Page 10 May 13, 2021 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Rebecca Redyk from front page
organization right away and over the long
run. She will be a great fit.”
Redyk grew up in San Diego and moved to
the Los Angeles area to attend USC. While attending
college, she nabbed a job in Redondo
Beach, working for the retailer Nordstrom, which
led to her living in the South Bay “for a long
time.” She later relocated to Orange County,
an area she has called home for more than 20
years. But, she said, “I am very familiar with the
South Bay and working here.” She said she likes
the El Segundo environs, citing the “beautiful
high school,” located just down the street from
her new Main Street office and the closely
located recreational facilities. Also pointing
out that, “just a few blocks away, you have
the Fortune 500 companies. It is a good mix.”
Commenting on her tenure with the City
of Newport Beach, Redyk said that one of
the projects she spearheaded was a program
to codify and update what she terms “the cities
core values.” She also was instrumental
in creating a recruitment video for the City.
She noted that her bosses in Newport Beach
allowed her to brainstorm and create innovative,
out-of-the-box programs that mirrored the
strategies implemented by successful businesses
in the private sector. Like the Oakland A’s
management did.
Of her employee recruitment montage, Redyk
said that “I am very proud of that video,”
mentioning how it implemented the core values
of Newport Beach city administrators and the
“organization as a whole.” Expect Redyk to
produce a similar recruitment video for the City
of El Segundo, something that “will highlight
the employees, and that will help us to attract
similar talent. There are a lot of projects that
I would like to do here,” she said,
Redyk said that she pursued the El Segundo
HR opening “looking to meet my career goal
of becoming a Director” when she forwarded
her cover letter and resume to Mitnick in mid-
November of 2020.
She finds El Segundo a different city than
Newport Beach, citing that while Newport
Beach is “more residential,” El Segundo mixes
residential with the Fortune 500 companies that
call our town home. “Being a smaller (city)
agency, you can make a big impact, to make
a difference, to improve things, and streamline
them. I have a lot of experience working
with and implementing technology projects to
improve efficiencies and to make things faster
and easier,” she said, citing the frenzied pace
and standards that 2021 businesses, whether
in the private sector or on the governmental
level, are expected to achieve.
Redyk said that she became aware of the El
Segundo HR opening when it was posted by
an executive recruiter, who she had worked
with in the past. Multiple Zoom interviews
then took place, not only with the recruiter, but
with panels tasked to fill the position. Her final
interview was with Mitnick, which she must
have aced, because she landed her coveted job.
A couple of months ensconced into her new
job responsibilities, Redyk says that work-wise,
“there is an always a lot going on, and a lot to
get done.” She said she had enjoyed meeting
with Chamber of Commerce representatives and
members and that after the lockdown abates,
she is looking forward to attending Chamber
events in person, because that is where you
“get to engage with the community and meet
people. That’s fun.”
Few current profiles would be complete
without touching on how the pandemic has
shaped an HR Director’s job responsibilities.
Redyk cited “all of the legislation that has
been enacted,” noting that new policies and
procedures must be implemented “very, very
quickly,” which is anathema to most governmental
agencies, who tend to move somewhat
slowly in normal times. Akin to the movement
of a glacier.
Redyk said that 2021 HR programs must be
“nimbler” to implement policies and programs,
ensure they follow new laws and statutes and
provide the most up-to-date information possible
to employees. She also cited the increased
reliance on technology in the business sector,
noting telecalls and the advent of a more
significant chunk of employees working from
home. The pandemic, she said, has forced
HR departments to increase their focus on
the health and well-being of their employees.
“Mental health, self-care, those type of things,
are really important,” she said. “Everyone has
their challenges with work, but people have
families…and you need to be sensitive to that.
Now, work has come into the home. Juggling
all of the priorities is challenging to employees.”
She said that the best part of her job is
the “ability to make a change and impact the
organization. It is hard work, you have to put
in the time, but at the end of the day, it is all
worth it.”
