2025 Summer Alumni Profiles

Jonathan Davies currently serves as the Vice President Relationship Manager for Citizens Business Bank. He currently manages Gold Priority clients for the Ontario office. He has been awarded to the CEO club for ranking number 1 and 2 is his firm the previous two years. He is tasked with building internal and external center of influences to deepen existing client relationships and onboard new prospects that fit within Citizens’ clientele base. In addition to these tasks, he also provides credit risk monitoring to existing CRE loans and serves as a Fiduciary Banking representative as a current PFAC Affiliate. 

Over the past few years Jonathan has spent his time focusing on improving his credit acumen, seeking a higher level of education, and helping others in the process. He is most proud of the impact he has made in his community by working with Equity Empowerment Solutions, a nonprofit entity. Here Jonathan developed a learning curriculum that teaches entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy key concepts to young children. The Rights of Passage Program brings cultural awareness, mindfulness, and financial literacy teachings to improve the lives of underprivileged children in San Bernardino County. The program has resulted in children behaving appropriately within their household. It has also encouraged investment conversations between children and parents which lead to kids taking initiative with starting their own business. 

Jonathan has completed both a Bachelor of Science in Business as well as a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with the University of Redlands. Jonathan cultivated his skill set with implementing Authentic Leadership to achieve both his personal and business goals. His focus is to use his skill set and knowledge to make a passive impact on his community. Jonathan’s philosophy of passive impact is the idea of focusing on the amount of people you can positively impact as opposed to focusing on the monetary gain from the service or product that is offered.

Email: jjdavies@cbbank.com

Alejandro Dobie-Gonzalez currently serves as the Director of South LA All In (SLAAI) at the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) in South Los Angeles. He brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit and public sectors focused on urban planning, housing, policy, and design in Los Angeles. Alejandro has worked with notable Los Angles nonprofits and organizations, including LA Family Housing, Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE), LA-Mas, and Three6ixty ensuring that investments reach communities in need.

Before joining CRCD, Alejandro was a Program Manager at local community development financial institution (CDFI) Genesis LA, where he led a homeownership initiative aimed at reducing the racial wealth gap in South LA by leveraging policies like Senate Bill 9 that allow single family lots to be split. By partnering with local South LA based organizations, he leveraged innovative housing policies and creative financing to create lasting change. Previously, as a Design Fellow for the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development under Mayor Garcetti and the Chief Design Officer Christopher Hawthorne, Alejandro contributed to transformative initiatives such as the Low-Rise: Housing Ideas for Los Angeles Challenge, and the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standard Plan program, shaping "missing middle" housing policy for the city.

Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Alejandro is deeply committed to advancing equity in his community. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Design and Community & Regional Development from UC Davis, and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Alejandro leads SLAAI with a focus on building a more equitable future for South LA. Upon completion of the Ross Real Estate Program, he intends to support capacity building efforts to the faith-based community in South LA to become leaders in real estate efforts in the community.

Email: agonzalez@coalitionrcd.org

Davit Ghazaryan is a Management Analyst at the City of South Pasadena. He has worked for multiple public agencies during his career, with the bulk of his experience coming from the affordable housing sector. Prior to working at the City of South Pasadena, he was an Assistant Housing Manager in the Asset Management department of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, where he oversaw the implementation of the Homekey project – a state-sponsored program aimed at providing funding to public entities in order to expand and sustain housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including converting hotels, motels, and other properties into housing.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Yerevan State University in Armenia and a Master's degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from University College London in England. He is a certified Housing Quality Standards and a Housing Tax Credit Specialist. Davit is a recipient of the Merit Scholarship from University College London as well as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarship.

Davit’s goal is to further expand his knowledge and understanding of real estate principles and pursue a career in real estate law. Additionally, he aims to expand his professional network to foster meaningful connections within the industry. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

Email: dghazaryanmpa@gmail.com

Ari Guerrero currently holds the rank of Lieutenant and serves as the Intelligence Department Head at Naval Information Warfare Training Group San Diego. They are also pursuing a Master of Business for Veterans at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, with graduation anticipated in May 2025.

Prior to their current assignment, Ari served as Deputy Director of the Intelligence Department at SEAL Team FIVE, where they deployed as the Director of Intelligence for the Naval Special Warfare Task Unit-Indo Pacific. Ari completed the Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course in April 2021 and commissioned as a Naval Officer through Officer Candidate School in July 2019.

Before commissioning, Ari earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Wilmington University in December 2018. They began their military career in July 2011, enlisting in the U.S. Navy as a Fire Controlman. Ari served aboard USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD 52) from 2013 to 2017, deploying to the Indo-Pacific region in support of Pacific Partnership 2013.

