Ryland Penta

Ryland Penta jokes that he’s the Leslie Knope of Palm Desert. As community relations supervisor, he serves as a connector between residents and city hall, explaining processes, answering questions, and making civic life feel personal. “It feels like I’m the liaison between both worlds,” he says, “the organization and the bigger part of Palm Desert.”

Originally from Seattle, Penta has lived and worked around the world. He spent a year in Australia, backpacked through Asia and Europe, earned a master’s degree in Scotland, and later worked at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In Palm Desert, he brings that global perspective to local government. He also serves on the board of Leadership Coachella Valley and contributes on-air commentary at NBC Palm Springs. During Tropical Storm Hilary, he managed crisis communications for the city, issuing updates every few minutes and ensuring residents had timely access to critical information.

“My role is communications. But bigger picture, it’s about civic engagement,” he says. “It’s about bringing people into City Hall, giving them an understanding of  what we do, why we do it. You get to see people open their eyes to our operations, and it’s fun to provide that outlet. … I love what I do.”