrito, City of Indian Wells, City of Lomita, City of Menlo Park, CALED and Climatec.

Ava Whitehorn
Business Analyst

Ava Whitehorn Talent on Tap

As a highly adaptable and goal-oriented individual, Ava Whitehorn brings a strong background in communication strategy, social media management, and copywriting. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Media and Technology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. During her time at the university, she honed her skills in organizational management and client collaboration while serving as president of Net Impact Consulting. She excels at creating customized content for a wide variety of clients, ensuring each message reflects their unique voice and vision. She also gained valuable experience as a Communications and Graphic Design Intern for the City of Santa Rosa. In this role, she strengthened her passion for creating content that drives engagement and supports community development.

Ava is a certified Hootsuite Marketing Professional. Her clients include City of Palmdale, City of Palm Springs, City of Windsor, City of Commerce, Erickson-Hall Construction Co. and City of Arroyo Grande. She is also a product specialist for Local Information Network of Knowledge (LINK).

Max Weirauch
Website Developer

Max Weirauch brings a diverse and dynamic skillset to the Tripepi Smith team, specializing in WordPress website development, data analytics and content management. With a primary focus on frontend design, Max also excels in configuring scalable systems in backend development environments. His websites are meticulously crafted to be responsive, accessible, search engine optimized and easily maintainable.

Leveraging his mastery of data analytics and technical know-how, Max delivers comprehensive web solutions that drive measurable results for clients. Max holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and German studies from Claremont McKenna College. During his studies, he developed a deep understanding of local government marketing trends, particularly within Southern California communities. Max approaches every project with a solution-oriented mindset, using his creative marketing expertise to drive positive impact and achieve client objectives.

His client work includes the City of Malibu, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Palmdale, Town of Yucca Valley, Town of Atherton, JCSD, RWD, IEUA, Renne Public Law Group, Erickson-Hall Construction, the California City Management Foundation and ICA Cities, among others.

Audrin Baghaie
Junior Videographer

Audrin Baghaie is an accomplished video editor with a wide variety of skills, including marketing, content writing, production, motion graphics, animated video work, voice acting and more. He received a bachelor’s of science degree in psychology and statistics from the University of New Mexico and a bachelor’s degree in audio engineering from the Los Angeles Film School. Audrin is passionate about AV production, with a demonstrated history of creative media versatility in both the music and finance industries. He further pursued the field by editing for various outlets in social media and worked as a virtual conference operator coordinating video and livestream production. Audrin has an extended international background, having lived abroad in the Philippines and Singapore throughout his collegiate years.

Audrin is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional and has YouTube certifications in Content Ownership and Asset Management. His client work includes the Cities of La Cañada Flintridge, Calabasas and Yorba Linda.

Max Bennett
Junior Videographer

Max Bennett Talent on Tap

Max Bennett is a talented filmmaker whose work blends cinematic storytelling with modern marketing strategy. He built his foundation at the University of Southern California, gaining early experience in film and television production before expanding into major commercial productions, agency environments and local government. At the City of Lake Forest, Max produced polished short-form and long-form video content that elevated digital campaigns and strengthened community engagement. Max brings a refined visual style and collaborative energy to every project.

Jenna Cousineau
Junior Graphic Designer

Jenna Cousineau Talent on Tap

Jenna Cousineau is a devoted and detail-oriented team player with a passion for graphic design, focusing on branding, typography and illustration. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in visual communication design, she has a wide range of knowledge utilizing the Adobe Creative Suite, print and digital media production, brand development and UX/UI design. She developed her organization and digital marketing skills through her internship at Monster Energy. She has experience in customer service, which taught her communication, collaboration and project management skills.

Jenna’s client work includes graphic design for the City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Pico Rivera, City of American Canyon, City of Tracy, City of Palmdale, City of Ojai, Clean Energy Alliance, California City Management Foundation, City of Orinda, City of Napa, Pomona Choice Energy, City of Lomita, City of Larkspur and the Town of Atherton.

