LAEDC names Efrain Escobedo chair of the Board of Governors

Efrain Escobedo, president and CEO of the Center for Nonprofit Management, has been appointed chair of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) Board of Governors.

Escobedo succeeds Ron Frierson, CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, who has served as Chair for the past two years. Escobedo previously served as a Vice Chair of LAEDC’s Board and brings more than two decades of experience working across the nonprofit, philanthropic, government and civic sectors.

On Thursday, August 20, LAEDC celebrated Escobedo's appointment and Frierson's service. The event was hosted by Vanessa Aramayo, CEO of Alliance for a Better Community, Ernesto Morales, CEO of North Star Alliances, Jorge Morales, founding partner of Morales + Morales, among others. 

As Board Chair, he will work closely with LAEDC leadership, Board members and regional partners to strengthen collaboration among businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, labor organizations, nonprofits, philanthropy and communities.

“Los Angeles County’s greatest economic strength is the extraordinary range of people and institutions committed to its future,” Escobedo said. “Our opportunity is to bring those partners together around a shared vision and turn our collective assets into meaningful economic opportunity for businesses, workers and communities throughout the region. I am honored to serve as Chair and look forward to working with LAEDC’s Board, staff and partners to advance a Coalition of One and an Economy for All.”

Escobedo leads the Center for Nonprofit Management, which supports a thriving Southern California nonprofit and social-impact sector through research, leadership development, training, technical assistance, partnerships and advocacy. His career has included leadership roles at the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund. Escobedo is also a member of CALÓ News Board of Directors. 

“Efrain understands that building a strong economy requires the participation of every sector and every community,” said Stephen Cheung, President and CEO of LAEDC and World Trade Center Los Angeles. “His ability to bring people together, build trust and translate shared priorities into action makes him an exceptional leader for our Board. As LAEDC works to strengthen our region’s industries, workforce, small businesses and global competitiveness, Efrain’s leadership will help us deepen the partnerships needed to move Los Angeles County forward together.”

LAEDC also expressed its appreciation to Frierson for his leadership and service as Chair. During his two-year tenure, Frierson helped strengthen the Board’s focus on regional cooperation, business growth, workforce opportunity and inclusive economic development. He will continue to serve on the LAEDC Board of Governors and support the organization’s regional mission.

“It has been a privilege to serve as Chair and to work alongside leaders who share a deep commitment to the economic future of Los Angeles County,” Frierson said. “Efrain is a thoughtful, collaborative and highly respected leader who understands both the complexity of our region and the importance of bringing diverse perspectives to the table. I am confident that he will provide strong leadership as LAEDC continues building partnerships and advancing opportunities that benefit businesses, workers and communities across the County.”

LAEDC’s Board of Governors brings together leaders from the business, public, education, labor, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors to help shape the organization’s strategic direction and strengthen regional alignment around Los Angeles County’s most important economic opportunities and challenges.