On behalf of SBC, now AT&T, Vellandi organized and implemented a campaign in support of open access to the cable network.  Working with various media outlets, allies and coalition members, Vellandi helped to gain support of open access in cities acros Southern California, including the City of Los Angeles.  She also worked as top advisor to the regional president -- preparing speeches, targeted outreach materis and integrated plans for her and her external affairs team, all designed to achieve legislative and regulatory success for the telecommunications giant.


Vellandi was Communications Deputy for LA City Councilmember Laura Chick.  She developed a proactive communications program, handling media relations, outreach effts, community education and civic participation activities, including the drafting of key speeches and opinion pieces to create the vision of a fiscall sound City for the Councilmember and lay the groundwork for a citywide campaign as the Councilmember prepared to run for City Controller.  (She won that office in 2000.)


Vellandi played a key role on the team representing Southern California Edison in its efforts to deregulate the State's electric utility industry by creating coalitions and grassrots organizations, developing media strategies and talking points, and by implementing an aggressive legislative strategy that achieved the client's desired result -- passge of Assembl Bill 1890.

 

Previously working with IKEA, Vellandi assisted in organizing a multitude of goals and messages into a cohesive campaign to gain grassroots and media support for the big box retailer. Recent efforts included obtaining the full support of local officials and media for new stores in East Palo Alto and Costa Mesa.

 

Vellandi is a licenses real estate agent and co-owner of Orange County Property Company, a boutique residential real estate agency.                                      

A believer in community service and giving back, Vellandi has served in a variety of efforts. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC) operating an $18 million budget; she earned that position with the most votes cast for a resident ever in the history of Ladera Ranch and becomes the first woman ever elected to LARMAC.

As the first-ever Coordinator for a chapter of Mothers of Preschoolers, International in Mission Viejo, she developed a proposal and secured financial and staff support of two area churches to establish a local chapter for the non-profit organization that provides parenting instruction to mothers of young children. Secured $10,000 in annual funding from both churches and launched the organization with nearly 70 women in its first year.

With the Junior League of Orange County, International, she served as the Community Director and Member of the Board where she handled government affairs, community partnerships, project development and grants/scholarships for the 50-year-old organization of about 700 Orange County women, which has given nearly $10 million to the Orange County community. 

Local campaigns and efforts to assist area residents in their bids to run for, and earn, elected office are also at the forefront of Vellandi's efforts.