Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced Lasso’s appointment Friday to lead the agency, which serves as the business manager for state government. DGS has about 3,500 employees and an annual budget of more than $1 billion.
Lasso, whose background includes consulting, most recently served as general manager of Exposition Park, which comes under the California Natural Resources Agency. Before that position, which she held for seven years, Lasso was with the Los Angeles Unified School District for eight years in various roles, including program manager and senior planner. Before her affiliation with the school district, Lasso was a consultant with S&Y Capital Group, consulting in real estate development, entitlement, bond financing, planning and development.
Lasso earned a master of science degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a member of the MIT Alumni Association, the UCLA Alumni Association and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE). Lasso is also an executive board member and vice chair of the Figueroa Corridor Business Improvement District.
The position requires Senate confirmation, and the annual compensation is $197,796.
Lasso succeeds Daniel C. Kim, who was DGS director for more than five years before moving in January to the role of assistant county administrator for Yolo County. In a December interview with Techwire, Kim offered an overview of some DGS initiatives — and some advice for his successor.
