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General Manager

Jeffrey Kightlinger

 Jeffrey Kightlinger is general manager for The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  As general manager, he is responsible for implementing the policy

General Counsel

Marcia Scully

Marcia Scully is general counsel for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  She is responsible for providing legal representation to Metropolitan on construction

General Auditor

Gerald C. Riss

Gerald C. Riss is the general auditor for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the region's major water importer and wholesaler.

Acting Ethics Officer

Gerald C. Riss

Gerald C. Riss is the acting ethics officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the region's major water importer and wholesaler. 

Assistant General Manager/Chief Operating Officer

Deven Upadhyay

Deven Upadhyay is the assistant general manager and chief operating officer for Metropolitan.

Assistant General Manager/Chief Administrative Officer

Shane Chapman

Shane Chapman is the Assistant General Manager/Chief Administrative Officer of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  In this capacity, he is responsible

Interim Assistant GM/Chief Financial Officer

June Skillman

June Skillman is the interim assistant general manager and chief financial officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  She manages all of the district's

Assistant General Manager/ Strategic Water Initiatives

Roger K. Patterson

Roger K. Patterson is assistant general manager for Metropolitan overseeing Metropolitan's strategic water initiatives for the Colorado River and Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay De

Assistant General Manager/Chief External Affairs Officer

Dee Zinke

Dee Zinke is the assistant general manager and chief external affairs officer at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and is responsible for the agency's communications,

Assistant General Counsel

Heather C. Beatty

Heather C. Beatty is an assistant general counsel for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  She provides legal representation to Metropolitan on various

Assistant General Counsel

Adam Kear

Adam Kear is an assistant general counsel for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  He handles legal matters related to Metropolitan’s Colorado River

Manager, Bay-Delta Initiatives

Stephen Arakawa

Stephen Arakawa, manager of the Bay-Delta Initiatives Program at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, has a background of 30 years working in the water field

Manager, Colorado River Resources

Bill Hasencamp

Bill Hasencamp is the manager of Colorado River Resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where he develops and manages water supply programs to augment

Chief Engineer/Group Manager, Engineering Services Group

John Bednarski

John Bednarski is the Chief Engineer and Group Manager of Engineering Services for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He is responsible for all of Metropolitan’s

Group Manager for External Affairs

Sue Sims

Sue Sims is group manager for External Affairs at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Group Manager, Human Resources

Diane Pitman

Diane Pitman  is the director of human resources and risk management for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Interim Group Manager, Real Property Group

Octavia Tucker

Octavia Tucker is responsible for the acquisition, management and protection of all of Metropolitan's Real Property Assets and for developing additional revenue generating opportunities

Group Manager, Information Technology

Charles Eckstrom

Charles Eckstrom is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day management of Metropolitan’s information technology operations and organization.

Group Manager, Water Resource Management

Brad Coffey

Brad Coffey leads the Water Resource Management Group. 

Interim Group Manager, Water System Operations

Brent Yamasaki

Brent Yamasaki is the interim group manager of Water System Operations at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

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General Manager

Jeffrey Kightlinger

Jeffrey Kightlinger is general manager and chief executive officer for The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a state-established cooperative that delivers water to 26 member agencies serving 19 million people in six counties.

Kightlinger was appointed general manager in February 2006. As general manager, he manages the District’s $1.8 billion annual budget and 1,800 employees to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of high quality water every day throughout Southern California. He reports to a board of 38 members representing 26 member agencies.

Kightlinger has an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a law degree from Santa Clara University. He serves on a number of boards including the Coro Foundation, the USC Price School of Public Policy, the UCLA Sustainability Advisory Board, the Climate Action Reserve, the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy, the Los Angeles Economic Development Council and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, among others.

General Counsel

Marcia Scully

Marcia Scully is general counsel for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. She is responsible for providing legal representation to Metropolitan on construction matters, manages outside counsel and coordinates representation of Metropolitan in significant litigation matters. She previously provided assistance in employment and Colorado River resource matters.

Scully joined Metropolitan in 1995 after a decade of private law practice; she represented public and private clients on Redevelopment Plan adoptions, land use, environmental and municipal law matters including negotiation and documentation of retail, industrial, hotel and housing developments. From 1981 to 1985 she was assistant city attorney for the City of Inglewood where she served as counsel to the planning commission and handled all civil matters with an emphasis on redevelopment, land use, construction, employment and disability.