Dominick Beaudine
Junior Business Analyst

Dominick Beaudine Talent on Tap

Dominick Beaudine is a critical thinker and quick learner with a background in communication and rhetoric. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in English and his Master’s in Rhetoric and Composition from Loyola Marymount University. While obtaining his Master’s, he served as the English graduate assistant for LMU Library’s Archives and Special Collections Department. Additionally, he taught rhetoric to LMU’s undergraduate students as a rhetoric professor for both of his years in the Master’s program. After graduating, Dominick spent three years at the immigration firm, Global Immigration Partners, as their technical writer where he specialized in the “extraordinary ability” visa types. Dominick was also captain of the LMU Men’s Water Polo Team and earned the Kyle Testman Award for outstanding character. Dominick is also an Eagle Scout.

Dominick is certified in Hootsuite Social Marketing, Constant Contact and Sprout Social. His clients include the City of Palmdale, City of Norco and First Public Hydrogen. He is also an editor for PublicCEO.

Julia Gale
Junior Business Analyst

Julia Gale Talent on Tap

As a result-driven professional, Julia Gale is dedicated to driving efficiency and success through her experiences in communications and marketing. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a minor in Digital Arts from the State University of New York at Oneonta. Julia further developed her skills in email marketing campaigns, detail-oriented writing and event planning while working for a commercial real estate firm in New York. She built a strong foundation in social media management and general communications through internships with The Metropolitan Golf Association and Fashion in Action.

Julia holds a certification in Hootsuite Social Marketing and Google Ads. Her clients include Pivot Charter Schools, City of Lancaster, City of Laguna Beach, City of Culver City, California JPIA and within TS Talent Solutions: City of Santa Paula and City of West Covina.

Sarah Klem
Junior Business Analyst

Sarah Klem Talent on Tap

Sarah Klem is a critical thinker and devoted team member with a background in social media management and administrative support. She received her Associates of Science in Health Science from Irvine Valley College. Sarah values the importance of hard work, time management, and the high-quality work product.  Sarah enjoys monitoring social media, as it is a key source of communication in local government. She seeks to use her skills to aid her teammates wherever she can.

Sarah is certified in Hootsuite Social Marketing and Sprout Social.

Ted Hwang
Junior Business Analyst

Ted Hwang Talent on Tap

Ted Hwang is an adaptable and detail-oriented individual with a background in marketing and business development. He graduated from Pomona College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and gained experience in digital design, writing and project management with the Claremont Marketing Group, primarily working with tech startup clients. His experience also includes customer outreach and support for a Los Angeles real estate tech startup. Ted is certified in Hootsuite Social Marketing. 

His client work includes the Clean Energy Alliance, Renne Public Law Group, City of Ojai, Patterson Irrigation District, MCE and San Gabriel Valley City Managers Association.

Erica Chandler
Junior Business Analyst

Erica Chandler Talent on Tap

Erica is a results-driven marketing professional with a keen understanding of client relations and a passion for creativity. Graduating from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing, she combines her academic foundation with practical experience in sales, customer service, content creation and more. Erica excels in writing, public speaking and event coordination, always ensuring that client needs are met with speed and precision. She has honed these skills through many work experiences, from serving as the Director of Marketing for the San Diego State Choirs Department to her volunteer work for Madd Mutts Dog Rescue. 

Erica is certified in Hootsuite Social Marketing, Sprout Social and Google Analytics. Her client work includes Disneyland, City of Orange, Town of Yucca Valley, City of Needles, and Ellis County, Texas.

Ervin Velasquez
Junior Business Analyst

Ervin Velasquez Talent on Tap

Ervin Velasquez is a skilled analyst and graphic designer who uses his knowledge of both fields to successfully execute on his deliverables and client projects. Ervin has experience in marketing with a specialization in the government and public sectors. With over a decade in the field, he’s passionate about working with complex systems, strategic analysis and driving initiatives to engage communities and make a difference.

