CEO and Executive Director

Erica Manuel is the CEO and Executive Director of the Institute for Local Government (ILG), the nonprofit affiliate of the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the California Special Districts Association. ILG empowers local government leaders by delivering real-world expertise to help them navigate complex issues, increase their capacity, and build trust in their communities.  

Erica has over 20 years of experience helping public, private and nonprofit organizations implement innovative policies to provide strong leadership, advance climate resilience, support economic development, engage communities, and drive positive change. She has worked for various industries, including agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, and technology. Prior to joining ILG in 2019, Erica served as a senior leader at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, an appointee of Governor Schwarzenegger, and a public relations executive with Edelman Public Relations, among others.

Erica is committed to public service, volunteerism, and authentic community engagement. She was named one of the Sacramento Business Journal’s ‘40 Under 40,’ one of Sacramento Magazine’s ‘Top 10 Women to Watch’ and Comstock’s Magazine’s top 19 ‘Women Leaders’ in 2020. She has also been awarded numerous certificates of recognition by the California State Assembly and California State Senate for her public engagement efforts. 

Erica studied at Stanford University, Boston College’s Carroll Graduate School of Management and Northwestern University’s Kellogg Center for Nonprofit Management. She is also certified in Nonprofit Management, Corporate Social Responsibility and GRI Sustainability Reporting.