For the last few months, The Los Angeles Business Journal teams have been working remotely and adapting to our new working from home environments. We’ve been producing our print and digital Business Journal weekly, shifting our events to webinars, and learning new ways to communicate with our teams virtually. Similar to many of you, we’ve also been spending time with family, binge watching some of our favorite shows and movies, finding space to exercise at home, reading books, and listening to podcasts and music. Please meet our executive team and connect with us!
Josh Schimmels, Publisher & CEO
How are you keeping yourself busy?
Having two daughters, working at home means balancing getting the newspaper out and being a teacher to first and sixth grade girls. It’s been a big challenge, but an extremely rewarding one. We’ve been given a rare opportunity to spend time with our kids that we wouldn’t normally have. It’s a gift. That said, I’ve learned I’m a much better publisher than I am a grade school teacher
How are you communicating with your teams?
Normally, my communication style is informal, and I prefer open doors and walking around the office for casual chats. This situation has stretched my style for sure. I try to balance Zoom meetings (for interaction) with phone calls (for efficiency). Email has been a big communication tool as well. I’m excited to get back with the team soon and to be able to be spontaneous to create energy and share ideas.
Music and TV — current favorites.
Music: Definitely the “Into the Wild” soundtrack (Eddie Vedder). It’s the perfect combination of depth, spirituality and inspiration. I can listen while working, running, or enjoying company (when not in quarantine).
TV: I just got caught up on “Madam Secretary” on Netflix. Every episode is a fascinating crisis to solve. On the lighter side, I think I watch “Zombies 2” (Disney) with my girls at least once a week!
What is your best tip for working from home?
Balance. Distractions are an evil two-way street. During the day, it’s easy to get distracted from work to do other things. During the night, it’s easy to get distracted from life to do more work.
Connect with Josh Schimmels here
Scott Robson, Editor
How are you communicating with your teams?
It’s essential to have good lines of communication at any time, but it’s even more crucial during a time like this. That’s especially true for an editorial team. I have a daily check in meeting each morning with my editors, and then I follow that with a daily Zoom call with all of the reporters. Sometimes these calls are just a quick look at how we’re doing against our deadlines. But the more productive sessions are the ones that generate new ideas and fresh angles as we look for ways to tailor coverage of a fluid situation for our sophisticated business audience.
How are you staying organized with work at home?
With daily and weekly deadlines, staying focused isn’t a challenge. What can be difficult is remembering to unplug after way too many hours at the keyboard, to make time to go outside, to walk the dog and hang out with the family.
What’s your favorite location to work from home?
I’m fortunate to live in a beautiful area of Los Angeles, in the hills above Pacific Palisades. My office is located in an extra bedroom upstairs overlooking our backyard. Whenever I need a visual break, I just look out the window. In one direction I can see the top of Topanga Canyon, and in the other I can see the Pacific Ocean in the distance. That view helps ease a lot of stress and provides some perspective during a time like this.
How are you keeping yourself busy?
I try to get outside for at least one long walk every day. I also make time for family dinners almost every night — something that was always a challenge before the lockdown because everybody had such crazy schedules. And a few times a week, my wife and I sit with the kids to watch a movie or a TV show together. We’ll hit everything from classics like “The Searchers,” “The Maltese Falcon” and “North By Northwest” to the FX comedy like “What We Do in the Shadows,” (a mockumentary from Taika Waititi about vampires living in Staten Island). My teenage son just discovered the underrated NBC comedy “Community,” which holds up surprisingly well.
Connect with Scott Robson here
Nina Bays, Creative & Production Director
How are you keeping yourself busy?
I’m an avid reader and under normal circumstances, the library is my best friend. Recommendations include “Catch and Kill” by Ronan Farrow and anything by David Sedaris — always a mood lifter. For streaming, current favs to watch are Netflix’s “Dead to Me” and reruns of “Project Runway” on Hulu.
How are you communicating with your teams?
Email is still my department’s primary means of communication, but we’ve incorporated Microsoft Teams as well. It’s great for quick chats and also to keep up the team camaraderie — our virtual water cooler. Of course, Zoom has become standard for meetings; it’s good to see people’s faces again.
Any new hobbies you’ve developed?