Looking ahead, Ari plans to separate from the Navy within the next year to pursue their entrepreneurial goals. They are focused on launching Havok’s Barkyard & Beer Garden — a vibrant off-leash dog park and beer garden celebrating inclusion and intersectionality. Through community-driven events, partnerships with minority-owned businesses, and collaborations with local charities, Havok’s will serve as a social hub designed to uplift diverse and underserved communities.

Upon completion of the USC Ross Program in Real Estate, Ari also plans to expand their mission by developing housing and real estate projects that support and empower these same communities.

Email: ari@havoksbarkyard.com

Carlos Alberto Huizar is a dedicated and results-driven professional in urban planning and public administration, with extensive experience in project management, land use, legislative affairs, and sustainable development. He currently serves as a Management Associate in the Office of the City Manager for the City of Torrance, California, where he plays a central role in overseeing the City’s real estate portfolio, coordinating legislative advocacy efforts, and administering citywide grant activities. He also manages the City Council’s agenda process and ensures consistency and clarity across staff reports and interdepartmental communications.

Carlos is currently leading the development of the Torrance Civic Center Master Plan, a landmark project aimed at transforming the heart of the city into a more accessible, inclusive, and future-ready public space. This work reflects his commitment to civic engagement and urban reinvestment that honors both community needs and long-term resilience.

Before returning to Torrance, Carlos served as a Senior Planner for the City of Austin, Texas, where he managed high-impact site development cases, including the Four Seasons Lake Austin, Austin ISD Bond Projects, and several large-scale mixed-use and residential developments. His earlier work in Torrance included managing the award-winning One Mile, One Charger EV infrastructure expansion, which helped position the city as a regional leader in sustainable mobility. He also played a key role in projects like the Torrance Port Logistics Center, The Brew’s Hall at Del Amo adaptive reuse, and several affordable and mixed-income housing developments.

Carlos earned his Master of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach, and a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. In 2023, he was selected to participate in the Urban Land Institute’s Pathways to Inclusion Program, a nationally recognized initiative that supports the advancement of emerging BIPOC professionals in land use and real estate.

He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC), the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA), and the American Planning Association (APA), where he is an AICP candidate.

With a strong belief in equitable planning and cross-sector collaboration, Carlos is committed to building communities that are not only livable and inclusive—but inspiring.

Email: chuizar@torranceca.gov

Christiana Kyrillou is an experienced architect and leader with over 25 years dedicated to the growth of internationally recognized design firms. Her work includes the key role of building and establishing new successful offices, and leading collaborations between a wide range of multi-disciplinary teams in both international and local projects spanning varied sectors, scales, and complexities.

Christiana’s titles have included Los Angeles Studio Executive Chair, Principal in Charge, and San Francisco Studio Executive Chair. Her career journey has been dynamic with several remarkable opportunities of note, partnering to launch the start-up of Woods Bagot’s first office in the United States in San Francisco in 2008, and several years later, in 2019, by taking the lead role in launching and establishing the successful Los Angeles Studio, delivering large scale work to prominent groups including the Los Angeles International Airport and major tech firms.

The work of growing these offices encompassed a wide range of contributions including creating brand awareness, building teams, managing operations, developing and delivering strategic growth plans, becoming deeply embedded in professional networks, pursuing clients, as well as cultural and project leadership. In 2022, she was appointed California Management Stream Leader collaborating across both west coast locations, to deliver on the strategy of creating a combined California Studio partnership. During this time, each studio grew to a 25-person plus team, winning and delivering outstanding work together.

Prior to Woods Bagot, Christiana was an Associate at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, where she begun her career in 1999, working on international large scale mixed use tall tower projects such as the China World Trade Center Phase 3, and key notable local projects such as the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland. Christiana graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1999. She holds a BFA in Historic Preservation and a Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees.

Christiana is passionate about building healthy communities through collaborative team partnerships fostering growth, excellence, care, creativity, and opportunities for all team members. This has inspired her deep involvement and leadership within national and local organizations including the AIA, CREW, SPUR, ULI and more. She takes great joy working collaboratively to support missions focused on sustainability, resilience, and placemaking.

Christiana is thrilled to pursue her next chapter in the intrepid work to build thriving and inspired communities while delivering extraordinary work of scale and impact. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

Email: christiana.kyrillou.aia@gmail.com

Akshay Modi, P.E., is a structural engineer at Labib Funk + Associates (LFA), a multidisciplinary engineering firm based in El Segundo, California, specializing in structural, shoring, and civil engineering services. He firmly believes that successful buildings emerge from meaningful collaboration between architects, engineers, and developers—there is no substitute for it.

