Stories for October 2020

Friday, October 30

Activision Blizzard Beats Earnings Outlook in Third Quarter

Activision Blizzard Inc. outperformed earnings projections in the third quarter, reporting $1.95 billion in net revenue.

Thursday, October 29

Gulfstream to Relocate Employees to Van Nuys Airport

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. will move jobs to Van Nuys Airport from Long Beach as part of a streamlining and modernizing of its customer service.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Matt Young

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Matt Young is the founder and CEO of the investment banking firm CriticalPoint Partners, headquartered in Manhattan Beach.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: George Swain

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George Swain is the founder and CEO of GeorgeSwain Investments.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Duane K. Stullich

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Duane Stullich is managing partner and co-founder of FocalPoint Partners, a leading international boutique investment banking firm headquartered in Los Angeles.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Nia Stefani

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Nia Stefani is the chief executive officer and founder of the Xnergy companies. She brings nearly two decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions, investment banking, private equity, finance, and law to Xnergy.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Rajesh Sood

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As one of three managing partners at FocalPoint, Rajesh Sood is active in the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility program (“CSR”).

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Aaron Solganick

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Aaron Solganick founded Solganick & Co. in 2009 and has 25 years of investment banking and corporate development experience within the software and tech-enabled services industry sectors.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Daniel Shea

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Daniel Shea is a managing director of Objective Capital Partners, a leading investment banking and valuation firm serving the lower middle market, specifically companies with an enterprise value of $20-$75MM.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Nishen Radia

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Nishen Radia is managing partner and co-founder of FocalPoint Partners, a leading investment bank headquartered in Los Angeles, with branch offices in Chicago, New York, and Shanghai.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Gary Rabishaw

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Gary Rabishaw is a managing director and founding principal of Intrepid Investment Bankers, a subsidiary of MUFG Union Bank, N.A.,

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Brandon Quartararo

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With more than a decade of investment banking experience, Brandon Quartararo is focused on originating and executing mergers and acquisitions and raising capital across the Digital Media sector

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Joe Morgan

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Joe Morgan is a managing director and the head of Technology Investment Banking at D.A. Davidson & Co., where he leads a team of 23 bankers covering the technology space.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Steve Moon

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Steve Moon has over 20 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Joel Montminy

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Founding his firm in 2010, Joel Montminy has grown his eponymous firm every year since inception, representing over 200 clients in a wide variety of corporate finance assignments.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Karen Miles

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Karen Miles is a managing director and head of Houlihan Lokey’s Financial and Valuation Advisory (FVA) business for Southern California.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Neha Krishnamohan

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Neha Krishnamohan is a vice president in Goldman Sachs’ Healthcare Investment Banking Group and a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Group within the Investment Banking Division.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Andrew W. Kline

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Andrew Kline, managing director and founder of Park Lane, brings a broad background of professional sports experience, investment banking expertise, and industry knowledge to his firm.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Karan Kapoor

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Karan Kapoor is a managing director at Pagemill Partners, the technology M&A division of Duff & Phelps.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Salomon Kamalodine

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Salomon Kamalodine is a managing director with B. Riley Securities, Inc., a full service, nationally ranked investment bank focused on serving the needs of the upper middle-market.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: David J. Iannini

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David J. Iannini has completed many middle-market transactions (values of $25-$250 million) including the sale/recapitalization of Intercontinental Art to Madison Dearborn

Wednesday, October 28

Rocket Lab Launches 15th Electron Rocket

Long Beach-based aerospace company Rocket Lab USA Inc. has successfully launched its 15th Electron rocket.

Sign Company Secures 10-Year Lease in Burbank

Front Signs has signed a roughly 24,000-square-foot lease at an industrial property in Burbank.

PayPal Invests in Local Black, Latino VCs

Payments giant PayPal Holdings Inc. has invested $10 million in two Black- and Latino-led venture capital funds based in Los Angeles.

