Here are just a few friendly faces you might see around meetings or events. If you're new, please come up and introduce yourself. If you learn of an urgent Modern advocacy issue in L.A. County, please contact Marcello Vavala of the Los Angeles Conservancy at mvavala@laconservancy.org or (213) 430-4217. Otherwise, you can reach ModCom officers by clicking on their e-mail addresses. Modern Committee Executive Council, 2009-2010 Modern Committee (ModCom) officers volunteer their time, effort, and expertise to advance the preservation of Modern architecture in Los Angeles County. Note: Elections for 2010-11 ModCom officers will take place in October 2010. Nominations are due by Wednesday, September 1. To nominate yourself or someone else for an Executive Council position, please download this nomination form. Thanks!

Regina O'Brien, Chair A member of ModCom since 1997, Regina became Modern Committee Chair in 2009 after serving as Residential Chair. As Chair, Regina oversees the committee's overall efforts, working closely with other members of the Executive Council and staff of the Los Angeles Conservancy. She has long been involved in Modern preservation efforts, from directing a film about Frank Lloyd Wright to coordinating the nomination of extant Case Study Houses to the National Register of Historic Places. Regina works in the entertainment industry as a production designer and set decorator. Specific responsibilities of the ModCom Chair include: Setting agendas and conducting general meetings Calling quarterly Executive Council meetings Ensuring that council chairs hold regular meetings Coordinating and preparing annual ModCom budget with L.A. Conservancy staff Acting as liaison with L.A. Conservancy staff, the media, and other community groups Identifying and nurturing potential Chairs and helping to fill vacancies

Michael Palumbo, Vice Chair Michael has been active on the Modern Committee since 1985 and served as Chair from 1999-2001. He has participated in many Modern advocacy issues, particularly the fight to save the Lincoln Place garden apartment complex in Venice. He has lent his artistic expertise to both preservation efforts and designing exhibitions such as "A Place in the Sun - The Architecture of Wayne McAllister." Michael works as an exhibit designer. Specific responsibilities of the Vice Chair include: Working with the ModCom Chair to prepare the general meeting agenda Assisting the chair in the ongoing responsibilities of the committee In the event that the ModCom Chair is unable to perform his/her duties, performing the Chair's duties

Charlie Fisher, Commercial Council Chair Charlie coordinates advocacy on behalf of Modern commercial structures. Specific responsibilities of the Commercial Council Chair include: Prioritizing proactive and reactive commercial issues Maintaining current lists of prioritized issues for publication in monthly agenda Holding regular council meetings (monthly suggested) Reporting on key issues at general ModCom meetings Coordinating with Education/Outreach Council Chair Updating ModCom website with information about commercial issues and related events Communicating agenda items to the ModCom Chair one week before general meetings

Sarah Farris-Gilbert, Residential Council Chair Before being elected as Residential Chair in 2009, Sarah helped with the Residential Council's effort to nominate the Case Study Houses to the National Register of Historic Places. She is the principal designer at Grace Hilton Interior Design. In addition to the restoration of her own Cliff May home, Sarah has worked on other historic mid-century properties, including an Eichler residence in Orange County. Specific responsibilities of the Residential Council Chair include: Prioritizing proactive and reactive residential issues Maintaining current lists of prioritized issues for publication in monthly agenda Holding regular council meetings (monthly suggested) Reporting on key issues at general ModCom meetings Coordinating with Education/Outreach Council Chair Updating ModCom website with information about commercial issues and related events Communicating agenda items to the ModCom Chair one week before general meetings

Steven Kyle, Membership Development Council Chair A longtime member of the Modern Committee, Steven is responsible for outreach to new and potential ModCom members. He has over 30 years of experience in architecture, interior design, and construction, and 7 years of experience in real estate. Steven is both a licensed architect and a Realtor, specializing in finding the right buyers for mid-century Modern properties. Specific responsibilities of the Membership Development Council Chair include: Soliciting and nurturing new and existing members Meeting and greeting new members and visitors at general meetings Obtaining contact information for visitors and new members Sending out announcements regarding upcoming issues and events Updating ModCom website with information about membership issues and events