She served as president of University of Michigan's Alumnae Club of Los Angeles, provides pro bono legal services, and is a recipient of the 1996 State Bar of California, District 7 President's Pro Bono Service Award, and the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing Advocate of the Year Award.

She is also a member of the League of Women Voters for Whittier and was appointed for two terms on the City of Whittier's Planning Commission; three years were served as chair.

Scully earned a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from University of Michigan, a master's degree in Urban Planning from Wayne State University and her law degree from Loyola Law School.

General Auditor

Gerald C. Riss

Gerald C. Riss is the general auditor for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the region's major water importer and wholesaler.

Riss brings over 37 years of audit, accounting and risk management experience to Metropolitan. His responsibilities include reviewing internal controls, financial records and reports, developing a flexible annual audit plan, determining compliance with bond covenants and applicable laws and regulations, ascertaining that assets and resources are properly accounted for and safeguarded against waste, loss or misuse, and administering Metropolitan's contract for audit services with an independent public accounting firm.

Prior to Metropolitan, Riss was vice president and assistant division head for the Risk Management Administration at United California Bank/Bank of the West. He also served as senior vice president, director of risk management and general auditor of Tokai Bank of California.
Riss earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and a MBA in financial accounting from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He is certified as a fraud examiner, financial services auditor, risk professional and has completed the certified public accountant examination.

Acting Ethics Officer

Gerald C. Riss

Gerald C. Riss is the acting ethics officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the region's major water importer and wholesaler.

Prior to Metropolitan, Riss was vice president and assistant division head for the Risk Management Administration at United California Bank/Bank of the West. He also served as senior vice president, director of risk management and general auditor of Tokai Bank of California.

Riss earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and a MBA in financial accounting from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He is certified as a fraud examiner, financial services auditor, risk professional and has completed the certified public accountant examination.

Assistant General Manager/Chief Operating Officer

Deven Upadhyay

Deven Upadhyay is the assistant general manager and chief operating officer for Metropolitan. He is responsible for managing the operational business functions of the district, which include system operations, engineering, planning and water resources management. In this position, one of his primary duties is to implement the Chief Executive Officer's Business Plan and initiatives, as well as, to oversee the application and operational practice of the Board's policies and directives.

Upadhyay began his career with Metropolitan in 1995 as a resource specialist in the Planning and Resources Division. In 2005 he left Metropolitan to work for the Municipal Water District of Orange County on water policy issues. In 2008, he returned to Metropolitan as the Budget and Financial Planning Section Manager before becoming Group Manager for Water Resources Management in 2010.

An avid tennis player and a devoted Angel's baseball fan, Upadhyay earned a bachelor's degree in economics from California State University, Fullerton and a master's degree in public administration from the University of La Verne.

Assistant General Manager/Chief Administrative Officer

Shane Chapman

Shane Chapman is the Assistant General Manager/Chief Administrative Officer of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. In this capacity, he is responsible for the strategic direction and management of Metropolitan’s critical administrative functions. His primary responsibilities include Human Resources, Information Technology, Real Property, Environmental Planning, and Administrative Services.

Prior to joining Metropolitan, Chapman was the General Manager for the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District for seven years. In this role, he led a transformation of the Upper District including the development of its first Integrated Resources Plan and subsequent update. Additionally, Chapman completed a major expansion of a direct reuse recycled water system, design, permitting and development of an indirect reuse recycled water project, and development of an award winning conservation outreach strategy. Chapman also sucessfully developed effective relationships with the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster, retail water providers, Regional Water Quality Board, Los Angeles County Public Works, Army Corps of Engineers and local, state and federal elected officials.

Chapman served in various management roles at Metropolitan for twenty years prior to serving as Upper District’s General Manager including, Assistant Group Manager of Operations, Revenue Rates and Budget Manager and water resources program manager participating in long-term planning and resource management initiatives on both the State Water Project and Colorado River.

A graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a degree in economics, Chapman also holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California.

Interim Assistant GM/Chief Financial Officer

June Skillman

June Skillman is the interim assistant general manager and chief financial officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. She manages all of the district's financial programs, including financial planning, investments, debt management, accounting operations, and development of the district's biennial budget and water rates and charges. She also oversees risk management and business continuity planning.

Skillman has 30 years of experience in the water, electric and natural gas utility industries. She has been with Metropolitan for 15 years, most recently in the district's Oﬃce of the Chief Financial Oﬃcer. Previously, she was the budget and treasury manager for development of the district's biennial budget and water rates and charges; financial planning and analysis; and management and administration of Metropolitan's outstanding debt, which includes variable rate bonds. She also was responsible for Metropolitan's interest rate swap program and oversaw Metropolitan's investment banking team and ﬁnancial advisory team as well as treasury operations.

