South Bay resident Tamala Lewis has always been known for her ability to captivate an audience. With nearly 20 years of experience as the Senior Director of Community Affairs for AEG's Dignity Health Sports Park (DHSP), Lewis' charisma and eloquence have made her a distinguished organizer for public service, sports, and charity events.

DHSP, located in Southern California, is a world-class competition and training facility that caters to amateur, Olympic, collegiate, and professional athletes. AEG Facilities manages the $150 million privately financed venue, which was developed on a 125-acre site within the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus in Carson, California.

Visitors to the campus are sure to be impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities. DHSP boasts an 8,000-seat tennis stadium, a 27,167-seat stadium for soccer, football, and other athletic competitions and outdoor concerts. In addition, there is a 2,000-seat facility for track and field events and a 2,450-seat indoor Velodrome – the VELO Sports Center for track cycling. DHSP is also home to Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy, the five-time MLS Cup Champions.

In her role as senior director at AEG and the stadium, Lewis oversees all foundation and giving components, community events, youth programs, donation requests, sponsorships, and sports promotions. She maintains connections with former colleagues from the entertainment industry and occasionally organizes events for them. While she does receive support from a social media and PR team, Lewis manages most of the direction herself.

Lewis was present at the AEG groundbreaking in 2002, working alongside former president Dr. James Lyons, Sr. on a university event. She later recalled visiting the site with her father when she was a teenager, back when it was just an empty field. Growing up in Springfield, Ohio, Lewis visited the site during a summer vacation while her father promoted the Miller Sound Express, a production that used a semi-trailer truck as a stage. It was parked on the university grounds where the Dignity Health Sports Park now stands.

Throughout her career, Lewis has received numerous accolades, such as the Torrance Chamber's 2022 Women of Influence's Inspiration Award and serving as the Emcee for the 2023 Women of Influence chamber luncheon. She has never been a stranger to the entertainment world. After graduating from college in Atlanta, Lewis toured the country as a dancer and recording artist, meeting her good friend, actress, and director Rosie Perez along the way. Perez eventually convinced Lewis to move to Los Angeles.

In her early 20s, Lewis became a recording artist for Colombia/Sony Records, a hip-hop dancer for celebrity artists, and a clothing designer. Recognizing the importance of a backup plan, Lewis transitioned to working behind the camera, organizing celebrity events. Her father, a concert promoter who managed recording artists, guided her through the challenges of the entertainment industry.

Lewis is married to Steve Lewis, a four-time Olympic track and field gold medalist. Together, the sports-loving couple has raised two ambitious daughters, Ashly and Sienna, who are pursuing their own goals in sports attire, film directing, and producing. The family enjoys traveling, hiking, attending concerts and sporting events, and living an active lifestyle.

In addition to her many responsibilities, Lewis has been featured in various fashion magazines and organizes an annual event called Women in Entertainment. This event gathers top female executives and celebrity talent from the entertainment industry to network, support, and empower one another. Lewis also serves on several boards and has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2020 Comerica Bank and LA Lakers Woman of Business Award, the 2020 Boys and Girls Club of America's National Service To Youth Award.

CEO of the Torrance Chamber Donna Duperron knows why the indefatigable Lewis is notable.

Duperron said in her capacity as chamber president, she is always on the lookout for individuals who can assist the chamber membership. When she initially met Lewis, she said she had such a unique way about her that brings people together.

“Tamala’s enthusiasm is very, very contagious,” Duperron said. “If she is in a room and has an idea, her passion comes through tenfold. Her follow through, dedication and genuine care shows in everything she does.”

Still, Lewis is introspective and gracious, avowedly ready to give credit where credit is due. Lewis said the greatest impact on her life has been her parents.

“Good parents mentored me, so I stayed on the right track and worked with the right people,” said Lewis who also attributes a strong faith in God to her success. “My whole focus is to make change while I’m here, and inspire and teach younger people to be unbelievably successful.”

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Deborah Paul has played with ink since she was able to read and write. At 19, after two years of college, she left St. Louis to fly for American Airlines, and later enjoyed a long career with Flying Tiger Lines in many capacities, including flying military and their dependents all over the world as a flight attendant. Paul returned to university in the 1990s earning a journalism degree from Cal State University Dominguez Hills and was eventually hired as a newspaper reporter for the South Bay Weekly section of the Los Angeles Times. A decade later she worked for Orange Coast Magazine as their Charitable Events editor. She also taught journalism and was advisor to the campus newspaper at CSUDH and still contributes as a regular stringer for Peninsula News on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Currently, she has self-published four-of-five children's books in her ballad series. Her poetic fictional stories are inspired by real people who have left an indelible mark on the quiet display of simple human kindness. She resides in Rancho Palos Verdes married to Jim, her husband of many adventures.