Lisa Belsanti, acting public information office manager for West Hollywood for more than a year, has been named to that position permanently.
Belsanti replaces Helen Goss, who retired in April of last year. Goss had been one of the city’s longest serving employees, with 28 years on the job.
As public information office manager, Belsanti is in charge of the team that provides information about city events and issues to local, national and international media outlets. Before Belsanti became the acting public information manager, she worked as a deputy to Councilmember Abbe Land and as senior management analyst to the assistant city manager, Sam Baxter. Altogether she has worked for the city for about 11 years. Belsanti studied film and video at Columbia College of Chicago, where she earned a minor in Communications.
Other staffing changes announced by City Manager Paul Arevalo, include:
Maribel Louie, a seven-year city employee, has been named to the permanent position of arts and economic development manager. Louie, who has worked as the city’s economic development coordinator and assistant to the city manager, will assume oversight of contracts related to the West Hollywood Library. She will also facilitate the development of a new literary event. (The city’s book fair has been put on hiatus.) Louie earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy at Occidental College and a master’s in urban planning from New York University.
Francisco Contreras will replace Jeffrey Huffer as the city’s innovation and strategic initiatives manager. Huffer, a city employee for15 years, is leaving West Hollywood to “take on new life and career adventures in New York City,” according to a city press release.
Contreras, who has worked for the city for about eight years, started as assistant planner and has recently served as innovations liaison in the city manager’s department. He has a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Stanford University and masters degrees in architecture and urban planning from UCLA.
Wonderful choices of thoroughly professional and capable executives. It’s a big WIN for the City of West Hollywood.
Yeah Lisa; go weho beat B.H. Yeah Maribel, go girl brain power! Yeah ‘Cisco–you are so smart but try to think outside the box–be Ray Reynolds! Michael H.–Go cuteness!
One of my fav’s Lisa Belsanti a big congratulations and much deserved. Also, my sincere best to Francisco, Mirabel and Michael Haibach. Congratulations to all.