Cannabis, Alcohol Delivery Services Merge

Newly formed holding company Pacific Consolidated Holdings announced the merger of alcohol retailer Saucey and cannabis vendor Emjay.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Channing Hamlet

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Channing Hamlet is a managing director and co-owner of Objective Capital Partners, a leading investment banking and valuation firm serving the lower middle market, specifically companies with an enterprise value of $20-$75 million.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Michael Guzman

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Michael Guzman is a senior managing director with B. Riley Securities, Inc., a full service, nationally ranked investment bank focused on serving the needs of the upper middle-market.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Lloyd Greif

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Lloyd Greif is founder, president & CEO of Greif & Co., a middle-market investment bank that engineers merger and acquisition transactions between $50 million and $2 billion in enterprise value,

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Janki Gandhi

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Janki Gandhi is a managing director in Goldman Sachs’ Cross Markets Group (CMG), the firm’s middle market offering. Gandhi advises on Consumer Retail, including beauty, personal care, apparel and accessories.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Nicole Fry

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Nicole Fry is a managing director in Cascadia’s Food, Beverage & Agribusiness group.

Women's Leadership Awards: Survey Reveals 17% of Chief Supply Chain Officers are Women

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Majority of supply chain organizations have specific goals to enhance gender diversity

Women's Leadership Awards: Study Examines Corporate America’s Latina Leadership Crisis

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Senior-level Latina talent is heading for the exits of corporate America at an alarming rate, according to a study released this past May by the Network of Executive Women (NEW) and Hispanic marketing platform Latinarrific.

Women's Leadership Awards: Board Gender Diversity is a Key Goal for Nonprofits

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A Q&A Discussion with Donella Wilson, Green Hasson Janks and Myeisha Peguero Gamiño, Pacific Clinics

Tuesday, October 27

Women's Leadership Awards: Finalists

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Women's Leadership Awards: Finalists

Women's Leadership Awards: Volunteer of the Year

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City Year Los Angeles, an education-based nonprofit that places AmeriCorps members in systemically under-resourced Los Angeles schools, announced in July that national philanthropic leader Mattie McFadden-Lawson and award-winning Spectrum News 1 anchor Giselle Fernandez have been selected as the organization’s new board co-chairs.

Women's Leadership Awards: Rising Star of the Year

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Ksenia Yudina is the Founder/CEO of UNest, the mobile app that makes it easier than ever before for parents to save for their children’s future.

Software Security Company Replicated Raises $25 Million

Replicated, a Culver City-based company that provides security and operations services to software vendors, closed a $25 million Series B funding round.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Arash Farin

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Arash Farin has been responsible for originating some of the most-recognized transactions in Sage Group’s history, including GLAMGLOW and Bombas, one the top partners in terms of origination overall.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Burke Dempsey

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Burke Dempsey is executive vice president and head of investment banking for Wedbush Securities.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Sherry Cefali

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Sherry Cefali is a managing director and the head of the Los Angeles office of Duff & Phelps.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Alexander Lee Cappello

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Alexander Cappello founded Cappello Global 45 years ago, one of the oldest and most respected independent investment banks in existence, its principals completing over $150 billion in transactions in 50+ countries.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Diane Cabo

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Diane Cabo is a managing director at CriticalPoint Partners, a Manhattan Beach based investment bank, advising owners of middle-market companies on mergers and acquisitions and debt and equity raises.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: David Bonrouhi

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David Bonrouhi is co-founder and managing director of Calabasas Capital, a boutique investment banking firm that specializes in representing family-owned companies and other privately held businesses in mergers and acquisitions and private equity and debt capital raising.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Carolyn Armitage

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Carolyn Armitage is a managing director at Echelon Partners, the leading investment bank and consulting firm to the wealth and investment management industries.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Adam Abramowitz

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Adam Abramowitz is a co-founder and managing director at Intrepid Investment Bankers, a subsidiary of MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

Women's Leadership Awards: Entrepreneur of the Year

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CAULIPOWER was born on a Pinterest fail. Really. As the mom of two boys with Celiac - an autoimmune disease leaving their bodies unable to process gluten – Gail Becker tried desperately to find nutritious, gluten-free options that weren’t filled with fat, sugar, salt and calories.

Women's Leadership Awards: CEO of the Year

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Denyelle Bruno is the President and CEO of Tender Greens, a Los-Angeles based health-conscious restaurant concept founded in 2006 with 28 locations nationwide. A Los Angeles native, she has worked with some of the most renowned brands including Apple, Peet’s Coffee & Tea and Macy’s, to name a few.

