With over 25 years of experience, Brandon’s strengths are in strategy development, public policy analysis, public relations, and leadership development. He has provided guidance on issues related to stakeholder engagement in transportation, energy and sustainability, land use and development, and public health–presenting policy analysis and briefings for senior executives, policymakers, federal, state and local elected members and regulatory agencies. As an organizational development consultant and leadership coach, Brandon has provided strategic guidance to business owners and entrepreneurs on business development, marketing and branding. Brandon has addressed thousands of professionals and lectured at USC Marshall School of Business and for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Initiative. He is an adjunct professor at the University of California Riverside Institute for Global Management where he teaches students from around the world.
During his career, he has directed public affairs and conducted communications and marketing for a national think‐tank and a Fortune 100 company; and conducted legislative affairs for a transportation agency in Southern California. He served as interim director for a U.S. Department of Commerce initiative, where he oversaw $30 million in capital assistance and $18 million in procurement for over 2000 businesses in retail, professional services, trade and construction. He also managed the Business Entrepreneurial and Services Center at Pasadena City College, funded by the Small Business Administration.
Brandon serves on the Executive Board of the LA Area Chamber of Commerce and Chair of its Small Business Council advocating on policy issues related to business, technology, transportation, education and economic development. He has also served as an LA City Commissioner examining ways to increase efficiency in City operations. Actively involved in civic affairs as the founder of NEXUS FORUMS, a nonprofit hosting policy forums, Brandon has received over 16 commendations from Congressional, state and local officials. He is an accomplished writer, published poet, current affairs and small business commentator ‐‐cited on CNN, Inc. Magazine, the LA Times, and appeared on NPR, Dateline NBC, KNX Radio, the Chris Matthews Show, Startup Nation.com and various ethnic publications.
Graduating with Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Southern California and a Master’s in Leadership and Management from the University of LaVerne, he has advanced executive education at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and is certified as a Lean Sigma Green Belt. For his service, he has been presented the Volunteer Leadership Award by the LA Chamber of Commerce, “We the People” Award by the International Channel, honored as Innovative Entrepreneur by the South Asian Business Network and recognized as a “forward thinker” by California Forward.
Brandon is married and resides in Pasadena where he is actively involved in the community through civic and professional organizations. He served on an advisory board to CalTech and Habitat for Humanity and is currently involved with the Kaledioscope Institute.
