Tripepi Smith Welcomes Newest Videographer Christina Haverilla

Posted by Max Weirauch on May 16, 2024

Tripepi Smith welcomes Christina Haverilla, a versatile professional with a passion for visual storytelling, to the team effective April 9, 2024.

Adept in the art of videography and photography, Christina possesses a keen eye for detail and a knack for capturing compelling visuals. Her proficiency in editing software such as DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop ensures that her creations are not only visually stunning but also meticulously crafted.

“Growing up with a mother who served on City Council, I witnessed firsthand the impact that dedicated individuals can have on their communities,” Christina said. “Now, having the opportunity to contribute to the public sector through my work at Tripepi Smith is not only fulfilling a professional aspiration but also honoring my mother’s legacy of service. The community at Tripepi Smith is so welcoming, and I look forward to collaborating with the team to make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.”

Prior to joining Tripepi Smith, Christina honed her skills as a videographer crafting concise edits and enhancing visual quality for social media and advertisement purposes. As a freelancer, she collaborated with music artists to bring their creative visions to life through captivating music videos and documentaries. Her ability to understand and translate the essence of each project into visually engaging content has earned her recognition and praise within the industry. Her experience in developing and implementing social media strategies, coupled with her proficiency in platforms like Instagram and TikTok makes her a valuable asset in enhancing brand awareness and driving engagement.

“We are thrilled to welcome Christina to Tripepi Smith,” says President Ryder Todd Smith. “Her artistic flair will bring new viewpoints to our creative work and align with our commitment to deliver innovative communications to our clients. We look forward to leveraging Christina’s talents for the benefit of our team and clients.”

About Tripepi Smith

Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, aerial imagery, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith clients include: City of American Canyon, City of Culver City, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of Duarte, City of Grover Beach, City of Santa Paula, City of Indian Wells, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lake Forest, City of Livermore, City of Napa, City of Paramount, City of Tracy, CalChoice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Rowland Water District, California City Management Foundation, Renne Public Law Group, West Coast Arborists, Scripps College, Blind Children’s Learning Center and Climatec.

Rebecca Silva-Barron joins the City of Bell as Deputy Director of Community Services

Posted by Max Weirauch on May 1, 2024

Rebecca Silva

Rebecca Silva-Barron joined the City of Bell as its first Deputy Director of Community Services following a thorough recruitment process led by TS Talent Solutions. Silva-Barron comes to the City of Bell from the City of Sierra Madre, where she served as Community Services Manager for seven years, following her 23 years of experience at the City of Montebello. Silva-Barron brings a wealth of experience to her new role with over 30 years of experience in local government. In her new role, she will take on grant projects for park construction, lead two future large park projects and handle specific projects and operations to support the Director of Community Services.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to join the City of Bell’s Community Services Department and serve the Bell community. The Department is delivering unique services with a passion for the community’s needs, and that aligns with my values and priorities,” said Rebecca Silva-Barron. “It’s been wonderful getting to know the team at TS Talent Solutions through the recruiting process. They kept me well informed throughout the process and helped get me over the finish line.”

TS Talent Solutions Executive Recruiter Cathy Thompson took the lead on the recruitment with support from Business Analyst Kylie Sun. Prior to the Deputy Director of Community Services recruitment, TS Talent Solutions aided the City of Bell in its search for its Director of Community Services, bringing Janine Andrade on board the team at Bell. TS Talent Solutions was thrilled to have the opportunity to help the City of Bell recruit yet another committed individual to their Community Services Department.

“The City of Bell is excited to welcome Rebecca as its new Deputy Director of Community Services. Her impressive resume and dedication to community service will be a step in the right direction to expand community services. I look forward to working with her as we create new and exciting programs to engage our residents,” said Janine. “TS Talent Solutions helped me find my career here at the City of Bell, so I trusted them to be a partner in helping us find our new Deputy Director of Community Services. Their excellent client service, connections in local government, and comprehensive search process were key to helping us find the right person.”

TS Talent Solutions is a West Coast-based executive search and talent development organization focused on the local government sector. A division of Tripepi Smith, TS Talent Solutions leverages the expertise and digital acumen of its parent firm to deliver next-generation recruitment solutions for public agencies. The quest for talent never ends, but progress is made with TS Talent Solutions.

About Tripepi Smith

Jennifer Vaughn Promoted to Principal

Posted by Max Weirauch on May 1, 2024

Tripepi Smith is proud to announce the promotion of Jennifer Vaughn to Principal on April 8, 2024.

Jennifer joined Tripepi Smith in January 2022, bringing over 20 years of local government experience to the team. As Director, she managed key clients, represented the company at a number of conferences and panel discussions and made substantial contributions to business development.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my role working alongside our talented team to drive results for our clients and contribute to the continued success of Tripepi Smith. I enjoy the quality of the people at the firm and their energy and desire to learn and move with speed and precision,” shared Jennifer. “Tripepi Smith aligns with my personal values and matches my ambition to make a positive impact in the world.”

