Lisa Kalem

Chief Financial Officer, New City Public School

Dedicated to education and well trained in matters of financial management, Lisa Kalem guides the New City School in Long Beach, California, from her position as Chief Financial Officer. Joining the New City School at a time when it was threatened by extensive debt and overdue repairs, Lisa Kalem successfully shepherded the institution out of its crisis. Lisa Kalem worked with representatives of the IRS to eliminate penalties totaling $14,000. A skilled negotiator, she also convinced the Employment Development Department (EDD) of the State of California to erase a debt of almost $60,000. Having paid off or canceled the majority of the debt that threatened the New City School, Lisa Kalem restructured its financial operations. Acting on her own initiative, Lisa Kalem obtained new funding for necessary campus renovations and refinanced building projects with a new market credit loan. Lisa Kalem also kept the school’s teaching staff intact, utilizing good money management instead of employment cuts to stabilize the institution’s financial situation. With a career built on supporting education, it is no wonder that Lisa Kalem pursued her own academic endeavors with determination and distinction. Studying art and other subjects while earning her BA at the University of Southern California, Lisa Kalem won a department-wide photography competition. Continuing her education in the MBA program at the University of Southern California, Lisa Kalem prepared herself for a career in finance with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Studies. Lisa Kalem also earned a Marketing Award for her innovative product presentation. While she focuses professionally on finance, Lisa Kalem maintains her love of art by affiliating with community institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Lisa Kalem possesses a comprehensive understanding of the importance of community and involves herself in many professional and educational organizations. Lisa Kalem is a member of the Parent Teacher Association and supports the operations of the South Pasadena Educational Foundation. A proponent of physical education and student athletics, Lisa Kalem aids the American Youth Soccer Organization and participates in the South Pasadena Little League as an adult volunteer.