John joined ABA in early 2017, and brings more than two decades of experience in local government in Southern California. Combining his advocacy and government experience with his academic knowledge, John has created numerous successful communications and advocacy plans for his clients in information technology and telecommunications; energy; transportation, aviation and goods movement; engineering; leasing and contracting; hospitality and entertainment; economic development, employment and tax policy; and a wide range of other issues.

Prior to joining ABA as a vice president, he was the director of government relations at the Central City Association of Los Angeles (CCA) where led the organization’s infrastructure and transportation work. John also managed CCA’s political action committee.. John also was a vice president at Cerrell Associates Inc. (CAI), where he led that firm’s local government practice. 

Before Cerrell, John was legislative director for former Los Angeles City Councilmember Ruth Galanter, a 16-year Council veteran. He also ran the day-to-day operations of the Council’s Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee (CENR) for Councilmember Galanter, the committee chair. The committee oversaw operations at LAWA, POLA and LADWP.

After he earned a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, John then spent several years of graduate studies in American Government at the University of Virginia and at Rice University.

John is a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor. The BGCLAH is the largest private daily service provider to at-risk youth in the Los Angeles Harbor and Torrance areas, serving more than 2600 kids each day.  Prior to the 2019 merger of BGCLAH with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the South Bay, John was a past President of the Board of the South Bay Clubs. He is also a Past President of the Board of the International Trade Education Program (ITEP), now known as EXP, which provides linked learning for college and career prep at numerous high schools in the greater Los Angeles area.