Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Robert L. Duarte, Jr.
Communications Associate
Robert.Duarte@bizfed.org
(562) 440-3088
DIVERSE BUSINESS LEADERS SWORN IN
AS 2019 BIZFED BOARD OFFICERS
BizFed Board strengthening business voice with more Women, Minorities, LBGTQ leaders
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 25, 2019) – LA City Attorney, Mike Feuer administered an oath of office to 60 new BizFed Officers for 2019, over half identify as women, Latino, African American, Asian Americans, or LGBTQ+. Each of these community leaders are force multipliers from premiere companies, Trade Associations, Chambers of Commerce, and Business Improvement Districts of all sizes, in all 88 cities throughout LA County.
“Now more than ever this massive, grassroots network of business networks organized for fast intelligence sharing to mobilize on public policies that impact our local economy, is needed” said Tracy Hernandez, Founding CEO of BizFed.
“Los Angeles County has the worst poverty rate in the Golden State. To confront this crisis, we need to create more middle-class jobs, build more housing, continue our investment in regional transportation, and provide better job training/education for our workforce” said Steve Bullock, 2019 BizFed Chair. “Strong companies help accomplish those things. Business makes LA work, BizFed fights to make LA a place where businesses can thrive and grow.”
Since its inception in 2008, the Los Angeles County Business Federation, BizFed, has built a coalition of more than 180 business associations, representing 400,000 employers with 3.5 million employees throughout Los Angeles County. This year, BizFed’s massive grassroots alliance is celebrating 11 years of mobilizing the voice of diverse businesses for policies and projects that strengthen our regional economy. BizFed officers are elected to spearhead initiatives and provide leadership to address economic and public policy issues and correct public policies that disadvantage our fellow Angelenos.
BizFed uses their diverse voices and power in numbers to advocate on key economic issues. BizFed’s achievements extend to multiple issues such as transportation, land-use and infrastructure, energy and the environment, poverty, as well as housing development and real estate.
The officers will be pushing an agenda that will build on successes like:
- Secured thousands of units of new housing development throughout the region through support of Net Zero Newhall, Tejon Ranch, and Proposition HHH
- Ensured $52Billion in new statewide funds continued to be invested in new transportation infrastructure for our California by fighting against Prop 6 – The Gas Tax Repeal
- Saved rents from skyrocketing more by making sure voters said No to Prop 10. Rent control would have harmed landlords and their ability to re-invest in their buildings, including mandatory seismic upgrades
- Killed a ridiculous new “text tax” on Californians text messages
- Advocated for LA County’s Measure W to include one of the most advanced stormwater mitigation crediting programs in the country
- Stood up for the Water Fix to ensure a sustainable, reliable clean water supply to SoCal
For more details about BizFed’s goals and achievements visit our website linked here. Public Photos Linked here.
BizFed welcomed our 11th Anniversary with the installation of the following
2019 board member pictured and listed below:
Co-Chairs of BizFed Committees:
Chair: Steve Bullock, Cerrell Associates
Chair-Elect: Sandy Sanchez, FivePoint
Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs: Jeremy Harris, Long Beach Area Chamber; Matt Klink, Klink Campaigns; Frank Lopez, Southern California Gas Company; Brissa Sotelo-Vargas, Valero; Mark Wilbur, Employers Group
Operations Committee/Treasurers: Mary Rosas, California Resources Corp.; Paul Little, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Secretary: Donna Duperron, Torrance Chamber of Commerce
Ambassadors Committee: Laura Yamanaka, National Association of Women Business Owners; Stephen O’Kane, AES
Advisory Council: Lupita Sanchez-Cornejo, AT&T; Anthon Duarte, Regional San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce; Robb Korinke, Grassroots Lab; Steve Samuelian, California Consulting
Franchise Committee: Fran Inman, Majestic Realty; LaDonna DiCamillo, BNSF
Nominating Committee: Ted Green, West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
Anti-Poverty & Economic Mobility Committee: Efrain Escobedo, California Community Foundation; Will Wright, American Institute of Architects – Los Angeles; Laura Olhasso, Pasadena Foothills, Burbank, Glendale, Arcadia Association of REALTORS
AQMD/CARB Coalition: Patty Senecal, Western State Petroleum Association (WSPA); Peter Herzog, NAIOP; Peter Whittingham, Whittingham Public Affairs
CEQA Committee: Larry Kosmont, Kosmont Companies; Jennifer Hernandez, Holland & Knight
Energy & Environment Committee: Zanku Armenian, Southern California Edison; Amanda Parsons, Sentinel Peak; Mark Lomeli, Marathon Petroleum
Health Care Committee: Michael Tou, Providence Healthcare; Michael Sullivan, Orthopedic Institute for Children; Ellen Zaman, Children’s Hospital LA; Hector G. Baltazar, Charles Drew University
Land Use / Housing / Development / Real Estate Committee: James W. Litz, MedMen; Fred Sutton, California Apartment Association – Los Angeles; Tim Piaski, BIA-LAV
Polling & Metrix Committee: Dan Hoffman, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce; Ken Tiratira, Imprenta Communications; Lou Baglietto, LA Gateway Chamber of Commerce of Commerce
Responsible Governance & Fiscal Accountability Committee: Peter Hidalgo, Charter Communications; David Kissinger, Southbay Association of REALTORS; Kristine Guerrero, League of California Cities – LA
Small Business / Labor & Employment Committee: Carrie Hidding, CalCPA; Virginia Gomez, Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council; Mark R. Edwards, Jewish Vocational Services – Southern California; Shenae Rourk, National Association of Women Business Owners – Los Angeles
Trade & Foreign Investment Committee: Roozbeh Farahanipour, West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Chip Ahlswede, Beverly Hills Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTOR; Joe Hower, Ramboll; Sharon Evans, Business Resource Group
Transportation Committee: Benjamin Jurjevich, BYD; Hilary Norton, Fixing Angelenos Stuck in Traffic (FAST); David Grannis, Point C; Michele Grubbs, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
Water Committee: Charley Wilson, Southern California Water Coalition; Aaron Meilleur, HDR; Tom Love; Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
####
About Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed)
With more than 180 business organizations representing 400,000 employers with nearly 3.5 million employees throughout L.A. County, BizFed is a massive, diverse grassroots alliance that advocates for policies and projects that strengthen the regional economy. Leveraging power in numbers, BizFed explores all sides of critical issues and takes action to make a difference for business growth, job creation, and economic vitality in Southern California.
