MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA ANNOUNCES KEY STAFF APPOINTMENTS;LAWA’s CFO TO BECOME DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

LOS ANGELES – Continuing to build a results-orientated administration inclusive of the best and brightest, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced key senior staff appointments who will oversee Homeland Security and Public Safety; Energy and the Environment; Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Communications as well as his Director of Finance and Performance Management.

The five new members of Mayor Villaraigosa’s administration – Deputy Mayor Maurice Suh, Deputy Mayor Nancy Sutley, Deputy Mayor Kevin Acebo, Deputy Mayor Cecile Ablack and Director Karen Sisson – bring a breadth and depth of experience and talent to the Mayor’s team and a commitment to innovative, results-oriented and ethical work.

"In selecting my team, I looked for people who brought with them a passion for public service, the highest ethical standards and a commitment to improving the quality of life for all Angelenos," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "I am pleased that this diverse and impressive group of individuals has agreed to serve our city."

Sisson will be the mayor’s director of Finance and Performance Management.

For the last nine years, Sisson has served as the Chief Financial Officer in the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Airports. At the Airport Department, Ms. Sisson was responsible for the development and implementation of an Interim Financial Plan following 9/11 which resulted in an "AA" rating by Standard & Poor’s, their first double- A rating of any general airport revenue bond. She also oversaw the implementation of a new financial and management information system and re-engineered the financial revenue management process. She managed a staff of 110 people in the Accounting Operations, Financial Reporting and Financial Planning Divisions and the Rates & Charges, Internal Audit and Debt Management Sections where she was responsible for an $800 million operating budget and a $1.4 billion capital improvement program spanning four airports --- LAX, Ontario, International, Palmdale regional and Van Nuys Municipal.

Sisson worked as a Senior Finance Officer in the Department of Finance of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (“CRA/LA”) from May 1990 to August 1993. As the Senior Finance Officer, managed the finances for fourteen of CRA’s then seventeen redevelopment project areas. She analyzed the proformas on proposed commercial and affordable housing projects, reviewed OPAs and DDAs, and represented the CRA on the multi-agency budget task force. With her extensive experience, led budget workshops and made presentations to project area committees and to the Los Angeles City Council.

From 1993 to 1996, Sisson served as the Vice President in the Public Resources Advisory Group in Los Angeles where she successfully served clients including the Los Angeles International Airport, the Department of Water and Power and the cities of San Diego and San Jose.

Sisson also worked as an Assistant Treasurer for the City of Pasadena and Assistant Vice President for Chemical Bank in New York.

Sisson received her MBA from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor Arts in International Relations from Pomona College.