Lisa Kalustian
Partner & Director of Strategic Affairs
As Director of Strategic Affairs, Lisa oversees Brookhurst’s public affairs strategies, and media, community and government relations. She is an accomplished strategist with more than 20 years of senior-level corporate, government and nonprofit board experience in complex issues management, proactive and crisis communications, policy development and implementation, community outreach, and media relations. Lisa has been an advisor to top-level leadership, including two California Governors.
Appointed to a range of senior leadership positions in two gubernatorial administrations, Lisa served as deputy cabinet secretary and deputy press secretary, handling media relations and management of health, welfare, education, environmental and legal issues. As chief deputy in Southern California, she focused on building leadership and community support for a wide range of policies and reforms including land use, infrastructure development, environmental issues, and health and human services. She was also instrumental in managing local issues, and identifying candidates for numerous state boards and commissions.
Earlier, as an associate with The Wessell Company, a community/government relations management and political consulting firm focused on land use, waste management and transportation issues, she handled account supervision, program and budget development, community relations, speakers’ bureau development, campaign supervision, and direct mail development and production.
During her career Lisa was also Vice President of Public Affairs for Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), one of the nation’s largest health plans, overseeing public and media relations and communications for the Western Region. Previously, she held communications and public affairs positions with the senior-level executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles.
Lisa has been a frequent keynote speaker on California policy issues for a wide range of business, professional, community and educational forums.
Education:
University of Southern California: Masters of Public Administration
University of California, Los Angeles: B.A., Phi Beta Kappa
Coro Southern California: Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs
Selected Memberships, Affiliations and Community Involvement:
Board Member, Armenian Assembly of America
Trustee, Endowment Fund, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America
Advisory Board, Our Hope-Mer Hooys educational support center, Yerevan, Armenia
Past Board Member, Coro Southern California
Past Board Member, California Board of Psychology
Selected Keynote Speeches/Presentations:
American Public Works Association
ArmTech Congress
Association for Corporate Growth-Orange County (ACGOC)
Association of Energy Engineers
California Council for Excellence
California Girls’ State
California Women Veterans Conference
Chambers of Commerce – more than 20 Chambers/Business Alliances across California
Contract Cities Association
Coro Southern California
Healthcare Financial Management Association
IEEE
INC5 – International Nanotechnology Conference at UCLA
Junior State
Leadership California
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Taxpayers Assn/OC Tax
Orange County Transportation Authority
PTA District 4 – Orange County
Raytheon Management Club
Southern California Biomedical Council Investors’ Conference
Southern California Design Forum
Technolink Association
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Educational Foundation Advisory Committee
U.S. Marine Corps Correspondents Association
U.S. HUD Fair Housing Conference
U.S. SBA Small Business Procurement Conference
USC Healthcare Reform Conference
Ventura County Economic Club
Western Council of Construction Consumers
Westside Urban Forum
* Ms. Kalustian does not provide municipal advisory services involving municipal finance products as defined by the Section 15B of the Securities and Exchange Commission Act of 1934.