Akshay brings over six years of experience delivering cost-effective and constructible structural solutions for multifamily, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse projects throughout Southern California. His approach is guided by a deep understanding of developer priorities such as entitlement feasibility, construction phasing, and long-term asset performance.

He holds a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from S.V. National Institute of Technology in India. Akshay is a licensed Professional Engineer in California and an active member of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC).

Akshay’s portfolio includes a range of impactful projects—from the adaptive reuse of historic structures to large-scale, high-density developments. Notable projects include West Edge – Martin Expo, a 1.5 million SF mixed-use development featuring 619 residential units, a 150,000 SF office tower, and 100,000 SF of retail space; and the Intuit Dome, the future home of the LA Clippers in Inglewood—a state-of-the-art, carbon-free sports venue that has received multiple design and sustainability awards. His role often includes providing peer reviews from an engineering perspective to optimize designs for economy while preserving the overall development vision.

Through the Ross Program, Akshay seeks to expand his role beyond design into development management—bridging his technical expertise with strategic planning, finance, and urban development. 

He resides in Los Angeles.

Email: akshayrmodi@gmail.com

Madam Lara Okunubi wears many leadership hats in the community. She is the CEO of IDEAL PROGRAM SERVICES and IDEAL MILESTONES, INC., a social impact enterprise dedicated to advancing skill training, employment facilitation, and supportive services for adults with developmental disabilities. With over a decade of leadership in disability services, she has built several programs that empower individuals to pursue meaningful work, independent living, and full community inclusion.

For over thirty years, Ideal Program Services have designed and managed person-centered programs that integrate vocational readiness with wraparound support as well as other change initiatives. Madam Lara’s work and impact has bridged state agencies, regional centers, and community stakeholders to ensure that adults with disabilities are not only served but fully valued in their communities. She is well respected by her peers and widely recognized for championing inclusive workforce strategies and expanding access to culturally life-changing supports.

Madam Okunubi holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s in business management, and a certified Nonprofit Executive Leader. Her affiliations include SCLARC, DDS, CRENSHAW CHAMBER, PACE and PACIFIC COUNCIL Policy Forum. She has served statewide vendor advisory communities and consults for other community-based organizations on best practices in service delivery.

As the CEO of NAPAC-CDI, a capital raising and advisory platform. She is leading a real estate incubator that nurtures diaspora-led development and investment ventures focused on urban revitalization in underserved markets.

Madam Okunubi is currently developing an 80-unit mixed-use supportive housing project in Los Angeles (Crenshaw Corridor), integrating co-living, retail, and workforce development.

Following the Ross Program, I aim to scale my impact in the community by structuring inclusive real estate funds that enable community wealth-building.

Madam Lara Okunubi is a proud Los Angeleno.

Email: lokunubi@idealprogramsservices.org

Will Poole is a real estate consultant specializing in industrial and office property transactions across the greater Los Angeles region. He currently serves as Director at Realty Advisory Group INC. in Los Angeles, where he represents tenants, landlords, buyers, and sellers in leasing and investment transactions. Will’s focus includes South Bay, Ventura County, and the Los Angeles North/Conejo Valley submarkets.

Prior to joining Realty Advisory Group INC, Poole spent five years at Lee & Associates, where he earned the 2019 Rookie of the Year award and was promoted to Principal in his fifth year—an acknowledgment of his early success with a wide range of clients and transactions. His commercial real estate career began in 2017, following a transition from professional sports. Before entering the industry, Poole played in the National Football League, having been drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2004. His career also included stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Toronto Argonauts, and Sacramento Mountain Lions. Poole's athletic background contributes to his disciplined, results-driven approach to real estate.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Southern California (USC) and an A.B.S. in Business Administration from Ventura College. He is a member of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), NFL Trust, and USC Football Alumni. He also actively supports the B.O.S.S. (Building Outstanding Scholarly Students) program in Long Beach and volunteers as a youth football coach.

Poole was inducted into the Ventura College Hall of Fame and was named USC Rose Bowl Defensive MVP and Co-Special Teams Player of the Year during his collegiate football career.

He is currently involved in tenant advisory assignments and industrial portfolio strategy projects in the Los Angeles market. Will Poole lives in Los Angeles.

