Palos Verdes Homes Association

On a bike racing training ride in 1975, I became aware of Palos Verdes Estates.
I thought this would be an exceptional place to live. The homes were all unique, there were no traffic signals I could see, and many streets did not require sidewalks. An attractive setting. It made a big impression.
In college, I pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design at CSU Long Beach.  1994 was a notable year, as I got married to Karen Kwan, we purchased our home in the Valmonte neighborhood, and have been residents ever since—along the way expanding our family with a son and daughter, the youngest now 18 years of age.
By 1995, I had moved from my Supervising Designer position for a local major car company and purchased a small manufacturing and service business. I expanded that to take on industrial design projects.
Now is the chance for me to take advantage of work shifts and seek to contribute as a Board Member.

John Jorgensen

Fortunate to have lived in PVE for 33 years and raise two sons here, Christine answered the call to serve the community and friends that she and her family are grateful to call home. With her executive background in finance, consulting, and operations, Christine brings a dedicated sense of purpose and urgency to her work on behalf of all Homes Association members. Open to all challenges, her immediate focus includes protecting our enviable, bucolic single-family residential neighborhoods, fiscal management, and enhanced communications.

Christine McNamara

Marlene has been a resident in Palos Verdes Estates since 1985. Her design studio is located in Lunada Bay, and she has been a submitting professional in our city for over 36 years. Originally from New Jersey and educated at Parsons School of Design in NYC, her degree in environmental design nurtured an interdisciplinary working style, with studies in urban planning, architecture, structures, landscape, interiors, and lighting.
Special studies on the Olmsted firm, both at Parsons and through symposia by the National Association of Olmsted Parks, has instilled a deeper insight into the history of our community and sparked inspiration for the future.
Marlene is currently a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, the Mediterranean Garden Society, the California Native Plant Society, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. Extensive volunteer efforts past and present include Board Member for the Lunada Bay Homeowners Association, steering committee for Beautify Lunada Bay, Committee Chairperson for PTA, and docent activities for the Palos Verdes Art Center and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy.
Like many young families, Marlene and Patrick arrived in Lunada Bay with two pre-schoolers in tow, seeking good schools and the best climate in Los Angeles. Remodeling the aging 1050’s ‘Dream Fixer’ was an introduction to the Art Jury process, an experience common to many homeowners in our neighborhoods. After a successful remodel and many busy years, the three daughters are grown, Patrick is now retired, and the house needs another ’fix’. Everything circles back.
Marlene continues to enjoy working in our extraordinary community and is enthusiastic about contributing to the Palos Verdes legacy.

Marlene Breene

Kay Cooperman Jue is honored to have been appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in September 2021.  She and her husband, Reggie, have been PVE residents since 2004 and can’t think of a better place to live.  Professionally, Kay has worked as a journalist – both as a newspaper reporter and television news writer and producer – and she has worked in public relations.  Most recently, Kay followed her long-time love of the law by going back to school to become a paralegal.  She worked as a securities-law paralegal until her retirement in 2019.  Kay enjoys being involved in the community.  She has served on the board of the Torrance-based Volunteer Center and served two terms on the Palos Verdes Library District Board of Library Trustees.  Currently, she serves on the California Commission on Judicial Performance.  Kay holds a B.A. in journalism and political science from Cal State University, Long Beach, which she attended after graduating from the former Rolling Hills High School.

Kay Cooperman Jue

Stephen O’Neil, a third generation Californian, grew up in Palos Verdes Estates, attended Valmonte, Malaga Cove and Dapplegrey elementary schools, and was in the first graduating class of Palos Verdes High School. After graduating from USC with a degree in business administration, Steve pursued a long career in finance and money management. Steve&#8217;s many accomplishments include Security Traders Association, Chairman of the Board 2000, National Association of Investment Professionals, Secretary of the Board of Directors, and Security Traders Association of Los Angeles President 1990.
Always remembering what a special place Palos Verdes is, he located his family first in Rancho Palos Verdes, then 38 years ago moved back to PVE and has been here ever since. Steve realizes that what sets PVE apart as such an exceptional and unique city, is in good part due to the careful citywide planning set in place at its founding almost 100 years age. It is this attention and deliberate city planning that Steve hopes to help maintain as a PVHA Director.