I’ve been tapping into my art school days and sketching more regularly. Being quarantined is a great opportunity to focus that creative energy with limited outside distractions. In lieu of in-person concerts, there is a plethora of live music happening online — everything from classical to French house. I’m especially enjoying cellist Joshua McClain and the obscure sounds of Space Disco: Atlantis (the ultimate kitchen dance party…)
What have you been cooking / what restaurants are you ordering from?
My husband and I are big fans of reservations, so not being able to frequent our favorite restaurants has been tough. But we’re happily supporting our Culver City haunts including Ronnie’s Diner, Versailles and The Conservatory for their delicious coffee.
Helya Askari, Advertising Director
How are you keeping yourself busy?
I have binged on “Million Dollar Listing LA” and “Desperate Housewives.” Million Dollar Listing has taught me about the lost art of the close. Since I oversee the sales department, and sales have been a little challenging during this time, I find that that Million Dollar Listing serves as source of motivation. Desperate Housewives reminds me a of a simpler time, so it helps me with my anxiety.
How are you staying organized with work at home?
I have a different folder for each project, but the bad news is that I don’t believe in closing the documents I am working on because I like to know that I can access everything instantly. This often leads to my computer freezing. I am working to close folders and apps that I have open. … It is a work in progress.
What is your best tip for working from home?
Work in separate rooms from your significant other. After having phone conversations with several friends, I think it is the most important word of advice I can offer anyone in quarantine. Separate work rooms = Happy relationships and more efficient work hours.
What have you been cooking / what restaurants are you ordering from?
I tried cooking, but after the first week, I thought it best that I put an end to that. I have ordered from the following this past week: Krispy Rice, Sweetgreen, Tuk Tuk Thai, Holy Cow BBQ, The Nosh, Cheesecake Factory, Urth Caffé, Joe’s Pizza, Chipotle, Twist Eatery, Five Guys … I will be dieting soon.
Connect with Helya Askari here
Robert La Salle, Controller
How are you keeping yourself busy? TV show, exercise, podcasts, books, music, choose 2 and tell us what your favorites are.
My position with the company keeps me busy enough. As the Controller, I deal with all facets and feel there is not enough time in the day. I’m a big sports fan, so there is not really a lot going on, but there have been a lot of classic games being reshown. I finally got to see Super Bowl III with the Jets.
What is your best tip for working from home?
The best tip would be not to work in a room with a screaming bird. I have an Amazon parrot and anyone who knows birds understands they need constant attention, like a baby. If I’m on the phone, my bird will start screeching until I put him on my shoulder. And then he starts playing with my AirPod. Ugh!
What’s your favorite location to work from home?
I usually work in the kitchen, with my screaming bird. It actually has the best light, and my table is tall enough that I can stand and work on the computer. Plus there’s food everywhere.
What have you been cooking / what restaurants are you ordering from?
I’m fortunate enough to have married a Thai woman, so I get to eat tons of spicy Thai food. Also, my teenage son has an affinity for Jack in the Box, so I’ve been having way too many greasy burgers and fries. There goes my figure.
Connect to Robert La Salle here
Alex Davila, Executive Director of Events & Marketing
How are you keeping yourself busy?
Exercise daily — I’ve really tried to stay as active as possible. In the mornings I do Platefit Zoom classes, which I love! Their instructors are incredible, and it’s a great community. In the afternoons, I try to end my workday with a walk or run. This has been a major challenge as cardio is not my forte.
Favorite forms of entertainment — Reading & TV.
I’m almost finished with Michelle Obama’s book, “Becoming.” I cannot wait to watch the documentary! Additionally, I’ve been balancing out my Netflix binge watching of “Narcos” with Master Class episodes. I particularly enjoyed the wine appreciation class and Bob Iger’s Business Strategy.
What is your best tip for working from home?
Time blocking and a to-do list! To keep distractions minimal, at the end of each workday, I write up a to-do list and time frames to complete my work for the following day. Helps me stay on track! I make sure to build in a lunch break, too.
What have you been cooking / what restaurants are you ordering from?
My boyfriend and I cook most days but love the L.A. restaurant scene. On the weekends, we order from some of our favorite restaurants on the Westside. Fritto Misto has the most delicious handmade pasta. I dream about Elephante’s whipped eggplant dish and Double Zero’s vegan menu would fool any meat lover. Looking forward to enjoying a meal at one of these places soon.