In addition to his analytical skills, Ervin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Los Angeles Film School. He enjoys designing compelling visuals to reinforce his communications and also fulfill his creative side.

Nicole Weber
Junior Business Analyst

Nicole Weber Talent on Tap

Nicole is a problem-solver and creative strategist with a passion for data-driven storytelling. She recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, earning a degree in Sociology along with a Graduate Certificate in Business and Entrepreneurship. On campus, Nicole was a writing tutor and a five-year varsity member of the rowing team. At Tripepi Smith, she leverages her collaborative mindset, technological skills and sociological insight to positively impact clients and communities. Her experience with media, website development and analytics, combined with her academic training, allows her to craft accessible and curated content across platforms for clients.

Nicole’s clients include the City of Paramount, City of Ojai, City of Salinas, City of Calabasas, City of Renton and City of Berkeley.

Cameron Sullivan
Junior Business Analyst

Nicole Weber Talent on Tap

Cameron is a graduate from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. During her time there, she developed strong skills in crafting clear and effective messages for different audiences and platforms. With a focus on creativity and detail, she is passionate about using communication to connect and engage with others. She then strengthened her marketing skills as a social media intern for Travel Vibes, a luxury travel agency, before joining Tripepi Smith. There, she created content for social media, researched current travel trends and destinations and managed the social media calendar. Cameron brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to every project.

Cameron is certified in Canva, Sprout Social and Hootsuite. Cameron’s clients include the City of Vallejo, Inland Empire Utilities Agency and Pivot Charter Schools. She also supports the team’s marketing and business development efforts.

Sofia Gonzalez
Junior Business Analyst

Sofia Gonzalez Talent on Tap

Sofia Gonzalez is an energetic team player with experience in advertising sales, marketing strategy, social media management and marketing communications. She graduated cum laude from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. While in college, she worked in the advertising department for the university newspaper, The Daily Aztec and developed her sales and customer relationship skills immensely. Sofia gained valuable marketing skills during two internships with Axos Bank, where she became skilled in brand image, content writing and consumer engagement.

Sofia is a fluent Spanish speaker and a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional. Her clients include the City of Lancaster, City of Maywood and Disneyland, She is also a part of Tripepi Smith Talent Solutions as an assistant recruitment coordinator.

Flor Porras
Junior Business Analyst

Flor Porras Talent on Tap

Flor Porras is a hard-working individual with a passion for driving meaningful work. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. With a strong background in marketing and public affairs, she has gained hands-on experience with content creation, writing and media analysis. During her time as a student, she developed her marketing skills through her internship at the U.S Department of Agriculture, where she collaborated alongside deputy directors to streamline communication efforts and craft tailored messages effectively.

Her clients include City of Malibu, City of Richland, the California City Managers Foundation, the California Municipal Revenue and Tax Association and Orange County Public Works.

Paris Davis
Junior Business Analyst

Paris Davis Talent on Tap

Paris Davis is a creative strategist and designer with a passion for storytelling, immersive media and purposeful branding. She brings a strong background in creative direction, social strategy and digital content development to her role at Tripepi Smith.

Paris graduated summa cum laude from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Social Strategy and Management and a concentration in Creative Direction.

Paris has a versatile creative toolkit, with experience in advertising, branding, content creation, and copywriting. Her technical fluency includes the Adobe Creative Suite, Figma and popular social media platforms, enabling her to bring bold ideas to life across mediums. Outside of her professional work, Paris has moderated at the SCAD Film Festival and received national recognition for her writing and service.

Her clients include the City of Bellflower, City of American Canyon, City of Laguna Beach, City of Westlake Village, West Coast Arborists and Western Certified Arborists.

Kathleen Mercado
Junior Website Developer

Kathleen Mercado Talent on Tap

Kathleen Mercado is a web developer specializing in full-stack development, UX design and CMS integration. She earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a B.S. in Rehabilitation Science from Northeastern University and began her career in healthcare as a licensed physical therapist. Her healthcare experience was key to cultivating strong analytical skills, cross-functional collaboration and a strategic focus on user-centric solutions. After completing Per Scholas’ Software Engineering Immersive Program, she transitioned into tech and now leverages her multidisciplinary background to deliver solutions that are intuitive, scalable and purpose-driven.

