Black Excellence Award Gala

Honoree

RIGOBERTO REYES

Rigo Reyes has worked for the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) for 27 years, where he has served as Acting Director, Chief of Consumer Protection, and Supervising Investigator. In these capacities, Rigo created and implemented many programs to protect vulnerable consumers, including immigrants, seniors, and kids in foster care.

Rigo serves as an appointee of the California State Senate to the Board of Directors of the Consumer Motor Vehicle Recovery Corporation. He, along with four other board members, reviews consumer claims and approves hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for car buyers who are financially harmed by out of business car dealers. Rigo also volunteers as a board member for Neighborhood Housing Services, a non-profit organization that builds communities by developing and maintaining affordable housing, promoting homeownership, and providing financial education.

Rigo has a BA degree in political science from the University of Southern California.
Rigo likes hiking and long walks.

Honoree

Dr. Jeremiah Okonkwo Aguolu

Dr. Jeremiah Okonkwo Aguolu is the Chairman & CEO of Centinela Medical Center Southbay, Inc. and its subsidiary healthcare companies, CentinelaMD a multispecialty medical group, Men’s Health USA Inc., BetterWeigh USA Inc., Ageless MedSpa, and Doctor’s Formula.

As a well-noted, highly accomplished medical professional, Dr. Jerry leads the world effort in developing and delivering transformational and innovative healthcare solutions in medical practice, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products and consumer health. His distinguished career spans over 3 decades of study, research, a professorial instructor, and dedicated practice as a humanitarian provider of healthcare services.

Honoree

Dr. Jubria Lewis

Dr. Jubria Lewis is the Founding Head of School for The SEED School of Los Angeles County, California’s first college prep, public boarding school and the fourth school in The SEED Network. In this role, he serves as the chief executive officer for the school organization and responsible for all aspects of leading and operating SEED LA while managing the core senior leadership team. Prioring to joining SEED LA, Jubria served as the Director of School Improvement at The SEED Foundation in Washington, DC where he supported each school’s leadership in designing, implementing, and monitoring their school instructional priorities and goals aligned to The SEED Program Model.

In his spare time, Jubria loves spending time with family and friends and also engaging in fraternal activities with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Jubria holds an Ed.D and M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Howard University, and a B.S from Louisiana State University in secondary Education.

Honoree

Kevin G. Harbour Sr.

Kevin Harbour is currently the President of BizFed Institute (BFI), a 501(c)3 non profit and is a seasoned business professional. His background includes working over 30 years as a Manager, Director, and Sr. Executive in the IT, Telecom and Emerging Technology industries for companies like Xerox, Digital Equipment Corp/HP, Verizon, and Black Box Corp. He was a franchise business owner, UCLA Alumni Director of CorporatenStrategic Partnerships, and is the immediate past Chief Development Officer of LA County Business Federation (BizFed).

Kevin also serves as the Steering Committee Chair of CA Jobs First as well as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles/Orange County Regional Broadband Collaborative whose goal is to end the digital divide for business and residences in rural and urban communities. Kevin is a past president of UCLA Black Alumni Association and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

He has also sat on the Advisory Council of MoveLA, was a board member of CA Emerging Technology Fund, and the BICEPP board.

Honoree

Senator Steven Bradford

Senator Bradford grew up in Gardena, where he resides to this day. In addition to his civic and public service commitments in the 35th Senate District, he continues to be directly engaged with programs he began as a member of the Gardena City Council – the Junior Golf program and the Gardena Jazz Festival, for which he serves as the Founder and Chair.

Senator Bradford is a graduate of California State University, Dominguez Hills. He currently serves on the board of the Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute, a non-partisan public policy think tank. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. 

Honoree

CONGRESSWOMAN SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE

KAMLAGER-DOVE, Sydney, a Representative from California; born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., July 20, 1972; graduated from Saint Ignatius College Preparatory School, Chicago, Ill.; attended Compton College, Compton, Calif.; B.A., University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif., 1994; M.A., Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1996; nonprofit director; division manager; staff, California state assembly member Holly Mitchell, 2010-2013; staff, California state senator Holly Mitchell, 2013-2018; member of the California state assembly, 2018-2021; member of the California state senate, 2021-2022; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress (January 3, 2023-present).

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