Skillman earned a master's degree in business administration from the California State University, Fullerton. She is on the board of governors for the California Municipal Utilities Association and is a member of the rates and charges committee of the American Water Works Association.

Assistant General Manager/ Strategic Water Initiatives

Roger K. Patterson

Roger K. Patterson is assistant general manager for Metropolitan overseeing Metropolitan's strategic water initiatives for the Colorado River and Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta.

Patterson was the director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources from 1999 – 2005. He was responsible for water administration, water planning, flood-plain delineation, dam safety and the state databank. He represented Nebraska on interstate compacts, decrees and basin associations and led the state team in the settlement of U.S. Supreme Court cases on the North Platte and Republican rivers.

Prior to his work in Nebraska, Patterson served 25 years with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. During his Reclamation tenure, he served as regional director in both the mid-Pacific region based in Sacramento and the Great Plains region headquartered in Billings, Mont.

A registered professional engineer in Nebraska and Colorado, Patterson earned bachelors and master's degrees in engineering from the University of Nebraska.

Assistant General Manager/Chief External Affairs Officer

Dee Zinke

Dee Zinke is the assistant general manager and chief external affairs officer at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and is responsible for the agency's communications, outreach, education and legislative matters.

Zinke joined Metropolitan in 2009 as manager of the Legislative Services Section with a wealth of experience in the fields of government and public affairs, and communications.

Before coming to Metropolitan, Zinke was the manager of Governmental and Legislative Affairs at the Calleguas Municipal Water District for nearly 10 years, where she received recognition for her significant contributions to the Association of California Water Agencies, the Ventura County Special Districts Association and the Association of Water Agencies of Ventura County. During her tenure at Calleguas, Dee was named chair of the Ventura County Watersheds Coalition and appointed by then-Secretary of Resources Mike Chrisman to the State Watershed Advisory Committee, a post she still holds today.

Prior to her public service, she worked in the private sector as the executive officer and senior legislative advocate for Building Industry Association of Greater Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and Director of Communications for E-Systems, a defense contractor specializing in communication, surveillance and navigation systems in Washington, D.C.

Zinke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Psychology from Virginia Tech.

Assistant General Counsel

Heather C. Beatty

Heather C. Beatty is an assistant general counsel for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. She provides legal representation to Metropolitan on various litigation, labor/employment, and operational matters. She also oversees the litigation, labor/employment, and technology areas of the legal department, and assists the general counsel in managing the department.

Beatty joined Metropolitan in 2008 after 15 years in private law practice, specializing in complex litigation and labor/employment law. She was a partner at a major international law firm, representing private and public sector clients, including Metropolitan. She has successfully litigated cases including class actions, in state and federal trial and appellate courts, on breach of contract, water, energy, unfair competition, antitrust, breach of fiduciary duty, and public law claims, and in all areas of labor/employment law. She has obtained summary judgment dismissals of numerous cases. She also served as labor/employment law advisor to clients and has presented extensively on legal topics. She served in her firm's management, including as a hiring partner, and was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in multiple years.

Beatty earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and her law degree from Loyola Law School.

Manager, Bay-Delta Initiatives

Stephen Arakawa

Stephen Arakawa, manager of the Bay-Delta Initiatives Program at The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, has a background of 30 years working in the water field as a civil engineer.

At Metropolitan he is responsible for the plans and activities to secure a reliable supply from the state water project through environmental and water supply improvements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Key initiatives within the program are completion of the Delta Conveyance Project and California EcoRestore for both an improved water delivery system and environmental restoration in the Delta.

Prior to that he served as group manager of the Water Resource Management Group for over 10 years where he was responsible for managing the district's planning activities and policy guideline development related to Metropolitan's water supply plans and integrated resources plans; the development and implementation of Metropolitan's resources programs for conservation, local resources projects, and groundwater recovery and conjunctive use programs; and the management and negotiations of resource contracts related to the State Water Project, Colorado River deliveries and water transfers and purchases.

Before coming to Metropolitan in 1987, Arakawa worked for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in Sacramento for seven years. For DWR he conducted studies regarding the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. He is a registered engineer in California. He is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a degree in civil engineering.

Manager, Colorado River Resources

Bill Hasencamp

Bill Hasencamp is the manager of Colorado River Resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where he develops and manages water supply programs to augment Metropolitan's Colorado River supplies.

