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Adriana Galdamez is a telecommunications leader with extensive communications, philanthropy and public affairs experience.

In 2018 Adriana joined Cox Communications as Public Affairs Manager where she provided leadership and strategic direction on community relations for their Orange County, Palos Verdes and Santa Barbara markets. She oversaw community relations, philanthropic programs, the board service program, employee volunteerism and employee engagement programs. In her role, she supported the company’s growth through successfully driving strategic initiatives and community partnerships. Adriana also co-lead’s Cox’s Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Council in California, which has successfully executed their 2022 goals.

Earlier in 2022, Adriana was selected as Cox’s Manager of Government Affairs. In this role, Adriana manages the strategic local government affairs agenda for Orange County and Palos Verdes and ensures regional alignment.

Prior to joining Cox, Adriana worked in public affairs for State Farm Insurance. She oversaw the local philanthropic portfolio directing funds to nonprofits and educational institutions. She also served as a trusted advisor to executives and agents on local reputation management issues and public relations. She served as a media spokesperson and pitched campaigns and company content to media outlets. She handled communications for executives and agency leadership for all company sponsored events throughout Southern California.

Adriana previously served on the OC Forum executive board, OC Grantmakers board and Concordia University’s Hispanic Leadership Advisory Council.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Arts degree in Education from San Diego State University.

Bio coming soon!

Misha Houser is a disabilities advocate and wheelchair user. She has been involved in the founding of two nonprofits, serving as CEO and COO. Houser’s experience includes serving as a public affairs consultant, communications director, and political consultant. Her background includes grants management, fund development, brand management, and connecting communities of interest.

She currently serves as Development Manager for an education nonprofit focused on providing career and college exploration and skills training to middle and high school students. You can find Misha on the ice participating in wheelchair curling in her spare time.

As Associate Vice President, Government and Community Relations representing Cal State Fullerton, Elva provides collaborative leadership in establishing and maintaining strategic relationships with elected officials, government agencies and nonprofit/community/business organizations to advance the University’s educational mission and its role as an intellectual and cultural center. In this role, she leads a team that promotes broad-based advocacy at the local, regional, state and federal level to support partnerships, grow funding streams and demonstrate the University’s integral role and impact on the region. 

Prior to joining Cal State Fullerton, Elva spent 10 years at the Disneyland Resort as part of the Public Affairs senior management team where she and her teams were focused on maintaining and enhancing the reputation of the Resort, developing and implementing corporate citizenship, issues management, and communications strategies ensuring mutual benefit for the community and the Resort. 

Her broad-based experience includes serving as the executive director of the Luevano Foundation as well as representing Southern California Edison as a Government Relations Region Manager in both Orange County and the Inland Empire. Elva currently serves on the boards of the OC Forum and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County as Chair-Elect. She has also previously served on the boards of Taller San Jose Hope Builders, the National Hispanic Business Women’s Association, and the advisory boards of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County. Elva has been recognized as a “Persona Notable” in Para Todos Magazine, as Corporate Advocate of the Year by the Asian Business Association of Orange County and as Corporate Woman of the Year by the NHBWA.

Elva and her husband reside in Yorba Linda and are the proud parents of a son and two daughters.

Lydia McGee is the Principal Public Affairs Representative with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Through the Business Outreach program, she works to promote business and economic development in the area of contracting opportunities for regional, small, and disabled veteran businesses. This program represents a current reinvestment of more than $1 billion in small businesses. As the regional, small and disabled veteran business program outreach representative, she is charged with identifying and vetting businesses that are positioned and seeking to do business with the Metropolitan Water District.

Lydia oversees Metropolitan’s training, coaching, and mentoring programs for Small Business Enterprises, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, along with hosting and participating in various training workshops. Lydia hosts Business Outreach’s signature event Connect-2-Met and/or Connect-2-Vet twice a year. Lydia represents MWD in industry groups, professional organizations and supplier diversity advocacy groups, demonstrating MWD’s commitment to partner with and assist in the development of small business capacity building.