“Jennifer’s dedication, leadership, experience and strategy skills have been valuable to the firm and our clients. She has been a helpful voice to me on several client matters and has consistently found ways to add more value for existing and new clients. She has also been an effective mentor for members of our team,” said Ryder Todd Smith, President and co-founder of Tripepi Smith. “Jennifer’s promotion is a testament to her outstanding contributions to our firm and our clients as well as the deep experience she brought to the firm the moment she joined our team. We are thrilled to have her as part of our leadership team as we position the firm for our next phase of growth.”

Jennifer earned both a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Communication from San Diego State University where she also taught public speaking. She worked for the cities of Pasadena and Anaheim, as well as local government public affairs for nearly two decades for the Southern California Gas Company. Outside of work, Jennifer is an active member of her community, serving as the incoming President for Keller ISD Education Foundation. Her client work includes the City of Blythe, California City Management Foundation, West Coast Arborists, City of Harlingen, TX and Orange County City Managers Association.

About Tripepi Smith

Valerie Nevarez Joins Team Tripepi Smith

Posted by Max Weirauch on April 17, 2024

Tripepi Smith welcomed Valerie Nevarez to the team as a business analyst on March 25, 2024. Valerie graduated from California Baptist University with her Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. She currently resides in Redlands, California.

“Joining the Tripepi Smith team is an exciting step for my career. I have found the team to be welcoming, intelligent and mission-focused,” shared Valerie. “Coming from a background in healthcare communications, I have seen first-hand the impact that institutions can have on the local communities they serve, and the role that communications plays in connecting communities to their institutions.“

Throughout her career, Valerie has strategized successful marketing campaigns, developed content for social media platforms and orchestrated events. Over the last two years, she was a key player in developing “Video Day” with her team, a proactive initiative where social media content was filmed on key topics with experts to share throughout the year. This campaign won Gold at the Health Care Communicators Finest Awards. In addition, Valerie has a Certificate in Principles in Public Relations, and is Hootsuite and Meltwater certified. She is also fluent in Spanish.

“We are excited to have Valerie on the team. She joins us with certification and experience that will help her hit the ground running,” noted CFO of Tripepi Smith Nicole Smith. “Her knowledge across various industries and physical presence in the Inland Empire will help us better meet the needs of our expanding footprint in that area.”

About Tripepi Smith

Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith clients include: City of American Canyon, City of Culver City, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of Duarte, City of Grover Beach, City of Santa Paula, City of Indian Wells, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lake Forest, City of Livermore, City of Napa, City of Paramount, City of Martinez, City of Tracy, City of Vallejo, CalChoice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Rowland Water District, California Contract Cities Association, California City Management Foundation, Renne Public Law Group, Bob Hall & Associates, West Coast Arborists and Climatec.

Jacob Lyle Promoted to Business Analyst

Posted by Max Weirauch on April 17, 2024

Tripepi Smith is pleased to announce the promotion of Jacob Lyle to Business Analyst. Jacob joined the Tripepi Smith team in March 2022, and his promotion–which takes effect April 1, 2024– reflects his professional development and earned knowledge of the local government sector. Jacob has also stepped up to lead key accounts for Tripepi Smith and delivered tangible results for our clients.

“Jacob has embraced the Tripepi Smith culture and genuinely enjoys working with communities across California. His leadership on PublicCEO has been impressive, and the growth in the publication has been a win for our sponsors, clients and advertisers. Most importantly, Jacob’s peers respect his viewpoint and work ethic and he is a trusted member of this team,” said President Ryder Todd Smith. “Jacob earned this promotion. We are all proud of him and know he will continue delivering great results at Tripepi Smith.”

Jacob graduated from Claremont Mckenna College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Economics, where he was team captain for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Varsity Football Team. Since joining Tripepi Smith, Jacob has demonstrated his ability to deliver for several city client accounts and has become a subject matter expert in Meltwater and PublicCEO. Notably, Jacob runs the day-to-day operations at PublicCEO as managing editor, leading a team responsible for creating the daily PublicCEO newsletter, managing the PublicCEO Job Board and producing the PublicCEO Report. He has also expanded his technical skill sets while at the firm, earning numerous Meltwater certifications to add to his toolkit to better serve our clients. Some of Jacob’s clients include Town of Atherton, City of Santa Paula, City of Westlake Village, Blind Children’s Center and the Human Service IT Advisory Group.

