Southwest Regional Economic Forecast

Robert Field currently serves the County of Riverside as Assistant County Executive Officer Economic and Community Development (ECD). In that capacity, Field oversees the Economic Development Agency (EDA) an agency with 24 divisions, a staff of about 840, and an annual budget of approximately $650 million. EDA’s responsibilities are numerous, and include managing all construction within the County’s $1.5 billion Capital Improvement Program, managing all of the County’s Workforce Investment and Development programs, providing for the public’s needs through the Community Services Division, running various types of housing programs, managing the County’s 36 branch library system, managing and maintaining all of the County’s real estate, and running the County’s airports and the annual County Fair & National Date Festival. In addition to EDA, Field now oversees five independent County Departments: the Registrar of Voters, the Department of Animal Services, the Regional Parks & Open Space District, the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, and UC Cooperative Extension-Riverside County.
Prior to becoming Assistant CEO/EDA, Field was Director of the County’s Department of Facilities Management, which had a staff of over 600. His experience also includes a prior stint with EDA, as well as nearly eight years’ employment with the Riverside-based civil engineering firm Krieger & Stewart, Incorporated.
Field received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and his Master’s Degree from California Baptist University, and also holds Extension Certificates in both Economic Development Management and Land Use and Environmental Planning from UCR. Field is currently the chair of both the Dean’s Advisory Council for the UCR School of Business and the UCR Highlander Athletics Association Board of Directors. He is also a member the March Field Air Museum Board of Directors and the Advisory Council for UCR’s Economic Development and Innovation Center, and is a former chair of The Unforgettables Foundation Board of Directors.

Cheyenne Robinson, Account Executive

As an account executive for Buxton’s Public Sector team, Cheyenne manages client relationships throughout the U.S. She provides ongoing support and strategic recommendations for her clients throughout their economic development growth. She provides strategic support to cities within Southern California, such as, Temecula, Palm Desert, Carson, Mission Viejo, Anaheim and Hesperia.

Prior to joining Buxton, Cheyenne held account management and retail industry roles. She graduated from Tyler Junior College with a degree in public relations and advertising and completed continuing studies in public relations at the University of Texas at Austin.

Roger W. Schultz is the Superintendent/President of Mt. San Jacinto College, a position he has held since 2008. He joined MSJC in 2001 to fill the position of Vice President of Student Services. He also served as interim Vice President of Instruction at the college, as well as the executive director of the MSJC Foundation. Mt San Jacinto College is the fastest growing community college in the state and currently serves more than 26,000 students throughout a 1700 square mile district with five instruction sites. The District has received numerous institutional awards including the Press-Enterprise Best of Inland Empire Readers’ Choice Best College or School for 8 consecutive years and has been recognized as one of the top 150 colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute.

Dr. Schultz received a bachelor of arts in broadcast journalism from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in communication management from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication and a doctorate in Leadership for Higher Education from Capella University.

Dr. Schultz serves on a number of community groups throughout the district including the Murrieta Temecula Group, the Monday Morning Group, the Hemet/San Jacinto Action Group, the Central County United Way, the Pass Economic Development Agency Board, the Capella University Community College Advisory Council and the Southwest County Economic Development Agency Board. He is the incoming chair of the inland empire region 9 CEO group and a member of the statewide community college CEO Board, and also serves on the Executive Council of the Inland Empire/Desert Regional Career Technical Education Consortium. Dr. Schultz represents MSJC on the City of Murrieta Successor Agency Oversight Board and previously served as a member/officer of the Menifee Chamber and board member of the San Jacinto Valley Academy charter school.

Dr. Schultz’s experience in higher education dates back to 1988, when he worked at the University of Southern California for several years. He also served as Dean of Admissions, Records and International Education at Long Beach City College.

Gene Wunderlich is Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors, Board of Governors Vice-Chair for Southwest Healthcare Systems and Legislative Liaison for the Southwest California Legislative Council. He publishes a monthly Realtor Report providing housing, economic and demographic data on the region and is frequently called upon to update local city governments, EDC and other groups. 

