Meet Our Team
Our programs focus on developing creativity through community engagement and making a needed impact on the lives of those working in creative industries.
Blair Cohn
Executive Director
Born and raised in Long Beach, Blair worked for a number of event planning companies and was involved in organizing events of all kinds including fundraisers, sport expos, and corporate events. For six years he worked organizing national educational seminars and conferences for schoolteachers. In 2001, Blair was a co-founder of International City Racing that organizes the annual Long Beach Marathon.
Currently, Blair is the Executive Director of the Bixby Knolls Business Association which has helped to revitalize the business corridors and neighborhoods. Blair created the Bixby Knolls Strollers, Literary Society, Supper Club, Good Spirits Club, Concerts in the Park(ing Lot), Kidical Mass Bixby Knolls, Knights of the Round (Turn)Table, and helped grow First Fridays as ways to connect the community to the business district and its members. Blair is a co-chair of the Council of Business Association (COBA), is on the Economic Development Commission and EDC Loan Committee; sits on the board for the Grand Prix Foundation; Board Member of Care Closet LBC; Member of Rancho Los Cerritos Communication and Advocacy Committee; was a member of Mayor Garcia’s Transition Team; served on the board of the Long Beach Economic Partnership, and was a two-time Mentor with Operation Jump Start.
Currently, Blair is the Executive Director of the Bixby Knolls Business Association which has helped to revitalize the business corridors and neighborhoods. Blair created the Bixby Knolls Strollers, Literary Society, Supper Club, Good Spirits Club, Concerts in the Park(ing Lot), Kidical Mass Bixby Knolls, Knights of the Round (Turn)Table, and helped grow First Fridays as ways to connect the community to the business district and its members. Blair is a co-chair of the Council of Business Association (COBA), is on the Economic Development Commission and EDC Loan Committee; sits on the board for the Grand Prix Foundation; Board Member of Care Closet LBC; Member of Rancho Los Cerritos Communication and Advocacy Committee; was a member of Mayor Garcia’s Transition Team; served on the board of the Long Beach Economic Partnership, and was a two-time Mentor with Operation Jump Start.
Julia Huang
President of Intertrend
Julia Y.C. Huang, founder and CEO of Intertrend Communications, As the CEO of Intertrend, Huang is responsible for managing two award-winning companies headquartered in Long Beach, California: Intertrend and Imprint, an incubator for new businesses. Known for her strong belief that diversity drives creativity, she is a constant contributor to industry thought-leadership content, events, and academia. She was named by Avenue Magazine as one of the 500 most influential Asian Americans and in 2014, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Conference selected Julia as one of the Top Ten Entrepreneurs in the U.S. Most recently, Julia was named the City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year bestowed upon her by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Over the years, Intertrend has consistently been selected as the 100 Top Female-Owned Businesses by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Intertrend has won numerous industry awards, including the American Advertising Award; the ANA Multicultural Excellence Award; the Gold Award for Creative Campaign of the Year from the Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF); and the Marketer of the Year Award from 3AF. In addition, Intertrend won the People’s Choice for Exhibition of the Year at the Frame Magazine Awards and the Bronze Cube for Spatial Design at the ADC 99th Annual Awards, both for The Art of Bloom exhibition.
Huang is an active member of the Long Beach and greater Los Angeles communities, serving on the Long Beach Library Foundation Board of Directors, KCRW/National Public Radio, Long Beach Economic Development Partnership and supporting Long Beach Walls (formerly Pow! Wow! Long Beach), and UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media Foundation Board.
Intertrend has won numerous industry awards, including the American Advertising Award; the ANA Multicultural Excellence Award; the Gold Award for Creative Campaign of the Year from the Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF); and the Marketer of the Year Award from 3AF. In addition, Intertrend won the People’s Choice for Exhibition of the Year at the Frame Magazine Awards and the Bronze Cube for Spatial Design at the ADC 99th Annual Awards, both for The Art of Bloom exhibition.
Huang is an active member of the Long Beach and greater Los Angeles communities, serving on the Long Beach Library Foundation Board of Directors, KCRW/National Public Radio, Long Beach Economic Development Partnership and supporting Long Beach Walls (formerly Pow! Wow! Long Beach), and UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media Foundation Board.
