Gala Collins is director of First 5 LA’s Human Resources Department. Gala leads the organization’s strategy to attract and retain a mission-driven workforce. In this role, she oversees talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management and retention, ensuring a cohesive, high-impact employee experience. She also leads strategy, design, and administration of compensation and benefits programs. She is a member of the Leadership Team and serves as an advisor to the executive vice president of First 5 LA’s Center for Family Systems and Human Resources. 

With a career spanning more than two decades in the nonprofit and public sectors, Gala has developed a people-centered approach to building a workforce that supports First 5 LA’s mission. She joined the agency in 2007 and became director of Human Resources in 2015. Her early career with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation included roles in case management and human resources recruiter, benefits manager, and assistant director supporting more than 1,800 employees—all of which helped shape her understanding of how systems and people intersect to enhance community outcomes. 

Gala earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in social welfare from California State University, Northridge. A native of Moldova, Gala today lives in North Hollywood with her husband and enjoys traveling and reading. 




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