“Tripepi Smith promised a growth-oriented culture that supports constant learning. That is exactly what I have experienced. While the firm has pushed me out of my comfort zone numerous times in the last two years, it has made me a better professional and broadened my viewpoint on the world,” noted Jacob. “I appreciate the great people I work with who have helped me learn, grow and deliver results for our clients.”

About Tripepi Smith

Claire Blodget Joins Team Tripepi Smith

Posted by Max Weirauch on April 17, 2024

Tripepi Smith welcomed Claire Blodget to the team as a Junior Business Analyst on March 18, 2024.

“I am looking forward to working towards the betterment of our local communities alongside such a talented team,” Claire said. “Tripepi Smith has continuously delivered quality work to their clients across California, and I am thrilled to contribute to their longstanding success.”

Claire graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) with a degree in Global Studies and minors in Labor Studies and Portuguese. During her undergraduate experience, Claire became a research assistant for the Global Studies department at UCSB, analyzing data and writing case studies about protests and repression in South America with a focus on Brazil. She also worked as an Experiential Marketing Coordinator for Shabang Music Productions, strengthening her skills in event planning, B2B marketing and outreach. Upon graduation, Claire interned at Movido, a wellness brand, managing their social media, branding and influencer relations whilst teaching English for the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program (NALCAP) in Alicante, Spain.

“We are thrilled to have Claire join our team,” said Tripepi Smith CFO Nicole Smith. “Her educational background and marketing experience make her a valuable asset to Tripepi Smith, and we are looking forward to bringing her talents and insight to our clients.”

About Tripepi Smith

Tripepi Smith Collaborates with Santa Clara County Fire Department on Strategic Plan

Posted by Max Weirauch on April 3, 2024

Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) tapped Tripepi Smith to assist in the design production of its five-year Strategic Plan. This plan will serve the County from 2023–2027 and act as a guide for the Fire Department to achieve its goals and respond to the needs of their jurisdictions and their communities. The final result can be found here.

Senior Business Analyst Melanie James delivered on the design process. The result was an elegant, accessible document highlighting key topics about SCCFD—including agency mission, vision and values, department programs and services, organizational accomplishments and details of creating the strategic plan.

“We are thankful for Tripepi Smith’s creative support and professional design process. They clearly understand our agency and appreciate the tone and branding we want to convey to our stakeholders,” shared Deputy Chief Dennis Lollie. “Strategic plans can often be tedious documents and Tripepi Smith adeptly turned numbers and details into content accessible to all.”

Team Tripepi Smith supports SCCFD in various communications including community awareness campaign support, civic engagement, and graphic design services.

“SCCFD is dedicated to using effective communications to inform the public and improve public safety for several communities. We were thrilled to continue our work with Santa Clara County Fire Department and assist with their strategic plan,” Melanie James shared. “Our team’s prior experience with SCCFD allowed us to capture the branding of the District while leveraging our creative skills to present this key deliverable with a fresh perspective.”

About Santa Clara Fire Department

In 1947, when the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District was formed, the area was rich in fertile farmland and pastures that fueled the region and state through agriculture. The fire service had a simple mission: respond to fires. Over time, the region became a national hot spot for academic pursuit and innovation and the need for single-family dwellings edged out the agricultural way of life. The highly trained people who proudly serve the area’s diverse communities have proven themselves to be a progressive catalyst for the transformation of the fire service as we know it today. Since 2005, the Department has been an accredited agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI); currently only 13% of the U.S. population are protected by an accredited agency.

About Tripepi Smith

Christine Martin Joins Team Tripepi Smith

Posted by Max Weirauch on April 3, 2024

Tripepi Smith welcomed Christine Martin to the team as its newest Director on March 4, 2024. Christine recently retired as the Assistant City Manager in the City of Livermore following a nearly two decade career at the City. Her expertise is rooted in land use planning and organization development. She now turns her focus toward the TS Talent Solution division of Tripepi Smith to expand its capacity and capabilities while also bringing her land use expertise to appropriate projects at the firm.

“I am excited to use my decades of public sector experience to help local governments build high-functioning teams and strong organizational culture. To be effective and provide the highest level of service, local governments need to build strong teams, leveraging their existing employees and recruiting new talent, and I hope to help by bringing my experience to executive leaders across and beyond California,” Christine said. “Tripepi Smith has an excellent reputation with a diverse range of clients and relationships. I plan to quickly find ways to add value and grow our Talent Solutions division. The team at Tripepi Smith are rockstars, and I am energized by their humor, passion and speed.”

While working for the City of Livermore, Christine oversaw the communications and emergency management programs, created and implemented the city’s first-ever five-year strategic plan, worked directly with the city council, and provided support to the city manager and executive team. She also served for many years as a planner in the community development department, where she led the city’s award-winning development code update and managed many complex land use projects. She has a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and Environmental Studies from Sonoma State University.