Email: wpoole@raginc.com

Samuel Ramirez-Herrarte is the Founder and CEO of The Fraternity Intl, LLC, a dynamic company specializing in consulting and investment services. With a strong focus on delivering innovative and creative investment opportunities, Samuel has positioned The Fraternity Intl, LLC as a trusted partner for clients navigating the complexities of longevity in investing.

Before embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, Samuel worked with a leading real estate consulting firm, with a focus on urban revitalization and development. Investing in the communities of South Central Los Angeles. Collaborating with seasoned investors and developers, this experience allowed him to gain invaluable insights into the industry, honing his skills in strategic planning, market analysis, and investment strategies.
Samuel’s hands-on experience in real estate consulting, as a real estate salesperson and his entrepreneurial vision have equipped him with the expertise to identify and capitalize on high-potential opportunities.

Samuel Ramirez-Herrarte resides in Los Angeles, where he remains committed to advancing the wellbeing of his community. Samuel plans to add real estate development to future services offered at The Fraternity Intl, LLC, upon completion of the Ross program in Real Estate.

Email: samuel.rherrarte@gmail.com

Daniel Skolnick, AICP, is an urban planner and Managing Member of Planning Consultants of California, LLC. His firm provides services in land use, housing, community engagement, public policy, and environmental compliance to local governments, non-profits, community organizations, and real estate professionals.  

Before launching his firm, Daniel served as Senior Planning Deputy for Los Angeles City Councilmembers Cardenas, Zine, and Koretz, shaping land use policy and development. His diverse public sector experience also includes a tenure with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and various current and long-range planning roles with the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. He has honed his skills managing complex development projects, navigating regulatory processes, spearheading legislative initiatives, and fostering community consensus.

Some of his notable achievements include processing the first supportive housing application in Los Angeles under AB 2162, negotiating the development agreement for The Village at Westfield Topanga to secure key public benefits, and guiding the adoption of the Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan. Daniel has also led economic recovery efforts for underperforming commercial districts and spearheaded critical habitat protections in the Santa Monica Mountains by enhancing policies for surplus land conservation and CEQA implementation.

Daniel earned his Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning from California State University Northridge. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Email: daniel@planningcalifornia.com

As the President and CEO of Steelman Build & Construction, Inc. Aisha has successfully led the company to grow and thrive in the highly competitive construction industry. With a strong background in managing both public and private contracts, Aisha oversees all aspects of operations, from contract management to operational and business growth assessment. As a General B license contractor with a specialty license for Doors, Gates and Activating Devices (C61/D28), and a AAADM Certified Inspector (American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers), the most recent projects Steelman Build & Construction, Inc. engaged in include Los Angeles County Metro, Hollywood Burbank Airport Replacement Passenger Terminal Project, Caltrans District 7, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), with many more past performance projects successfully completed. Aisha leads the company with strategic vision and is committed to ensuring that Steelman Build & Construction, Inc. is a leader in the industry while maintaining a culture of excellence. 

Aisha is a highly accomplished leader with a unique blend of 20+ years of expertise in both education and business. Aisha holds a Doctor of Education (PhD) degree in Education with a concentration in Higher Education/Student Affairs from Claremont Graduate University and MBA from the University of Phoenix. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Pre-Credential Option) from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. This diverse academic background equips Aisha with a unique perspective on results-driven leadership, management, and strategic decision-making. Aisha is also a member of the Board of Directors for NAMC-SC (National Assoc. of Minority Contractors, Southern California Chapter).

As a Southern California native, Aisha is looking forward to expanding her knowledge and network in the Ross Program in Real Estate at USC. Her goal is to collaborate on projects focused on the revitalization of emerging communities.

Email: aisha@steelmanbuild.com

Erick Traschikoff Reyes is a Senior Project Manager at California Receivership Group (CRG), one of the nation’s leading health and safety receivership firms. He specializes in the rehabilitation of distressed and substandard properties across California, with experience in code compliance, project oversight, and community revitalization. Erick has worked in cities across California, including Compton, Los Angeles, Dana Point, Bakersfield, Fresno, Rancho Palos Verdes, and Needles, among many others. 

Since joining CRG in 2017, Erick has managed the rehabilitation of more than forty projects, dealing with issues including unpermitted construction, fire-damage remediation, hillside stability, rampant crime, abandoned and unsecure structures, severe hoarding conditions, and—more recently—unlicensed cannabis dispensaries. He oversees the daily operations of Southern California projects, coordinating closely with contractors, city officials, attorneys, and stakeholders to correct code violations and eliminate life-safety hazards. Erick acts as the company’s “boots on the ground,” dealing directly with members of the affected communities, police departments, city officials, and occupants. 