Lisa Hudson is the Regional Director of Marketing and Business Development for Universal Health Services, Inc. Southern California Acute Care Division. Lisa is a seasoned business development executive with nearly 30 years of experience. She has been with UHS for five years providing strategic and marketing oversight of five hospitals: Temecula Valley Hospital, Rancho Springs Medical Center, Inland Valley Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, and Palmdale Regional Medical Center.

Prior to joining UHS, Lisa served as Regional Director for Palomar Health, overseeing two hospitals in the organization’s North San Diego market. In addition she previously served as Assistant Vice President of Business Development at Hoag Hospital, Business Development Director at Scripps Health in San Diego, and Assistant Vice President of Business Development at Saint Joseph Hospital in Orange County. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s Degree and an MBA.

Aaron Adams began his public service career in 1990 in the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Escondido and the Human Resources Department in Coconino County, Arizona.  After an internship with the City of Temecula in 1995, Aaron was hired by the City of San Clemente.  In 1996, Aaron returned to Temecula where he has held a number of positions over the past 20 years including Management Analyst, Senior Management Analyst, Executive Director of Community Services, Assistant City Manager, and City Manager.  Aaron has been serving as the City Manager for the City of Temecula since 2012.

Aaron holds a Masters’ degree in Management & International Business from the University of Redlands, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Human Resources from Northern Arizona University.  Aaron also studied Economic & Political Studies at Cambridge in the UK, and Spanish at the University of Granada in Spain.

Grant Yates has over 30 years of local government experience.  His career began with the City of Carlsbad in 1986 where he served as the City’s Employment Services Manager for over 5 years.  In 1991, he moved to the City of Temecula where he held a number of positions including, Financial Services Administrator, Human Resources Director, Assistant to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager.

In November of 2012, Grant was appointed City Manager for the City of Lake Elsinore, California where he oversees a General Fund budget of almost $40 million.  Over the last 2 years, the City of Lake Elsinore has been the fastest growing City in the County and the third fastest growing City in the State.  The City is approximately 30% developed and has a current population of over 61,000 residents. 

Grant holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Public Administration.  He passionately believes in public service and has a strong organizational development background, which has served him well in rapidly growing communities and organizations.

Mr. Villa is the City Manager for the City of Menifee, one of Southern California’s fastest growing cities. Prior to his appointment in Menifee in 2017, Mr. Villa was the City Manager of the City of Calexico where he served for close to three years. Mr. Villa has previously served as the Assistant County Executive Officer and Director of Planning and Development Services for the County of Imperial. He served as Community Development Director for the City of Temecula, and held responsibilities as Assistant City Manager, and Community Development Director for the City of Calexico. Mr. Villa started his public sector career in the City of Lake Elsinore in 1991 and has over 25 years of Government Management, Administration, Economic Development and Land Use & Urban Environmental Planning experience in both the public and private sectors.
Mr. Villa is a Credentialed Government Manager (ICMA-CM), an active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), is certified by the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals (CEP), and is pursuing certification as Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. Mr. Villa holds a Certificate in Economic Development from Cal State Fresno (2012), a Master Degree in Public Administration, MPA from the California State University, San Bernardino (2003), and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, BS from the California Polytechnic University, Pomona (1991). Mr. Villa is happily married to his wife Delilah, and together they have two children who are attending college.

Kimberley Summers is the newly appointed City Manager for the City of Murrieta, and assumed that role July 1, 2017. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. Ms.
Summers has been with the City of Murrieta since 2014, prior to that she served 15 years with the City of Hesperia, in San Bernardino County, in the roles of Deputy City Manager, Assistant to the City Manager and Public Information Officer.

Ms. Summers has a diverse background in municipal government with direct supervisory experience that includes Legislative Affairs, Environmental Programs, Disaster Preparedness, Public Information/Media Relations, Community Services/Recreation, Library Services, Economic Development and Information Technology as well as managing the City Manager, City Clerk and City Council Offices.

She has served as Interim Director of Administrative Services; Development Services; and the City Clerk’s Office. Ms. Summers has been actively involved in budget preparation, strategic planning, community outreach, policy formulation, labor relations, employee development and engagement, mentoring, and customer service initiatives. Ms. Summers is excited about her role, as the City Manager and the opportunity to serve the citizens, City Council and employees of Murrieta.