VIDEO EXCLUSIVE – WeAreMenifee.com spoke with the City of Menifee Economic Development Director Gina Gonzalez about programs the city if offering to the business community. Adding to the conversation is Kayla Charters Economic Development Analyst for the city of Menifee. In this community update we talk about the status of housing developments, the movie theater, supporting local restaurants and COVID-19 assistance programs.
The Bio’s our guests.
Gina Gonzalez, currently serves as the Economic Development Director for the City of Menifee, CA, the fastest growing City in Southwest Riverside County, and 7th fastest growing city in California! Coming from the private sector, Gina has utilized her business friendly demeanor to create a real impact in the public sector, spending over a decade and a half in multiple leadership capacities through her tenure such as Acting Director of Community Services, Economic Development Manager, working in the City Manager’s office for the City of Menifee, and was a Legislative Assistant to the 3rd District County Supervisor, a State Senator, and a State Assemblyman. In her current role, for the last 2 years she is responsible for Menifee’s Economic Development efforts (business attraction, retention, and expansion), City marketing, public relations, press, and overall- increasing the city’s tax base, and job development, self-sufficiency, productive use of property and acquisitions, site selection assistance, business ombudsman services, in an effort to increases resident quality of life.
Gina Gonzalez has a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning, with a concentration in Community Development and Environmental Policy from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a concentration in Social and Ethnic Relations graduating magna cum laude from the University of California, Davis and is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society, California Women Lead and is a graduate of the Robert Hertzberg Capitol Institute. In 2017, Gina was nationally recognized by NexGenGov, as an exemplary leader among public servants which honors innovation in local government, and aims to bridge the generation gap in public service leadership by helping to retain new talent in the field. Gina currently resides in Menifee, with her son Elias, and their beta fish named Dynomite.
Kayla Charters, currently serves as the Economic Development Analyst for the City of Menifee, CA and has been with the City since 2016. As a young professional, Kayla brings fresh and innovative ideas to Menifee’s Economic Development team, and is eager to continue pursuing her passion for community development. In her current role, she is part of a dynamic team that is responsible for implementing the Economic Development Department’s visions set forth by City leadership and oversees marketing, community outreach, social media platforms, business retention, expansion and attraction efforts, economic development programs and events, contracts, and citywide news publications, and public relations.
Kayla Charters has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications, with an emphasis in Public Relations and a double major in American Studies from California State University, Fullerton. Kayla currently resides in Menifee, and is full of pride for the City she lives, works, stays and plays in.