Tanya Raukko
Chief Investment Strategy Officer
At Intertrend Communications, a multicultural creative agency based in Long Beach, Tanya created the Strategy discipline and led the Business Marketing Strategy (BMS) group, which included experiential, analytics, thought leadership, and strategic partnership teams. Over the last decades, clients have included Toyota, AT&T, Disney, State Farm, and Nestle Purina.
Today, she manages the investment portfolio at Renzei Holdings as Chief Investment Strategy Officer and is passionate about helping entrepreneurs create roadmaps to grow their businesses as Managing Partner at Imprint Venture Lab, a seed-stage incubator that stewards creative startups. She serves on the Board of Creative Class Collective, an arts and culture non-profit, the steering committee of the Downtown Long Beach Design District, and Knockaround, a brand that she has helped nurture for 15 years, and has served on the board of Asian Pacific Community Fund. Tanya has an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA.
Today, she manages the investment portfolio at Renzei Holdings as Chief Investment Strategy Officer and is passionate about helping entrepreneurs create roadmaps to grow their businesses as Managing Partner at Imprint Venture Lab, a seed-stage incubator that stewards creative startups. She serves on the Board of Creative Class Collective, an arts and culture non-profit, the steering committee of the Downtown Long Beach Design District, and Knockaround, a brand that she has helped nurture for 15 years, and has served on the board of Asian Pacific Community Fund. Tanya has an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA.
Cassy Leeman
Director of Development
Cassy Leeman is a visionary, creative leader and community builder with a passion for crafting meaningful connections through art, culture, and innovative programming. With a diverse background in cultural marketing, event production, and strategic partnerships, Cassy specializes in creating immersive experiences that inspire, engage, and unite communities. Currently serving as a Director of Creative Class Collective in Long Beach, California, Cassy has spearheaded transformative projects such as Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei, Port City Creative Guild, and Unexpected Connections—initiatives that have redefined public spaces, celebrated cultural diversity, and fostered a sense of pride and belonging. Her work bridges the gap between local and global artists, creating opportunities for collaboration, skill-sharing, and artistic growth.
Cassy’s expertise lies in weaving together strategic marketing, authentic partnerships, and community-driven programming to create impactful experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. Whether she’s producing large-scale festivals, curating public art installations, or developing fundraising strategies, Cassy brings a unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to making a difference.
Cassy’s expertise lies in weaving together strategic marketing, authentic partnerships, and community-driven programming to create impactful experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. Whether she’s producing large-scale festivals, curating public art installations, or developing fundraising strategies, Cassy brings a unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to making a difference.
Alan Pullman
board member
Alan Pullman is cofounder and senior principal at Studio One Eleven, leading the design and integration of the firm’s architecture and urban design work. He is a licensed architect with over 30 years’ experience working with cities, developers, and communities to enhance and improve the design and quality of the urban environment.
Alan’s practice philosophy is rooted in a people-centric approach to city making. The impetus for Studio One Eleven was to create a practice devoted to local engagement with a commitment to collaborative solutions that address the multiple issues cities and their residents are facing in the 21st Century. Alan has led several planning and urban revitalization efforts including the Downtown Long Beach Visioning Process, Carson Street Mixed Use Master Plan, Reseda Rising Community Vision, Downtown Lomita Vision Plan, Westchester Business Improvement District Strategy and the Little Tokyo Transit Oriented Development Opportunity. Alan is currently is a director on the Downtown Long Beach Associates Board and serves on its Executive Committee, and is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Urban Revitalization Council. A native of New York, Alan was awarded a Master of Science in Cities from The London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University.
Alan’s practice philosophy is rooted in a people-centric approach to city making. The impetus for Studio One Eleven was to create a practice devoted to local engagement with a commitment to collaborative solutions that address the multiple issues cities and their residents are facing in the 21st Century. Alan has led several planning and urban revitalization efforts including the Downtown Long Beach Visioning Process, Carson Street Mixed Use Master Plan, Reseda Rising Community Vision, Downtown Lomita Vision Plan, Westchester Business Improvement District Strategy and the Little Tokyo Transit Oriented Development Opportunity. Alan is currently is a director on the Downtown Long Beach Associates Board and serves on its Executive Committee, and is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Urban Revitalization Council. A native of New York, Alan was awarded a Master of Science in Cities from The London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University.