“Tripepi Smith is fortunate to have Christine join our team with her deep local government experience and keen insights into building strong teams. The City of Livermore has a great reputation for its quality staff and organizational focus, and I am looking forward to having Christine’s experience help other city leaders,” said Tripepi Smith President Ryder Todd Smith. “Tripepi Smith Talent Solutions is experiencing strong growth, and our new approach to helping organizations with recruiting, culture and goal setting solutions is starting to catch on. Christine will add fuel to that fire”.

Learn more about TS Talent Solutions at TStalentsolutions.com

About Tripepi Smith

Tripepi Smith is a marketing, technology and public affairs firm based in Orange County, CA. Its clients include for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies throughout the state of California. The firm’s unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage for organizations seeking to leverage the Internet to achieve their communication goals. Tripepi Smith provides full content creation services, including ghostwriting, collateral development, photography, video production, search engine optimization, email marketing, crisis communications, social media management and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith clients include City of Santa Ana, City of Culver City, City of Rolling Hills Estates, City of Tracy, City of Santa Cruz, City of Snoqualmie, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Paramount, City of Huntington Beach, City of El Cerrito, City of Indian Wells, City of Yuba City, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Industry Business Council, NHA Advisors, CalChoice, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Rowland Water District, California Contract Cities Association, California City Management Foundation, League of California Cities, Institute for Local Government, Renne Public Law Group, Inland Empire Utilities Agency and Climatec Energy Services.

Ethan De La Peña Completes Remote Pilot Certification

Posted by Max Weirauch on March 20, 2024

Tripepi Smith Junior Business Analyst Ethan De La Peña recently completed and passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Remote Pilot Certification – becoming the third Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified drone operator on Tripepi Smith’s videography and photography team.

The FAA mandates that any individual operating a drone for commercial purposes within the United States must possess certification under the organization’s Small UAS Rule, also known as Part 107.

“The opportunity to earn my remote pilot certification from the FAA will undoubtedly unlock a host of new opportunities for me here at Tripepi Smith,” said Ethan. “I’m eagerly anticipating the incredible shots and footage I’ll be able to capture for our clients with this certification, and I appreciate Tripepi Smith adhering to their ‘Always be Learning’ mantra by investing in me to earn this certification.”

Ethan’s dedication to expanding his skillset doesn’t stop at acquiring this flight license. He is currently at the helm of managing city council live streams for both the City of Paramount and the City of Lomita. He has also delivered videos for the cities of South Gate and Blythe, as well as joint powers authorities like CalChoice and the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board on more extensive video projects.

Tripepi Smith has a strong history of delivering for over 100 public agencies to assist with their videography needs. Whether it’s livestreaming city council meetings or producing marketing videos for cities, Tripepi Smith has built up unique experiences serving the local government sector.

“We invest in our team at Tripepi Smith. Ethan is a great learner and I applaud him for completing his drone license on his first try. It is not an easy test,” said Co-Founder and President Ryder Todd Smith. “Drone services greatly enhance our ability to provide unique perspectives, producing powerful images for our clients to better communicate with those they serve.”

If you are in need of top-notch videography, photo and aerial-image services, contact Tripepi Smith.

About Tripepi Smith

Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith clients include: City of American Canyon, City of Culver City, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of Duarte, City of Grover Beach, City of Santa Paula, City of Indian Wells, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lake Forest, City of Livermore, City of Napa, City of Paramount, City of Martinez, City of Tracy, City of Vallejo, CalChoice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Rowland Water District, California Contract Cities Association, California City Management Foundation, Renne Public Law Group, Bob Hall & Associates, West Coast Arborists and Climatec.

Avi Vemuri Joins Team Tripepi Smith

Posted by Max Weirauch on March 5, 2024

Tripepi Smith welcomed Avi Vemuri to the team as a Junior Business Analyst on Monday, January 22, 2024.

Avi graduated from Claremont Mckenna College with a degree in Economics and a Computer Science sequence. As an undergraduate, Avi worked as a Growth Marketing Manager for a food delivery startup, an IT Project Management Intern for Farmers Insurance and was a member of the top-5 nationally ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Tennis Team.

“I am thrilled to be joining Team Tripepi Smith and look forward to assisting local governments in effectively serving their communities,” said Avi Vemuri. “Above all, I am excited to learn from the experience of my colleagues and apply my skill set and background to meaningful work.”

After graduating, Avi taught computer science and coached the varsity tennis teams at The Hill School, an independent boarding school in Eastern Pennsylvania, through which he gained a profound appreciation for enabling client success. t

“We are excited to have Avi on the growing Tripepi Smith team,” said Nicole Smith, CFO of Tripepi Smith. “With a background in project management, marketing, and leadership, Avi will contribute to our mission of providing our clients with top-notch service.”

About Tripepi Smith