Prior to his work at CRG, Erick gained experience across multiple sectors of real estate, including property management—primarily with Section 8 units—and commercial office buildings, followed by residential real estate sales. He began his real estate career in 2007 as a teenager, door-knocking for a top brokerage firm in Mar Vista, California during the foreclosure crisis—an experience that sparked his long-term interest in real estate. 

Erick completed his undergraduate studies at Santa Monica College and California State University, Los Angeles, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He joined the Ross Program to expand his knowledge in real estate finance, construction cost estimation, and development, following a surge in increasingly complex health and safety rehabilitation projects. His long-term goal is to transition into real estate development, leveraging his field experience and embracing emerging tools—such as AI-driven site selection and financial modeling—to help address California’s housing crisis, particularly in underserved and disaster-affected communities.  

Erick Traschikoff resides in Huntington Park, California.

Email: ericktraschikoff@icloud.com

Javaris Turner is the President and Owner of Turner Advisory Group, a management consulting firm focused on federal government contracting. He is pursuing a career in commercial real estate and participates in the Urban Land Institute REACH and GROW mentorship programs. He is also a licensed California Real Estate Salesperson.

Prior to a career in consulting, Javaris served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and is matriculating through his last year at the Harvard Extension School, where he is pursuing a degree in management and real estate investing.

By enrolling in the USC Ross Program, he aims to acquire the necessary financial acumen to succeed in a commercial real estate investing career and connect and collaborate with other high-achieving individuals.

Javaris lives in Los Angeles, CA and hopes to leave a legacy of impact on the city and county particularly in the affordable housing sector.

Email: javaris.turner@gmail.com

Laura Walton is a strategist and creative producer currently serving as Special Projects & Lab Assistant to the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis (DUPSA) at USC.

Previous to USC, Laura served as a Program Manager at Agency Noir, a West Coast production agency specializing in real estate media and amenities-focused storytelling for developers in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Houston. Her work spans placemaking campaigns, brand strategy, and video content production for leading clients such as Skanska, Steelcase, and Gemdale , amplifying development narratives through community and design-driven lenses.

Prior to Agency Noir, Walton worked as a Strategist at Burns Group NYC, where she led consumer insight and brand innovation projects across the CPG, tech, and luxury sectors. She has also held research and production roles with international NGOs, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, the International Peace Institute and Religions for Peace at the United Nations, where she coordinated the Ethics in Action summit, managing logistics for over 50 global religious leaders. Walton has worked professionally across the fields of creative strategy, production, and international policy since 2018. Her specialized expertise includes ethnographic research, spatial storytelling, and cultural placemaking.

She holds a BFA in Integrated Design and a BA in Global Studies from Parsons School of Design at The New School University in New York City and is currently pursuing a Master of Urban Planning with a concentration in Economic Development at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. She is a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellow and a 2016 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar.

Walton’s current work explores how creative media, planning history, and strategic communication intersect to shape equitable, sustainable urban development. She is interested in contributing to public-private partnerships, economic development initiatives, and regionally impactful real estate strategies following completion of the Ross Program. Laura Walton resides in Los Angeles with frequent visits to New York and Arkansas for professional matters—with goals to nurture development in both urban/rural settings.

Email: lauraelisewalton@gmail.com

Thomas Wong is the Associate Director of Unit Acquisitions at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and is a recognized expert in master leasing, public-private real estate partnerships, and housing solutions for the homeless. Thomas leads LAHSA's groundbreaking Unit Acquisitions Division, where he developed and implemented the first government-backed master lease strategy in the country and acquired over 770 units in the first year of operations. Recently, his work was recognized as a Top 25 Finalist for the 2025 Ivory Prize, a nationally renowned award for housing innovations, and has been been featured in The LA Times, The Urban Institute, and the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Prior to this role, Thomas served in multiple leadership positions at LAHSA that includes the Manager of Housing Navigation and Unit Acquisitions and Chief of Planning for Project Roomkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has worked at the intersection of housing policy, real estate, and government systems, while still providing boots-on-the-ground services as a Clinical Lead for homeless street outreach teams.

Thomas lives in Los Angeles and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California with a concentration in Communities, Organizations, and Business Innovation, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside.

Currently, Thomas is focused on expanding LAHSA's master leasing strategy and optimizing the homeless rehousing system's ability to quickly house people experiencing homelessness. He hopes that his work in unit acquisitions will bridge the gap of two often misaligned sectors, real estate and homelessness, while driving cost-effective and sustainable solutions for Los Angeles and other communities.

Email: twong912@gmail.com