Stephen O’Neil

George Sweeney received a five-year professional degree from the University of Southern California School of Architecture in 1971 and was employed with Southern California architectural firms from 1964 through 1976. In 1976, Mr. Sweeney opened his office in Malaga Cove Plaza and has designed homes for numerous clients on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and in the cities of Redondo Beach, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, and La Jolla.
George Sweeney has served as a member of the Palos Verdes Art Jury and Rolling Hills Architectural Committee since 1987, working as part of a team whose goal is to preserve and protect the original vision of the Palos Verdes Project from 1923 going forward. Whereas the original goal of the Project was to create a series of Mediterranean communities, not unlike the coastal hill towns of Italy, other forms of architecture have been introduced. Still, it is our goal to promote the integrity of all architectural designs, requiring that they “be good of their kind” to maintain the character and visual quality of life within these communities.

George Sweeney, Architect

Born in Montebello, California in 1958, Jeff was raised in Costa Mesa. He attended California Polytechnic State University School of Architecture in San Luis Obispo and graduated in June of 1982. During this time, he also spent a year studying in Florence, Italy. Jeff’s first job after graduation was with Stewart Woodard and Associates in Costa Mesa where he worked from 1982 to 1984. Soon after, he struck out on his own and has been self-employed to this day. As a member of the Art Jury since 2003, Jeff is licensed in California, Hawaii and is NCARB-registered. Jeff, along with his wife Sharon, son Alec and daughter Noelle, reside in Huntington Beach, California.

Jeffrey Dahl, Architect

Starting his practice in 1984, Criss, who had lived on the peninsula for most of his life, came home. Having attended the local schools, he earned a Bachelor of Architecture, an accelerated 5-year Professional program, from the School of Architecture, Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo. He returned to the Palos Verdes area that he had always loved and appreciated for its uniqueness and beauty.
Specializing in residential construction, Criss focuses his attention on all aspects of design and construction. In the initial design consideration, massing, proportion, roof configuration, and site planning are of key importance, as well as function. A good design follows with proper detailing for its type, a concept that upholds basic design standards. These standards have formed the character of Palos Verdes for the last 80 plus years.
Criss is married to Annette Carver-Gunderson, who is also self-employed, owning a music teaching company. They very much enjoy traveling together and Criss enjoys golf. They have one daughter, Jessica, who has left the nest, but returns home frequently for visits much to the delight of her parents.

Criss Gunderson, AIA, Architect

As the newest member of the Art Jury, Miriam brings welcome expertise in landscape design. Miriam has extensive knowledge and experience working with water-wise plant materials, which are appropriate and often native to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. She has been leading design and installation projects across Los Angeles for nearly 20 years.
Miriam earned her degree in Fine Arts from CSULB, and later returned to school to follow her true passion and study Landscape Architecture at UCLA while raising two daughters. Miriam has earned numerous awards throughout her career, including an ASLA Award for Residential Design at Rocky Point in Lunada Bay, First Place Annual Beautification Award from the CLCA for the redesign of the promenade at the American Honda campus in Torrance, an Award of Excellence from Sunset Magazine, an honorable mention for the Entry Garden at the Pasadena House of Design, recognition of good land use and excellence in landscape design for the Bird Habitat at Conejo Valley Botanical Garden, and awards for the best overall design, interpretation of theme, and diversity of plant material at the Los Angeles Garden Show hosted by the California Arboretum Foundation.
Miriam is a licensed contractor and the owner and principal designer of Rainville Design Studio, a full-service landscape design and build firm in Redondo Beach. She works closely with her five-person team and clients to create thoughtful, comprehensive outdoor environments. Miriam specializes in residential projects and her “less is more” aesthetic involves all the senses and features native landscapes, water-wise plant materials, durable hardscape materials, and custom furnishings to create spaces that are sustainable and restorative.

Miriam Rainville, Landscape Designer

Carolbeth was born in Palos Verdes Estates and had the privilege of attending Montemalaga Elementary School, Malaga Cove Middle School, and Palos Verdes High School. After graduating from PVHS, she attended University of Southern California and received a B.S. degree in Marketing and Finance. She received an M.A. degree in Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture.
After living and working in San Francisco, New York City, Dallas, and Manhattan Beach, Carolbeth made the decision to return to Palos Verdes to raise her children. Now a three generational family here in Palos Verdes Estates, her parents reside nearby in the home they have lived in since 1962.
Principal of Cozen Architecture for 20 years, Carolbeth has also served as a national, regional, and local Board Member for the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the AIA Long Beach/South Bay Chapter. Appointed in 2012, she has served on the Membership Committee of the Palos Verdes Golf Club. Responsibilities include direct oversight for promoting the club as a city asset to the residents of Palos Verdes Estates and ensuring that the club membership adheres to the rules and regulations of club by-laws and the city concession agreement. Keeping with a desire to serve the community, she is also a Mentor for the PVIT Engineering program at Palos Verdes High School. Carolbeth serves as Co-Director of Mobile Pediatric Orthopedic Education, a foundation dedicated to training undeveloped countries in Pediatric Surgery. She has also worked as a volunteer with the Cambodian Children’s Fund in Phnom Phen.

