On Thursday, September 29, the Long Beach Post hosted an event to honor young people from around the city who are doing great things to better their community and beyond. Out of hundreds of nominations from our readers, judges chose 40 winners, representing a range of professions and activism. The Post will be profiling each honoree in the coming days.
Maura Velasco-Ventura joined the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) 10 years ago as an analyst fresh out of UC Irvine.
In those 10 years, she has managed to simplify the patrol scheduling process—one of the systems the LBPD had struggled with for years, according to her nominators—receive a master’s degree in Public Administration and serve as the department’s records administrator, all before her selection as the LBPD chief financial officer (CFO).
In her current role, she manages a $219 million budget and serves as an expert on financial allocations for the department while “treating everyone with respect” and building strategic partnerships.
Colleagues call her “amazing” and “driven,” with the “courage to say what needs to be fixed and/or addressed while still providing support and alternative ideas.” But Velasco-Ventura said she is just proud to serve her community, while also serving as a working mom.
“This is truly an honor to be recognized along with other individuals representing government, business, and community-based organizations,” she said. “I am so grateful that the work accomplished in local government was recognized and now through 40 under 40 I am more aware of potential partners that I can work with to make Long Beach a more amazing community. Additionally, as a working mom with a six-month old and three-year old; I am glad other moms were recognized on the list as well as providing significant contribution to the City of Long Beach.”
Velasco-Ventura said she was proud to live in Long Beach and call the city home.
“Long Beach truly has its own unique vibe, there is something for everyone,” she said. “I love how it is a family-friendly city, but yet rich in history, arts, and culture. […]Coming from the Bay Area, I am so glad my family was able to put down roots here and I am excited that I will be raising my kids in this city.”