He has been with Metropolitan since 2001, and during that time has negotiated transfer agreements with irrigations districts, exchange agreements with municipal agencies, and funded new water supply projects which have more than doubled Metropolitan's Colorado River water supplies since 2003.

In 2007, Hasencamp negotiated and worked with other states to develop the Intentionally Created Surplus Program, which allows Metropolitan to store up to 1.5 million acre-feet of conserved water in Lake Mead at no cost. He is one of California's representatives to the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum, which implements projects to reduce the salinity concentration of Colorado River water at Metropolitan's intake.

Prior to joining Metropolitan, Hasencamp was the Operations Planning Manager for Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) in Northern California. In that position, he oversaw the operations for CCWD's new intake and reservoir to provide better water quality for his agency. Prior to that, he was an environmental programs manager at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, where he oversaw the development of environmental restoration programs in the Mono Lake Basin.

His hobbies include long distance bicycle touring, which led him on a three-month bicycle ride across the United States.

Chief Engineer/Group Manager, Engineering Services Group

John Bednarski

John Bednarski is the Chief Engineer and Group Manager of Engineering Services for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He is responsible for all of Metropolitan’s engineering activities, including management of the Capital Investment Plan; facility planning; construction management and inspection; project management; and infrastructure monitoring.

Bednarski joined Metropolitan as an associate engineer in 1991 after working at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for 10 years. His early work at Metropolitan focused on treatment plant expansions and the oxidation retrofit program. He later headed both the Program Management Unit and the Infrastructure Reliability Section within the Engineering Services Group. In the latter role, Bednarski was responsible for Metropolitan’s construction management efforts as well as infrastructure assessments, survey and mapping/GIS activities. He also oversaw the completion of the $1.1 billion Inland Feeder project. Most recently, he has led Metropolitan’s support for the conceptual design of the Delta Conveyance Project and managed the development of the Regional Recycled Water Program and the Advanced Water Purification Center demonstration plant.

Bednarski is a registered civil engineer in California and earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Claremont McKenna College. He also holds a Master’s of Public Administration and a Master’s of Science degree in environmental engineering from the University of Southern California.

Group Manager, Human Resources

Diane Pitman

Diane Pitman is the Director of Human Resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Pitman has more than 20 years of experience in the field of human resources. She is responsible for ensuring that Metropolitan’s workforce is ready for the challenges ahead. This includes recruiting and retaining the best talent, developing and training employees for future opportunities and challenges, ensuring benefits and compensation are competitive, fostering positive and effective employee and labor relations activities, workers’ compensation and risk management.

Pitman is a product of Metropolitan’s training and development program. She began her employment as a Human Resources Analyst and through training, rotational learning and support of Metropolitan leadership was promoted to the most senior position in Human Resources Management. Prior to Metropolitan, Pitman worked in banking and computer software development, which included international HR assignments.

A California native and avid soccer player and fan, Pitman has a Master’s degree in Human Resources from Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Human Resources, from Cal Poly Pomona.

Interim Group Manager, Real Property Group

Octavia Tucker

Octavia Tucker is responsible for the acquisition, management and protection of all of Metropolitan's Real Property Assets and for developing additional revenue generating opportunities related to real property management. In addition, the group supports key projects such as the Diamond Valley Lake Recreation and Development Project, Bay-Delta Initiatives, the Regional Recycled Water Supply Program and the Right-of-Way and Infrastructure Protection Program.

Tucker joined the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California as a data entry clerk with Water System Operations in 1989 She also has served as team manager within the Business Management section and has managed the facility maintenance staff, storekeepers, and machinists as well as administrative. Tucker was promoted to Administrative Services manager overseeing corporate functions such as facilities management, contracting and procurement, and document services. She then served as a section manager in Human Resources, where she was responsible for the recruitment and classification/compensation, benefits and workforce training.

Tucker earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from the University of La Verne. In her spare time she is an avid soccer and NFL football fan.

Group Manager, Water Resource Management

Brad Coffey

Brad Coffey leads the Water Resource Management Group. In this role, he is responsible for planning and managing Metropolitan's imported and local water resource programs, advancing water-use efficiency and providing supply and demand forecasts for the region.

Coffey joined Metropolitan in 1990 as an assistant engineer. In a variety of increasingly responsible positions, he developed process design criteria for the district's $1.2 billion ozone retrofit program, investigated perchlorate contamination on the Colorado River, and managed Metropolitan's five water treatment plants. Most recently, Coffey served as an assistant manager for the Water System Operations Group. In this capacity, he helped manage more than 900 employees who import, treat, and deliver water throughout Southern California.

