THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF SEVEN NEW DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD

New Directors Include Jennifer Chu, Sandra Kulli, Courtney Lilly, Celia S. Ramos,
Katherine A. Roberts, Allison Samek, and Michael Speaker

Los Angeles, CA – August 9, 2023 — The Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) announced the appointment of seven new leaders to its Board of Directors, representing a diverse cross-section of industries, including entertainment, law, finance, and marketing. New Directors include Jennifer Chu, a Tax Partner at Deloitte Tax; Sandra Kulli, a marketing and placemaking strategist with Kulli Marketing; Courtney Lilly, executive producer and showrunner; Celia S. Ramos, a Practice Leader and Managing Director at Accenture; Katherine A. Roberts, a Partner at Sidley Austin LLP; Allison Samek, a retail management executive; and Michael Speaker, Executive Vice President for City National Bank.

“I am thrilled to welcome these dynamic new directors to the Library Foundation of Los Angeles’s Board,” said Board Chair Debra Albin-Riley. “Our new directors will bring their diverse experiences, talents, and perspectives to enhance the Foundation’s mission of supporting and expanding the Los Angeles Public Library’s delivery of life-changing resources and vital public programming to our city.”

For over 30 years, the Library Foundation of Los Angeles has supported the Los Angeles Public Library through fundraising and advocacy efforts that enable the Library to respond to the evolving needs of Angelenos. Programs funded by the Foundation serve all age groups, from early literacy initiatives like Read Baby Read, to youth-focused civic programs like Teens Leading Change, to adult literacy and digital skills training. The Foundation also produces ALOUD, an award-winning literary series, and exhibitions such as 21 Collections.

“As I complete my first year as President and CEO of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, I am continually amazed by the remarkable, everyday success stories that happen through the Los Angeles Public Library—from children building 3D models in the Library’s maker spaces to adult patrons graduating from Career Online High School,” said Stacy Lieberman, President and CEO of LFLA. “I look forward to our new directors contributing their passion and expertise to help us strengthen the Library’s ability to empower individuals in our city to improve their lives and fuel their dreams.”

New Board Member Biographies:

Jennifer Chu is a Tax Partner in Deloitte’s Mergers, Acquisitions, and Restructuring services with over 22 years of experience advising clients on M&A transactions and tax matters. She previously served as a Board Member for the Los Angeles chapter of Multiplying Good. She holds a Master of Taxation from Golden Gate University and a BA in History from UC Berkeley.

Sandra Kulli is a marketing consultant who has advised over 100 companies across 193 communities with a total sales volume exceeding $5 billion. She has served on boards including KCRW, The Vine, ULI-Los Angeles, Abode Communities, and CicLAvia. She earned her BA from Wellesley College and an M.Ed. from Boston University.

Courtney Lilly began his career as a journalist before moving into television writing and production. He is currently the executive producer of Black-ish, for which he has earned four Emmy nominations, four NAACP Image Awards, and a Peabody Award. He graduated from Columbia University with a BA.

Celia S. Ramos is a Managing Director at Accenture, where she designs and leads enterprise transformation programs. She holds an MBA in Finance from NYU Stern and a BA in Economics from UCLA.

Katherine A. Roberts is a Partner at Sidley Austin LLP and co-chair of its Labor, Employment, and Immigration group. A former journalist for the Associated Press, she holds a JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School and degrees in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Allison Samek is a seasoned executive in retail and e-commerce, most recently serving as CEO of Fred Segal. She has also held leadership roles at Deloitte, eBay, and Ron Herman. She holds a BA in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Michael Speaker is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of City National Bank. He also serves as General Counsel for the U.S. operations of Royal Bank of Canada. He earned a BA in Government from the University of Notre Dame and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.

These new directors join a distinguished board that includes Chair Debra Albin-Riley (ArentFox Schiff LLP), Vice-Chair Hon. Karen Stevenson, Treasurer David Rosenblum, and Secretary Kim Sonnenblick. Other board members include Robert Alvarado, Betsy Applebaum, Debi Bishton, Nicole Neeman Brady, Helen Bremer, Brendon Cassidy, Carla Christofferson, Nancy deBrier, Sunita Deshmukh, Sandy Dunleavy, Kathryn Eidmann, Tom Geiser, Ginnifer Goodwin, Samantha Hanks, Thomas Heck, Michael T.M. Jones, Judith Kamins, Patricia Kao, Michael B. Keegan, Nancy Koven, Sarah Kate Levy, Kevin McKeon, Kevin Philip, Elizabeth Raposo, Lisa Richardson, Laura Rosenwald, Hon. Laura Seigle, Rachel Small, Betsy Wanner, and Stephanie Yonekura.

For the complete Board list, visit LFLA.org.

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About the Library Foundation of Los Angeles:
The Library Foundation of Los Angeles provides critical support to the Los Angeles Public Library, resulting in free programs, resources, and services for the millions of adults, children, and youth across the city. Through fundraising, advocacy, and innovative programming, the Foundation strengthens the Library and raises awareness of its transformative services. Learn more at LFLA.org.