Her client work includes the cities of Orinda, Palmdale, La Cañada Flintridge, Paramount and Malibu as well as the California City Management Foundation, Renne Public Law Group, Lancaster Police Department and MMASC.

Abby Barahona
Junior Business Analyst

Abby Barahona Talent on Tap

Abby Barahona is a creative and energetic team player dedicated to making a positive impact for clients and communities. She brings experience in local government, public policy, marketing communications, graphic design and data analysis. She graduated magna cum laude from Scripps College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Spanish. She has held internships with the Pomona College Sustainability Office and start-up company Bigg-A-Bed, where she produced data-driven reports and grew brand social media presence. Abby is passionate about using thoughtful storytelling and design to strengthen local communities and is proud to do so with Tripepi Smith.

Abby is certified in Sprout Social and is a fluent Spanish speaker. Her clients include the City of Palmdale, City of Hawthorne, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Suisun City and the California City Management Foundation.

Talia James
Junior Business Analyst

Talia James Talent on Tap

Talia James is a driven and detail-oriented public relations professional. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations along with departmental honors from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. She has experience with extensive research, critical writing and public speaking. Talia strengthened her media relations and client relations skills during her internships with Infinite Global, a public relations firm centered in the legal sector, and Eden Gallery, an international fine art gallery. Outside of work, Talia remains dedicated to community outreach as an NFL cheerleader in the Bay Area.

Her clients include the Town of Yucca Valley, City of San Luis Obispo, City of Blythe, City of Commerce, City of Hercules, City of Baldwin Park, City of Dublin, City of Malibu and Disneyland Resort.

Benjamin Smith
Junior Business Analyst

Benjamin Smith Talent on Tap

Benjamin Smith is an intellectually curious and results-driven individual with a background in public policy and data science. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Film Studies, with a Sequence in Data Science from Claremont McKenna College and his Master of Science in Energy Policy and Finance from the University of St Andrews.

As an undergraduate, Benjamin managed the CMC Policy Lab, where he gained experience in local government and conducted research on issues such as voter turnout and access. For his master’s dissertation, he explored the role of California’s community choice aggregators in redistributing energy procurement authority to local communities. Benjamin is dedicated to continually expanding his skill set, which has led to proficiency across diverse tools and media, including programming, graphic design and video production.

His clients include the City of Paramount, City of Napa, Clean Energy Alliance, CalCCA, Climatec and Meltwater.

Gillian Magallanes
Junior Business Analyst

Gillian Magallanes Talent on Tap

Gillian Magallanes is a communications and public relations professional with a background in writing, content creation, social media management, event planning and a passion for strategic communication. She graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Public Relations, Innovation, Strategy and Management at USC. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, Gillian built a strong foundation in communication, public relations and digital marketing through a variety of internships and professional experiences. She developed her communication skills through her internship at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho as a Communication and Marketing intern, where she honed her writing skills and learned how to tailor messaging for different audiences across a variety of communication channels.

Kristine Pascual
Junior Business Analyst

Kristine Pascual Talent on Tap

Kristine Pascual is a detail-oriented communicator and writer with a background in journalism, social media management and event planning. She graduated cum laude from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and an emphasis in Multimedia Journalism. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, she served as the Editor-in-Chief of Cal Poly Pomona’s university magazine, The Poly Pulse, where she managed a team of writers, photographers and graphic designers. Kristine has a keen eye for identifying trends and synthesizing large amounts of information to present findings in a clear and accurate way. She has built a strong writing foundation through internships with Pasadena Weekly and the Columbia Missourian.

