Office of the Mayor | City of Los Angeles
As Deputy Mayor of Housing and Economic Development Policy for the City of Los Angeles, Helmi Hisserich is responsible for guiding the Mayor’s Strategic Plan for Economic Development. She is the Mayor’s advisor on policy matters such as workforce initiatives, industry sector growth, affordable housing, homelessness and positioning Los Angeles as a hub for lucrative trade flows and as a visitor destination.
In September 2003, Helmi joined the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency as Regional Administrator in charge of the Hollywood & Central Region. During her tenure at the CRA/LA, Ms. Hisserich organized the CRA Hollywood & Central Region into a strong team of Redevelopment Professionals with a work program that includes an aggressive effort to expand the supply of affordable housing, as well as, a focus on catalytic commercial projects.
Prior to joining the Redevelopment Agency Ms. Hisserich worked as a Manager for Keyser Marston Associates, a Real Estate and Economic Development Advisory Firm specializing in redevelopment economics. Helmi was a Senior Economic Development Deputy in the Administration of Los Angeles Mayor, Richard J. Riordan where she led the Mayor’s efforts on Hollywood revitalization. Helmi played an integral role during an intense period of change and renewal, working diligently to retain or introduce businesses to Hollywood and to secure private development. During her tenure, both the Hollywood & Highland and Cinerama Dome Entertainment Center projects were completed.
In 1999, Ms Hisserich was appointed by Richard Riordan to the Northeast Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, and reappointed by Mayor Hahn in 2001. Serving as the Commission President, Helmi helped make critical decisions on permit and development issues that shape the City of Los Angeles.
A native of Los Angeles, Ms. Hisserich earned an MBA from Cornell University, and a bachelors of arts from the University of Southern California. In 1993 Cornell University awarded Helmi the Central and Eastern European Development (CEED) Fellowship where she assisted with the formation of business tax policies in Estonia during their transition from the Soviet Union to an independent State. |
