Thriving Opportunities during COVID: Inside First Jobs Out of College

Shannon Muller

Regional Field Operations | Coldwell Banker

Shannon Muller is the Regional Field Operations Administrator for Coldwell Banker’s Greater Los Angeles Region. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is an American real estate franchise owned by Realogy. It was founded in 1906 in San Francisco, and has approximately 3,000 offices in 47 countries and territories. In this position, Shannon is responsible for the training of new and existing administrative staff, as well as overseeing the day-to-day staff operations in 13 branch offices throughout Los Angeles County. Shannon joined Coldwell Banker in 2016, starting as an Office Administrator and Marketing Coordinator in the Palos Verdes Estates, CA branch office before joining the Regional team in 2019. Prior to joining Coldwell Banker, Shannon held similar administrative and marketing positions with other local real estate brokerages. She graduated from UCLA in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Shannon firmly believes her success in Real Estate Operations is due in part to her background in the social sciences, as well as her experience with a vast array of classes offered by UCLA. She works with a variety of people every day – from support staff and managers, to real estate agents and their clients – and finds her social science background gives a unique perspective to finding win-win solutions for all parties involved.

Logan Allec

CPA | Finance Influencer

Logan Allec is a CPA and personal finance influencer.  He owns the popular personal finance blog Money Done Right and also creates content on a daily basis on his YouTube channel.  He has been seen in major publications such as Forbes, USA Today, CNBC, MarketWatch, and more.  Prior to going full-time with Money Done Right in 2018, Logan spent nearly nine years in public accounting, both at a regional accounting practice and a “Big Four” accounting firm.  Logan graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Anthropology and a minor in Accounting in 2009.  He lives with his family in the Los Angeles area.

Rodney Bernaldo

Management Analyst | City of Los Angeles

Have you ever wondered what happens with the water when you flush the toilet? Having worked for LA Sanitation for over 20 years, Rodney Bernaldo knows very well that it doesn’t just disappear. When he graduated from UCLA in 1995, with a degree in Spanish Literature, he was not clear what career path to take so he worked various jobs until he stumbled upon the City of LA, as an employer. Once he experienced the job security, great benefits, and all those paid Holidays, he knew his career was in City government. Bernaldo has supported various Divisions through the department of Sanitation and taken on a variety of roles. He currently manages a $24 million budget for the IT Division of LA Sanitation.  The City of LA is the second-largest municipal government in the United States and employs more then 50,000 people with a variety of jobs available across 44 different and unique departments form the Airports to the Zoo.

Will Hamilton 

Senior Management Analyst | City of Beverly Hills

Will Hamilton is the Senior Management Analyst for both the Engineering and Project Management Divisions in the City of Beverly Hills Public Works Department. Beverly Hills is a full-service City with an outstanding Public Works Department that provides and manages sound infrastructure such as water, sewer, streets, street lighting, among many other things. Will started at UCLA in 2008 as a transfer student after almost seven years of active duty service as a mechanic and maintenance manager in the U.S. Army, including two tours in Iraq. He graduated in 2010 with a double major in Latin American Studies and History, as well as double minors in Afro American Studies and Urban and Regional Studies. Prior to Beverly Hills, Will has worked in the finance departments at the cities of El Monte, CA, and Huntington Park, CA, the Public Works Department at South Gate, CA, and managed the Redlands Municipal Airport in Redlands, CA. At Beverly Hills, he currently oversees or supports the Capital Improvement Project budget, the development of Urban Forest Management Plan, the City’s shift to online project bidding and proposals, and the development of a labor compliance program that conforms to State of California guidelines and mandates. The unique mix of on the job experience from the military and the skills and knowledge learned at UCLA provided a solid foundation for work in the municipal/government sector.

Barbara Van Nostrand

Director of Student Affairs and Initiatives | UCLA Division of Humanities