A registered professional engineer in California, Coffey earned degrees in mechanical and environmental engineering from Virginia Tech. He also holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Coffey has authored or co-authored more than 80 publications and conference presentations.

Interim Group Manager, Water System Operations

Brent Yamasaki

Brent Yamasaki is the interim group manager of Water System Operations at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. In this capacity, he oversees a staff of over 900 employees responsible for operating and maintaining Metropolitan's Colorado River Aqueduct, distribution system and treatment facilities; planning and scheduling water deliveries and power operations; ensuring compliance with water quality, safety, and environmental regulations; managing field construction and manufacturing efforts; and responding to emergencies.

Yamasaki has more than 27 years of experience at Metropolitan in operations, planning, maintenance, water resources, engineering, and construction. He previously served as the water operations and planning section manager during the recent record drought, He also was a startup engineer during the construction and initial filling of Diamond Valley Lake, Southern California's largest reservoir. In addition, Yamasaki was involved with the subsequent conversion of the DVL pumps to include power generation during the California energy crisis in 2001.

Yamasaki is a board member and a past chairman of the California Utilities Emergency Association. He is a member of the American Water Works Association, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and volunteers as an assistant scoutmaster for his local Boy Scout troop.

A registered professional engineer, Yamasaki earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Cal Poly Pomona and master's in business administration from California State University Fullerton.

Assistant General Counsel

Adam Kear

Adam Kear is an assistant general counsel for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He handles legal matters concerning Metropolitan’s water supplies conveyed through the State Water Project and related issues in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

Kear provides legal representation to Metropolitan on key water resource matters, which have included the Delta Conveyance, Delta wastewater discharges, the Monterey Amendments to the State Water Project contracts, and the Quantification Settlement Agreement. He has successfully litigated Metropolitan cases at the trial and appellate levels and has argued before the California Supreme Court. Kear joined the Legal Department in 2000 but began his career with Metropolitan in 1990 as an engineer in the Planning and Resources Division. As a senior engineer and manager of facility planning for Metropolitan, he served as a project manager of major planning projects, including regional water infrastructure projects, habitat conservation plans, and water resource and facility plans. Kear joined Metropolitan following five years in private consulting engineering practice. In addition, he served as a commissioned engineer officer with the United States Public Health Service.

Kear is a recipient of the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services, is active in his community and a board member of a Los Angeles historic preservation zone, and is a graduate of the CORO program, Leadership Southern California.

Kear holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arizona and a law degree from Loyola Law School.

Group Manager for External Affairs

Sue Sims

Sue Sims is group manager for External Affairs at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. She is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the group, including the Legislative Services Section, Media Services Section, Conservation and Community Services Section, Customer Services Unit, and External Affairs’ Business Management Team.

Before coming to Metropolitan, Sims served as the Executive Officer for the California Water Commission. In her capacity as Executive Officer, she reported directly to the Governor-appointed board and managed all aspects of the Commission’s policy, program, and administrative activities.

Prior to the Commission, Sims was the Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Water Resources and helped manage California’s statewide policies and programs related to water management, environmental and infrastructure issues, strategic planning, and communications. She also served as the department’s Public Affairs Director.

Earlier in her career, Sims worked at Cal/EPA for the Department of Toxic Substances Control and Integrated Waste Management Board, as Chief Speechwriter and Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Governor Deukmejian, and as a White House intern during the Reagan Administration.

Sims holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California, Los Angeles and a public administration management certificate from California State University, Sacramento.

Group Manager, Information Technology

Charles Eckstrom

Charles Eckstrom is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day management of Metropolitan’s information technology operations and organization.

Prior to joining Metropolitan, Charles was the Assistant Chief Information Officer and Interim CIO for the County of Orange, where he was responsible for the technology vision and the day‑to‑day information technology operations serving approximately 3.1 million citizens in the sixth largest county in the United States. Charles was named the “2017 Innovator of the Year” by the Association of California Cities, and under his leadership, the Orange County Information Technology team was awarded the “Best in Category Achievement Award for County Administration and Management” by the National Association of Counties.

Prior to the County of Orange, Charles held IT executive positions at Toshiba America Medical Systems, United Health Group, and Deloitte Consulting. He received an MBA from the University of Southern California and a BA from University of California, Santa Barbara.

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Los Angeles, CA 90012-2944

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213-217-6000

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Los Angeles, CA
90054-0153

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