Bella White
Executive Assistant

Isabella White Talent on Tap

Isabella White is an organized operations and administrative professional specializing in C-suite support, executive calendar management and cross-functional communication. She graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in business and education as a Dean’s List scholar and National Honor Society member. Isabella brings a strong background in workflow optimization, scheduling and event logistics across healthcare, nonprofit and corporate settings. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, she managed complex operations and provider scheduling as lead clinic administrator for Above & Beyond Therapy and oversaw logistics for 500+ participants as groups coordinator for Mariners Church in Irvine.

Ryder Todd Smith
President

Ryder has over 25 years of experience in government relations, technology and marketing. As president, he leads Tripepi Smith and is the ultimate project owner of its clients, which span over 200 public, private and non-profit agencies. Ryder is also the creator of the City Internet Strategies Study, publisher of PublicCEO and the Civic Business Journal and a frequent speaker on the local government circuit. Additionally, his insights have been published by industry-leading publications, such as Western City Magazine and Public Management Magazine, and local government professional organizations, such as the California City Management Foundation and Municipal Management Association of Northern California have recognized and awarded his support as a longtime partner.

Before Tripepi Smith, Ryder served as a senior vice president of operations and chief information officer for a software-as-a-service startup in the financial services sector. Prior to that, he was the technology manager for a regional staffing firm.

Ryder is a former planning commissioner for the City of Tustin. He resides in Ladera Ranch with his wife, daughter (who is currently away at college) and dog.

Fun fact: Ryder is the son of a commercial fisherman and spent several summers in Alaska working on the boat with his father. Thousands of halibut gave their lives to pay for a collection of Legos, Ryder’s first car and his college education.

Nicole Tripepi Smith, CPA
Chief Financial Officer

Nicole has over twenty-five years of experience in accounting and financial analysis, human resources and marketing. In 2002, she co-founded Tripepi Smith and has helped build it into a statewide public affairs firm with over one hundred public agencies, as well as private and non-profit clients.

Prior to launching Tripepi Smith, Nicole worked in PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Business Assurance group, where she focused primarily on real estate and benefit plan audits. She later served as the Assistant Corporate Controller and Senior Financial Analyst for a publicly-traded homebuilder located in Orange County, and then worked for multiple clients in the real estate and services industries as an independent accountant. She now serves as the CFO and Director of HR for Tripepi Smith.

Nicole’s alma mater is Claremont McKenna College, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Economics-Accounting.

Nicole previously served on the board of the VISTA Irvine Chapter of National Charity League. She is a resident of Ladera Ranch, CA. She enjoys reading, working out and cooking.

Nicole is a certified Hootsuite Social Marketing Professional.

Fun Fact: Nicole grew up in local government–her father was a California city manager.

Allison Molnar
Talent Curator

Allison Molnar brings a strong background in human resources and recruiting with extensive experience in the restaurant and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. Throughout Allison’s career, she has supported employees across the United States and among all levels. She has spearheaded corporate projects, such as revamping the performance appraisal process and developing appraisal forms. Allison has also filled a variety of positions including Director/Manager-level positions, Engineering/Scientific positions and hourly positions. She enjoys developing working relationships and supporting business needs.

Amber Stallard
Business Development Manager

Amber Stallard Talent on Tap
Lisa Northup
Senior Accountant

Lisa Northrup Talent on Tap

Lisa Northup is a Senior Accountant at Tripepi Smith, where she leads accounting services for the firm’s association management clients and supports internal financial operations. A licensed CPA in California, Lisa brings extensive experience in accounting, financial analysis and reporting. She began her career in the Business Assurance group at PricewaterhouseCoopers and holds a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Bella White
Executive Assistant

Isabella White Talent on Tap

Isabella White is an organized operations and administrative professional specializing in C-suite support, executive calendar management and cross-functional communication. She graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in business and education as a Dean’s List scholar and National Honor Society member. Isabella brings a strong background in workflow optimization, scheduling and event logistics across healthcare, nonprofit and corporate settings. Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, she managed complex operations and provider scheduling as lead clinic administrator for Above & Beyond Therapy and oversaw logistics for 500+ participants as groups coordinator for Mariners Church in Irvine.

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