Executive Board Member
EXPERIENCE:
As founder and principal in Entitlement Advisors, LLC, Ms. McDermott brings more than 30 years of experience in entitlement and community issues management to the clients of the firm. Ms. McDermott’s recent experience has covered multiple agencies and communities in Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego Counties in working with elected and appointed officials, city and county staff, community, business and environmental organizations. Her strength is in directing large and small teams of professionals on complex land use projects and conducting community outreach to effectively address community issues which leads to approvals for clients.
Recent projects include a senior affordable housing community for Lennar in Tustin; a senior apartment community in Costa Mesa; a senior living community for the Diocese of Orange in North Tustin; in Newport Beach a 17-lot custom home community on the waterfront, a 79 home condominium for Lennar Homes adjacent to Fashion Island, a mixed use project on Newport Bay and a major LUP Amendment for the Dana Point Harbor, all approved by the Coastal Commission; a residential community in Glendora for William Lyon Homes, and shopping centers in north San Diego County. These projects reflect the sophistication and credibility of the approach Government Solutions and Ms. McDermott use to benefit clients. In addition, Ms. McDermott provided pro-bono consulting to The Balboa Theater Foundation and obtained an approval for the restoration of a historic theater on Balboa Peninsula from the Coastal Commission. Other key clients include C.J. Segerstrom and Sons, Host Marriott, Irvine Ranch Water District, Hoag Hospital, , and the Golden Rain Foundation.
As a former Corporate Officer and Vice President of Entitlement and Community Relations for The Irvine Company, Ms. McDermott directed entitlement projects and community relations programs for the nation’s largest master planned urban environment on almost 54,000 acres of land it owned in Orange County. Her long career also includes experience as a staff member in the Planning Department of both a small city and the County of Los Angeles.
Mrs. McDermott’s community involvement includes serving as a Board Member of Irvine Health Foundation, a Board Member of Caritas, a former Board Member of both the Pacific Club and Hoag Hospital, past Chairman of Irvine Medical Center, former Board Member of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the Laguna Canyon Foundation, and a wide variety of civic and charitable organizations. She has been widely honored, receiving awards from the Sales & Marketing Council of the Building Industry Association, OC Metro Magazine, Orange County Red Cross, Irvine Chamber, Irvine Education Foundation and YWCA. She is a member of BIA, a Full Member of the Urban Land Institute and the American Institute of Certified Planners. She is married and lives in Newport Coast, CA.