Annie Morrissey, Secretary and Interim Education/Outreach Chair Specific responsibilities of the Education/Outreach Council Chair include: Finding locations for future meetings and events Developing educational events in coordination with L.A. Conservancy staff to reach out to the community Supporting ongoing development of the ModCom website Updating ModCom website with information about outreach events and issues Communicating agenda items to the ModCom Chair one week before general meetings Providing general direction for the ModCom website Providing or delegating snacks for the meet-and-greet portion of general meetings Specific responsibilities of the Secretary include: Taking minutes of general meetings Confirming that L.A. Conservancy staff has the latest membership lists Coordinating meeting sign-in sheets at meetings and with the L.A. Conservancy volunteer coordinator Assisting the Membership Development Council Chair with membership lists

Los Angeles Conservancy Staff Staff members of the Modern Committee's parent organization, the Los Angeles Conservancy, act as liaisons to the committee. Listed below are key staff members who interact most often with ModCom.

Marcello Vavala, Preservation Associate A member of the Conservancy's advocacy team, Marcello works on specific preservation issues, provides technical assistance to the public, and assists with broad programs such as conservation easements. He is a former member of the Modern Committee and served as Residential Council Chair from 2006-2007. He joined the Conservancy staff in 2007. If you have an urgent Modern advocacy issue, please contact Marcello at mvavala@laconservancy.org or (213) 430-4217.

Trudi Sandmeier, Director of Education As the Conservancy's Director of Education, Trudi works closely with ModCom on education and outreach efforts such as to raise awareness of Greater L.A.'s rich Modern legacy. Examples range from specific architectural tours to broad programs such as The Sixties Turn 50. Trudi joined the Conservancy staff in 2000 and has served in several roles, including Preservation Advocate and Broadway Initiative Coordinator.

Flora Chou, Preservation Advocate Flora is also on the Conservancy's advocacy team. She works on specific preservation issues as well as broad outreach efforts, such as historic districts and conservation easements. A former staff member of DOCOMOMO in New York, Flora has been on the Conservancy staff since 2008.

Past ModCom Leadership

Alan Leib Alan served as ModCom Chair twice, from 2001-2005 and 2008-2009. Originally from Chicago, Alan is the son of an architect who was a student of the great Mies van der Rohe at IIT. He got involved with the Modern Committee after moving to Los Angeles in 1998. Alan has led efforts to preserve Modern structures and roadside architecture including the Glendale Federal Savings Building, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, and a home in Santa Monica designed by the legendary Oscar Niemeyer.

Adriene Biondo Adriene joined the Modern Committee in the 1990s and served as Chair from 2005 through 2008. Best known for nearly a decade of work advocating for the preservation -- and rebuilding -- of the 1958 Harvey's/Johnie's Broiler in Downey, Adriene has led many other Modern advocacy efforts. She is also working to establish an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (historic district) for the Granada Hills Eichler tract where she resides, and participated in writing National Register nominations that were unanimously approved for two Bay Area Eichler tracts. She co-wrote, with her husband John Eng, the 2009 book Southern California Eateries.

Michael Palumbo Michael has been active on the Modern Committee since 1985 and served as Chair from 1999-2001. He has participated in many Modern advocacy issues, particularly the fight to save the Lincoln Place garden apartment complex in Venice. He has lent his artistic expertise to both preservation efforts and designing exhibitions such as "A Place in the Sun - The Architecture of Wayne McAllister." Michael works as an exhibit designer.

Chris Nichols Chris served as Modern Committee Chair from 1997-1999. He has been involved with many commercial preservation issues over the past 20 years, including Downey McDonald's and Bob's Big Boy. He has also helped to produce a wide range of educational programs including 2008's City of the Seekers tour and "ModCom 20/20/20," celebrating the committee's 20th anniversary. Chris is an assistant editor at Los Angeles magazine. Chris wrote the 2007 book The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister.

Peter Moruzzi As Modcom Chair from 1992 - 1997, Pete coordinated the designation of Bob's Big Boy Toluca Lake, helped save the Downey McDonald's, and produced tours including Cruising Postwar LA and Cruising Industrial Los Angeles. He's currently Chair of the Palm Springs Modern Committee. Pete has worked in the high tech industry for nearly 20 years and is now an architectural historian and preservation consultant. Peter is the author of Palm Springs Holiday and Havana Before Castro: When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground.