Aecom Writes the Book; Milken Brings the Media

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Guests at the “Cocktails & Conversation” reception Aecom boss Mike Burke hosted during the Milken Institute Global Conference last week might have had to check twice at first glance. There were no pocket protectors to be seen, no one sporting the belt-and-suspenders look that plays into stereotypes of engineers. Burke, Kelli Bernard, Christie Ly and the rest of the crew of the downtown-based global engineering firm were sartorially sharp, the cocktails were chic, and the conversation was lively. All of this came poolside on the rooftop of the Peninsula Hotel, with views of Beverly Hills here and Century City there, a dim sum station on one end, and a second for sliders at the other. Don’t, however, mistake the contemporary style and setting as a lean away from Aecom’s bedrock skill set – guests all got copies of a finely focused, 66-page book the firm has published under the title “Without Limits – the Future of Infrastructure,” featuring “opinions from around the world on the challenges and opportunities ahead” … Count the Milken Global as a bona fide media event in the world of finance, with various print publications complemented by an ever-growing roster of cable and digitally based outfits, including CNBC, Bloomberg Television, Fox Business Network, CNN, Yahoo Finance, LinkedIn, Facebook Live and Cheddar, among others … Geoff Baum, director of media relations for the Milken Institute, reports an unlikely first in terms of coverage this year: an inquiry from TMZ, which was following up to confirm word that NFL star Tom Brady announced he’d be back with the New England Patriots next season. Brady said so during a Q&A with Jim Grey. The sports bit had some business folk in the conference crowd skeptical, but post-game chatter indicated Grey won them over by drawing out the quarterback’s perspective on leadership and management … The media presence went even deeper – and provided a reminder of how paths cross over time. To wit: the first time I called David Suissa was back when he and partner Bruce Miller were building ad shop Suissa Miller into a powerhouse and I was a green reporter in Adweek’s L.A. bureau. I called Suissa out of the blue last week and found him laboring lovingly in his role as editor and publisher of the Jewish Journal, working on deadline out of the press room at the Milken conference. “I’ve turned into you,” Suissa said, with his characteristic and charming humor. He diplomatically left out a key point of difference between him and most of his media colleagues: He came to the profession after getting his half of $15.7 million in cash and a chunk of Interpublic stock on the sale of Suissa Miller in 2000 … Sullivan Says: Good timing on both ends as investment banker-turned-civic steward Austin Beutner preps to deliver the commencement at Woodbury University’s May 12 graduation ceremony, a match that will likely bring the school some extra attention and give the speaker a chance to lay out broad strokes on his new duties as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

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