Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa appointed Ms. Irene Ponce to the Los Angeles Animal Services Commission in October 2007.  Ms. Ponce brings valuable years of experience to the Commission as a professional in field of business development and marketing.  She currently serves as a client relations manager at HemaCare.

Ms. Ponce takes great pride in being very active in civil life.  She was elected to the LA32 Neighborhood Council in 2004, serving for three years as Chair for the Economic & Business Development and the Land-Use and Planning Committees.  That same year, she also appointed to the Bureau of Engineering – City of Los Angeles Proposition K projects oversight committee.  In 2006, Ms. Ponce was elected to the Greater El Serrano Chamber of Commerce as the Director of Public Relations.

As core volunteer with LA Animal Services for the past 10 years, Ms. Ponce helped establish the first off-leash dog park in Northeast Los Angeles, and also helped establish the Mobile Pet Adoption Program that continues to save animals lives.  She has been nominated as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in the City of Los Angeles, and was a recipient of the “Women of Distinction Award” from Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis for Women In History Month in March 2006.