Justin Richmond
Board Member
Justin Richmond is producer and co-host of the music podcast Broken Record with writer Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times editor Bruce Headlam, and music producer—and Def Jam co-founder—Rick Rubin. Justin was a producer for NPR’s flagship program Morning Edition and its accompanying podcast, Up First, before becoming an arts reporter for NPR. He began his career as an intern for The Tavis Smiley Show and Smiley & West. Justin has a B.A. in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree from the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
Jeff Williams
Director of Community Engagement
Office of the Mayor, City of Long Beach. Jeff Williams recently served as the Interim Director of the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion (LBCEI) to help launch a new nonprofit Community Development Corporation focused on bringing inclusive economic opportunities to underserved communities in Long Beach. Previously, Jeff served for 10 years as the Executive Director of Leadership Long Beach, the preeminent community leadership organization in our city. Jeff has extensive experience in nonprofits, community development, program management and leadership development.
Jeff co-founded the Long Beach Community Internship program at CSULB and has launched several community events, including the MLK Day of Service and the Long Beach Mardi Gras. Brought to California as part of the Teach For America program, Jeff is passionate about community and providing opportunities for young people to find their path.
Jeff co-founded the Long Beach Community Internship program at CSULB and has launched several community events, including the MLK Day of Service and the Long Beach Mardi Gras. Brought to California as part of the Teach For America program, Jeff is passionate about community and providing opportunities for young people to find their path.
Akio Tagawa
Board member
Akio Tagawa has held several roles in the technology and management consulting fields since Akio began their career as the President & CEO of Linea Solutions, Inc., providing information technology and management consulting services for pension & benefit funds and insurance organizations across the U.S. and Canada. In 2018, they co-founded Linea Secure and became a Member Board of Directors for KCRW. In 2019, they were appointed as the Chairperson of the Board for STABLE, a special arts organization located in the Eckington neighborhood of NE Washington, DC. He serves as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees at The Phillips Collection.
Michael Vitug
Executive Director, Make Noise Today
Michael Vitug is a cultural strategist and community advocate dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices through arts, narrative, and public engagement. As Executive Director at Intertrend Communications and a member of the executive team at Creative Class Collective, he helps guide cultural programming, public art initiatives, and community partnerships that strengthen Long Beach’s creative ecosystem. Blending Intertrend’s creative reach with CCC’s community-centered mission, Michael creates experiences that elevate diverse stories, support local creatives, and influence how culture is created, shared, and seen.
Lisa Diaz
Project Manager
Lisa Diaz is the Project Manager at Creative Class Collective and a multidisciplinary artist at Shades of Gaia. With over a decade of experience in arts and community-based programming, Lisa is dedicated to fostering inclusive, accessible creative experiences that uplift underrepresented voices. Lisa’s journey with Long Beach Walls began as a volunteer, where she dedicated five years supporting the festival’s growth and community engagement before officially joining the Creative Class Collective team. Her hands-on experience at every level of the event has given her a unique perspective and deep commitment to equitable opportunities for artists, youth, and local entrepreneurs.
At Creative Class Collective, Lisa leads large-scale public art projects and cultural events, guiding teams from concept to execution with a focus on collaboration and social impact. Her leadership has been instrumental in the success of initiatives like the Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei Festival.
As an artist with Shades of Gaia, Lisa is best known for her striking hand-dyed teepees—immersive, fabric-based installations that invite participants to reflect on themes of identity, nature, and healing. Lisa is known for her compassionate approach, her ability to bring together diverse communities, and her belief in the power of art to drive positive change.
At Creative Class Collective, Lisa leads large-scale public art projects and cultural events, guiding teams from concept to execution with a focus on collaboration and social impact. Her leadership has been instrumental in the success of initiatives like the Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei Festival.
As an artist with Shades of Gaia, Lisa is best known for her striking hand-dyed teepees—immersive, fabric-based installations that invite participants to reflect on themes of identity, nature, and healing. Lisa is known for her compassionate approach, her ability to bring together diverse communities, and her belief in the power of art to drive positive change.
Joshua Garcia
CONTENT LEAD
Joshua Garcia is a content lead at Creative Class Collective, focused on turning real moments into meaningful stories. From murals to brand activations, he works at the intersection of culture, creativity, and community. Bringing the ideas to life through social-first storytelling and mobile filmmaking.