When Norma Rodriguez joined Molina Healthcare 18 years ago, the fledgling healthcare provider had just ten employees and two clinics. “It was all of us working together and doing a little of everything,” she remembers laughing. “I worked the phones, talked to patients, did membership services, data entry, and translated.”

Rodriguez is now the Executive Assistant to Chief Financial Officer, John Molina, a position she’s held for 12 years. Molina Healthcare now has a staff of 2,500, provides services across nine states, and Rodriguez still contributes in multiple ways. Her days are busier than ever, filled with scheduling the ten or so meetings Molina attends each day to answering calls and making travel arrangements.

“Norma is very organized, while I am not, so she keeps me on track,” says Molina, who considers the promotion of Rodriguez to her current position as one of the best executive decisions he’s ever made. “No matter how many changes I make to something or how chaotic the office is, Norma is completely calm. Nothing upsets her.”

Rodriguez plans Molina Investor Day, a key corporate event held every year in New York. She also can be seen and heard as part of the company’s advertising campaign in Spanish, and is the voice of its Spanish language phone recordings.

With her husband Andres and their 13-year old daughter, family anchors Rodriguez’s work day, that includes dropping her daughter off at school and driving her to basketball practice afterwards. Her days are busy, but she loves what she does. “I come to work and I enjoy it,” she says. “I am really grateful, and I feel appreciated every day.”

It’s a respect and appreciation that Rodriguez has earned since she was doing a little of everything when the company began. And by the way things look, she’ll be doing a bit of everything for years to come.



Every morning, Sarah Nguyen hits the ground running for another action-packed day as the Executive Assistant to Randy Gordon, President and CEO of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.

“Each day is exciting and nothing is routine,” says Nguyen, whose days start early and end late. “That’s the best thing about working for Randy and the Chamber.”

The effortlessly organized Nguyen has been with the Chamber of Commerce for three years and keeps Gordon’s day on track. She manages his busy calendar and is in constant communication with Chamber staff and members so Gordon knows what to expect throughout his day. She also coordinates the Chamber’s special events, that include the State of the County luncheon with Supervisor Don Knabe, as well as the annual Golf Classic. The hectic pace is part of the normal routine for one of the most popular staffers at the Chamber.

“I think Sarah’s best quality is her ability to listen, get right to the point, and accomplish the task at hand in a very efficient and professional way,” says Gordon. “Everybody just loves working with her. She really is a superstar with a ‘can do’ attitude, and who always sees the glass as half-full.”

It’s obvious Nguyen loves working at the Chamber. She describes connecting with co-workers and member organizations, from small business owners to senior executives at Boeing, as her favorite part of the job.

Away from work, Nguyen’s focus is her three year old daughter, Julianna. “She is my little angel,” she says.

While her job seems demanding to mere mortals, Nguyen manages to make it all happen. Her secret? “Having fun,” she says. “Having fun at all times is my secret.”



Nearly two years ago, Jeff Brandvold left a finance job at a daily newspaper to become the Office Manager at a monthly publication called Long Beach Magazine.

Brandvold’s reputation for thoroughness and accuracy preceded him when publisher Mark Stevens brought him over from the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Now he smoothly runs the magazine’s administrative side with the skill of a veteran.

“I’ve done reception, purchasing, data entry, shipping, accounting,” says Brandvold. “If it involved some type of office work, I’ve probably done it at one time or another.”

While his job is grounded in finance and circulation, he also assists with editing and advertising. His workday ranges from processing subscriptions, ordering supplies, and managing billing to the initial proofreading and editing after writers submit their stories.

“When I came to the magazine, I knew I wanted to bring Jeff,” says Stevens. “He’s driven to present the magazine in a positive light and ensures that everything is done in a professional manner. That really is his best attribute.”

Away from work, Brandvold and his long-time partner, Mike, enjoy attending concerts and other live performances, watching movies, and meeting friends for dinner, but the magazine is always part of maintaining that tricky balance between work and home.

“I’ll admit it can be a challenge for me, but I’ve always been that way,” he says. “There’s a running joke in the office that when I’m on vacation, everyone is surprised when I actually don’t call in to find out what’s going on or if there’s anything I can do.”

Long Beach Magazine is lucky to have Brandvold in the office every day but he sees it more as a mutual relationship. “It’s great to wake up in the morning and look forward to going to work – especially with a great group of people.