Here is an excerpt from Redyk’s cover letter
sent to Mitnick when she applied for her new
job in the Winter of 2020:
“I am comfortable working in a complex
organization with high expectations from the
governing body and its residents. I take pride in
providing the “best in class” level of customer
service to internal and external customers while
building strong working relationships. I believe
that I have the attributes you are seeking in
the Human Resources Director.”
Apparently, so did Mitnick. So now that
Mitnick has worked with Redyk for more
than two months, what does he think of her
initial toils for the City? “She brings over two
decades of progressively responsible human
resources experience to the table,” he emailed.
“During her first two months with the City of
El Segundo, Rebecca has already added value.
For example, she has had to resolve several
difficult personnel issues and has begun to lay
the foundation for a stronger future.
“Her extensive experience in working with
police and fire labor groups in Newport Beach
in particular,” Mitnick added, “will help us
greatly. El Segundo is at an important pivotal
time concerning personnel and labor relations
issues, and Rebecca is the right person to guide
us through this. She is well-respected in the
local government profession in general and by
her peers and colleagues. We have high hopes
for her here in El Segundo.”
Joe Lillio, the cities Director of Finance,
emailed that Redyk has proven to be a “dedicated
professional, very knowledgeable in the HR
field, (a) great addition to the City’s executive
team, has implemented numerous operational
changes in HR and the City that have resulted
in internal customer service improvements,
operational efficiencies, and business process
improvements. (She is) very knowledgeable
in the federal and state laws and regulations
that govern employee rights and benefits, very
personable, (has) great leadership skills, and
excellent business acumen. Rebecca is a great
addition to ensuring El Segundo is an employer
of choice and a top-performing organization.”
Many of you reading this profile know the
storied baseball lineage of this rather quaint
town, including the exploits of the iconic Brett
brothers, the deeds of southpaw pitcher Scott
McGregor, and other talented ballplayers who
moved up the horsehide ranks, many into the
hallowed pantheons of professional baseball.
Well, the 2002 Oakland Athletics, immortalized
in that 2011 film on the silver screen, crashed
and burned that year in the playoffs, but built
a solid foundation for future successes.
Just as Redyk looks forward to continuing
to build on the work of her predecessors during
her first ten weeks on the job and in the
upcoming years, helping to map out a successful
future for the City of El Segundo, hopefully,
“hitting it out of the park.” •
Police Reports from page 2
One male adult was arrested at 0131 hours
from the 700 block of Indiana Court for
criminal threats and misdemeanor DUI with
a BAC of .08% or above.
Friday, May 7th
A burglary (vehicle) report was taken at 0938
hours from the 100 block of Concord Street.
An injury report was taken at 1258 hours
from East El Segundo Boulevard and North
Nash Street. A female adult fell off her bicycle
and injured her head.
A grand theft report was taken at 1521
hours from the 100 block of North Continental
Boulevard. A known suspect stole a large sum
of cash from the victim’s purse.
A hit and run (no injuries) report was taken
at 1609 hours from the 2000 block of East
Imperial Highway, vehicle versus parked
vehicle.
A found property report was taken at
1626 hours from the 100 block of Center
Street. Prescription medication was found
and booked for destruction.
One male adult was arrested at 2022 hours
at Rosecrans Avenue and Manhattan Gateway
for grand theft.
One male adult was arrested at 2022
hours at Rosecrans Avenue and Manhattan
Gateway for grand theft, for possession of
drug paraphernalia, and for one outstanding
LASD misdemeanor warrant.
A single vehicle collision report (with
injuries) was taken at 2250 hours in the 200
block of South Aviation Boulevard.
One male adult was arrested at 0011
hours in the 2100 block of East Rosecrans
Avenue for violation of a domestic violence
court order.
Saturday, May 8th
One male adult was arrested at 0608 hours
from RBPD for one outstanding ESPD
felony warrant.
A petty theft report was taken at 0806
hours from the 300 block of Loma Vista
Street. Unknown suspect(s) stole personal
property from the victim’s unlocked vehicle. •
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