Carolbeth Cozen, AIA, Architect

A third generation Southern California native, Miles developed his interest in architecture through frequent family trips to regional landmarks and historic sites, and a love of motion picture design. A licensed architect since 1986, prior to opening his own firm, Miles worked for 24 years at Edward Carson Beall &amp; Associates where he was the lead architect on hundreds of projects including large estates, custom residences, and institutional projects such as the Eaton Canyon Nature Center and the Redondo Beach Pier renovation.
Miles received his Bachelor of Arts in architecture from the University of California – Berkley. In his free time, he enjoys paddle boarding, painting, and playing keyboards in a local band.

Miles Pritzkat, AIA, Architect

Savery’s family moved to Palos Verdes Estates in 1967. Her parents still live in the house she grew up in—one of the older homes in the city built in 1928. Savery’s early career was in interior design working for both residential and commercial architectural firms, before taking a leave to raise her children. She has been working at PVHA since 2012.

Savery Nash

Since the early eighties, James has worked for PVHA, submitting plans to the Art Jury, presenting projects to the Planning Commission, obtaining building permits and doing construction observation in PVE and surrounding cities, first as an apprentice and eventually for his own practice. In Jim&#8217;s words: &#8220;I had the good fortune of working under the tutelage of the best architects in the area. They taught me the craft of draftsmanship and an appreciation for architecture that I have never taken for granted.&#8221;

James de Rosa

Milet brings with her over 20 years of design practice experience in Architecture/Urban Design, Commercial Interiors, Master Planning and Landscape involving private and public entities.  She was involved in projects that included commercial offices, retail, higher education, healthcare, public parks and recreation, and residential clients.
Milet has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and was a licensed architect in Manila before moving to Los Angeles. Milet completed her Graduate Certificate in Landscape Architecture with Distinction at UCLA while working at various architectural offices in Southern California and before joining the PVHA.  She is a LEED AP BD+C certified professional.  She is also a docent‐in‐training and garden volunteer at the LA County National History Museum, and recently certified as a UC Master Gardener.
Milet frequents the South Bay beaches and gardens with her husband and young son for local nature trips.

Milet Libunao

Pamela Velasquez has been an Administrative Assistant for over 40 years. She has extensive experience in the design and construction industries. Pam has worked at PVHA since 2012, where she performs all administrative tasks.

Pamela Velasquez

Olmsted Circle Committee: This year, the PVHA is participating in the <a href="https://olmsted200.org/">National Olmsted 200 Celebrations</a> and planning our 100-year celebration of PVE in 2023. Please contact us to volunteer in planning for these fun upcoming events.

Please call or visit us

All property owners in Palos Verdes Estates or Miraleste in Rancho Palos Verdes are automatically members of Palos Verdes Homes Association. We encourage every member to increase their involvement with the Palos Verdes Homeowners Association by attending meetings and volunteering for vacant positions. We look forward to working with you!

The Annual Meeting of Members, per the bylaws, is held the second Tuesday of January at 8pm in the City Council Chambers, Palos Verdes Estates.

Please refer to the <a href="/events/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">event calendar</a> for specific dates and times.

We’re a regulatory body that is responsible for ensuring that architectural integrity and building aesthetics are maintained throughout the communities, including management of the protective deed restrictions, architectural controls, overall site improvements, and all building and landscape design.
In addition to issuing approvals, we provide the necessary city contacts and help commercial and residential property owners, prospective buyers, real estate agents, architects, and contractors navigate the complex development, planning, permitting, and building process.

We currently have one opening on the Board. The Board anticipates accepting applications in early 2022. Please check back for further details.

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Due to the predicted spike in COVID cases from the holidays, our office is closed to walk-ins through the month of January.  We will be accepting appointments only on a limited basis. Please call during normal business hours to make your appointment.  
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