One of the privileges of being the Employees Club CEO is witnessing the excellence of everyday City employees. The Club honors that excellence in every City position, department and rank. We shine a light on it in Alive! and in Club videos, at visits, at our annual luncheons, on customer service chats with you, and so on. Your everyday humility might try to deflect it, but your excellence knows no bounds. Your talent serves the citizens of LA, of course, but often it is too big to contain and serves the wider world at the same time. For your consideration, I mention the Library Guy, John F. Szabo, City Librarian and proud Club Member, whom we feature in this month’s cover story. His hard work, talent, collaboration and innovation are in bright ascendance among world libraries. And so is his humility. Everyone can be a leader. Whomever you are, whatever you do, keep rising. Keep changing the world. serves the wider world at the same time. For your consideration, I mention the Library Guy, John F. Szabo, City Librarian and proud Club Member, whom we feature in this month’s cover story. His hard work, talent, collaboration and innovation are in bright ascendance among world libraries. And so is his humility. Everyone can be a leader. Whomever you are, whatever you do, keep rising. Keep changing the world.
Speaking of Icons
Happy big birthday to Central Library, the department’s headquarters on Fifth Street downtown, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. (The overall Library is older.) It’s an important anniversary of one of the City’s most important buildings. Read all about it in this month’s issue.
Long Service
The Club celebrates municipal employees who have dedicated their lives to public ser- vice. With that in mind, I review our popular retirement and In Memoriam lists in Alive! each month to highlight those who have amassed especially lengthy public service. I send along my condolences to the family, friends and former colleagues of Demetra D. Kleissas, LADWP, who passed away recently. She retired with an incredible 51 years of City service. Even more so, Keiji Okimoto, who also passed away, dedicated an astounding 55 years of service to Public Works and the City. We honor you, Demetra and Keiji.
Worth Considering
Real strength isn’t about how loud you are or how much space you take up. It’s quieter… more profound. It’s found in empathy, in kindness, and in the spirit of true collaboration. Lifting someone up takes genuine confidence to make a difference. When we lift others, we start a ripple effect. As we begin 2026, I pledge to create as many ripple effects as I can. I hope you do the same.
A Toast
Happy New Year, Club Members. You can use this moment to start anew. Renewal is the basis of our growth; embrace it!