Palisades Alumni Connect: Reflecting, Rebuilding, and Moving Forward Together

An east-coaster for most of her life, and after graduating from Johns Hopkins University, Jennifer spent 15 years in New York City as an advertising executive working as the strategic marketing partner for blue-chip clients like Pfizer, ExxonMobil, US Bank, Tropicana, Seagram’s Martell Cognac and the Glenlivet, at lead agencies including TBWA\Chiat\Day and Kaplan Thaler Group (now Publicis North America). 

Twelve years ago, she saw an opportunity to pursue a passion, moved west and opened a wine bar in Los Angeles, Vintage Enoteca, considered one of the most innovative, having been featured in The New York Times and named one of the Top 100 Wine Lists in the country by Open Table Diners’ Choice. Under the same brand umbrella, she opened a retail wine store, Vintage Wine+Market, and ultimately sold that part of the business to a like-minded purchaser who continued the concept.

In addition, she was been Director of Marketing for three different franchise-based restaurant groups in recent years, positioning each brand for aggressive growth phases. Her first brand was The Pizza Press, followed by Daphne's and Slater's 50/50, under the Elite Restaurant Group umbrella. In 2019, she joined Silvercrest, a marketing technology company that provides sophisticated marketing and media solutions for brands, specializing in franchises, as the Chief Marketing Officer.  She is also a member of the Forbes Communications Council and has four published articles with her byline and four ghost-written articles.

Jennifer is now a Principal in JRJ Development, which she created with two business partners, to build new construction homes focusing on the Venice Beach neighborhood.  

Heather Flood is a designer working at the intersection of information and architecture. Her work integrates cultural research with architectural design to produce experientially rich environments. As the founder and principal of F‑lab, her projects have been published and exhibited internationally.

Heather is currently designing a new residence for her family after losing their home in the Eaton Canyon Fire, a project that deepens her commitment to resilient, site‑responsive design.

She serves as the Dean and Professor at the Woodbury School of Architecture and the Interim Dean of the Woodbury School of Media : Culture : Design, where she leads initiatives advancing sustainability, civic engagement, and aesthetics by embracing advanced technology. A dedicated educator, Heather has taught beginning design pedagogy and design studios at Woodbury, and has previously taught at SCI‑Arc and UCLA.

Her professional experience includes work with Murphy, Burnham & Buttrick Architects (New York), HOLST Architecture (Portland), and Roto Architects (Los Angeles). Heather holds a Master of Architecture degree with honors from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI‑Arc), where she received the Henry Adams Medal as the top‑ranking graduate, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University.

Randy has extensive experience leading successful offices and in the construction of high rise, mixed use/multi-family, institutional, education (DSA), healthcare (OSHPD), parking garages, industrial and civil projects.

With undergraduate studies in the field of Physics at CSUN, he is a licensed general contractor, a DBIA Design Build Professional and well respected amongst his peers. Previous executive positions include Principal/Sr. Vice President of Lend Lease (US) Construction Southern California Division where he exceeded expectations by securing contracts in excess of $1.4 billion including the Oceanwide Plaza, CIRCA, TEN50 and 1077 Wilshire projects. As founder and Director of PENTA Group’s Los Angeles office, he pierced the DSA and OSHPD markets through successful implementation of projects at UCLA, LAUSD and USC; as Project Executive/Sr. Project Manager for Bernards Builders, he provided key leadership in the construction of the Americana at Brand, LAUSD Panorama City High School and first phase of the Senior Sunrise Living Torrance project. Other notable projects in his career include the Disney ABC Office Building, UCLA Ackerman Union Seismic Life Safety Retrofit and Expansion, UCLA Kerckhoff Hall Base Isolation project, Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant, Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant Pump Station, CSUN Central Plant and Distribution project, CBS Studio Parking Structure, AMGEN Building 42 and Building 30.

As COO of Wilshire Construction LP, Randy oversees day to day operation of all aspects of the business.

Juan Silva is a licensed architect in California and Texas with over 25 years of experience in the building industry. His work spans commercial, educational, and residential sectors, with a particular focus on projects that engage community, resilience, and the built environment’s relationship to place.

A member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Pasadena & Foothill Chapter, Juan has long been committed to advancing thoughtful, equitable, and responsible design within both professional and civic contexts.

In addition to his private practice experience, Juan serves as a Design Manager for the Los Angeles Community College District, where he helps manage the District’s bond program—stewarding public taxpayer funding, supporting the development of vital campus facilities, and promoting access to higher education, particularly in communities of greatest need.

In the wake of recent California wildfires, Juan has been directly involved in residential reconstruction efforts, including current work on homes affected by the Woolsey Fire in the Santa Monica Mountains. This experience, along with his deep familiarity with the Pasadena area, informs his perspective on the 2025 Eaton Canyon Fire, its impacts on neighborhoods and landscapes, and the broader challenges of designing and rebuilding in fire-prone regions.

Veronica Melendez Silva holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences with an emphasis in Literature from Woodbury University and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from Johns Hopkins University. With over a decade of diverse experience across healthcare, education, and nonprofit leadership, Veronica has cultivated a versatile, people-first approach to problem-solving and storytelling. 

As the founder and principal consultant of Vero Digital Communications Solutions, which she launched in 2022, Veronica passionately empowers mission-driven organizations, small businesses, and women entrepreneurs to elevate their digital presence with intention and authenticity. Her previous roles, including case manager, director, Spanish teacher, and communications specialist, have equipped her with a unique perspective and a deep commitment to strategic communication. Veronica's expertise spans digital copywriting, brand messaging, social media management, graphic design, public relations, community engagement, and program coordination. She believes in the transformative power of communication to amplify the voices of underrepresented individuals and empower change-makers to share their stories with clarity and confidence. 

As a proud first-generation college graduate and mother of two daughters, Veronica is dedicated to mentoring women and modeling what it means to lead with resilience, creativity, and purpose. Her commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and meaningful impact is evident in her work with clients such as the Archdiocese, the SBDC at the University of La Verne, the ABC Collaboratory in partnership with Mono County (Department of Health), and the National Latina Business Women Association of the Inland Empire.