Collins Galina

About

Gala Collins is the Director of Human Resources at First 5 LA. Gala leads the organization’s strategy for attracting and retaining a mission-driven workforce. In this role, she oversees talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, and retention, ensuring a consistent and high-impact employee experience. She also leads the strategy, design, and administration of compensation and benefits programs. She is a member of the executive leadership team and an advisor to the Executive Vice President of the Center for Family Systems and Human Resources at First 5 LA. With a career spanning over two decades in the non-profit 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 at AIDS Healthcare Foundation included roles in case management and HR recruitment, benefits manager, and assistant director, supporting over 1,800 employees—all of which helped shape her understanding of how systems and people intersect to improve community outcomes. Gala earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Work from California State University, Northridge. Originally from Moldova, Gala now lives in North Hollywood with her husband and enjoys traveling and reading.