Women's Leadership Awards: Executive of the Year

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As one of the most accomplished women business leaders in biotechnology, Helen S. Kim has nearly three decades of leadership experience and an inimitable track record of outstanding accomplishments.

Women's Leadership Awards: Community Impact Advocate of the Year

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Lisa Woods runs operations for GroundSwell Group and manages the thousands of non-profit relationships the organization has forged.

Leaders Of Influence - Investment Bankers: Letter From The Publisher

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The initial “kick off moment” for many of the region’s greatest business success stories can be traced back to the meetings that entrepreneurs had with forward-thinking, insightful and creative investment bankers.

Monday, October 26

Soon-Shiong Steps Aside as CEO of NantKwest

Billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong has stepped aside as chief executive at biotech firm NantKwest.

Upfront Names New Co-Managing Partner

Santa Monica-based Upfront Ventures has named Kara Nortman as co-managing partner.

Wild Gifts Support Wildlife

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If there was ever a holiday season that called for outside-the-box gifting, it’s this one. 2020 redefined “business as usual,” and we’re all looking for meaningful, creative ways to express appreciation to staff, clients, and loved ones.

Americans Planning Holiday Travel with Cautious Optimism

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According to a recent AAA Travel survey, American travelers are making vacation plans through the end of the year, but remain cautiously optimistic about those future plans.

Four Guidelines for Successful Corporate Holiday Gifting in the Age of COVID-19

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As we make our way into Q4, corporate holiday gifting budgets are going into effect, and business leaders across the country are reflecting on how best to express their gratitude for the relationships that drive their growth and reputation.

Eight Gift Exchange Ideas for the Holidays

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Whether it’s to save money, maintain social distancing, boost the fun or create a new tradition, many corporate event planners are looking for new ways to engage in gift giving for the forthcoming holiday season.

Music Legend Herb Alpert Is the Business Journal’s Philanthropist of the Year

Trumpeter and A&M Records co-founder Herb Alpert, 85, who rose to fame in the 1960s with his Latin-flavored band Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, has donated millions of dollars to various arts programs.

El Segundo Office Building Secures $125 Million Loan

A recently renovated creative office building in El Segundo has received a $125 million loan.

LA and Long Beach Ports Still Playing Catch-Up, Despite Record September

The San Pedro Bay ports notched another record month in September, largely due to make-up shipments that were stalled by the pandemic earlier this year.

Snap Earnings Surge Beats Expectations

Snap Inc. revenue soared 52% in the third quarter, blowing through Wall Street estimates and continuing the company’s comeback from a rocky 2017 start as a publicly traded company.

Pluto’s Ryan to Lead Streaming Efforts for ViacomCBS

New York-based ViacomCBS Inc. is attempting to up its game in the streaming wars with a new leadership structure that places Pluto TV Chief Executive Tom Ryan at the helm.

Ares Backs $2.4 Billion Deal for Front Yard Residential

Century City-based asset manager Ares Management Corp. has partnered with New York-based Pretium Partners to purchase single-family housing rental company Front Yard Residential Corp.

Dedeaux, Ledo Capital Sell Cold Storage Site in Vernon

Santa Monica-based Dedeaux Properties and Ledo Capital Group have sold the Vernon Avenue Logistics Center for nearly $15 million.

Industrial Lease Is Set in Pico Rivera

An unnamed tenant has signed a nearly 119,000-square-foot lease in Pico Rivera.

Architecture Firm Nadel Puts Focus on Growth

Sawtelle-based architecture firm Nadel Inc. is growing full steam ahead despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Local Dialysis Operators Face Closures, Higher Costs With Prop. 23

Local dialysis clinic owners, already contending with the Covid-19 pandemic, now fear that if voters approve Proposition 23 on next month’s ballot, they might have to close some of their clinics.

Local Health Care Businesses Could Benefit From Prop. 14

Proposition 14 could provide a boost to health care institutions and biotech companies in Los Angeles County.

Retooled Zest Finance Raises $15 Million

ZestFinance Inc., a Burbank-based credit technology company doing business as Zest AI, has raised $15 million in new capital from software-focused venture firm Insight Venture Management.

Cannabis Ecommerce Company Amuse Raises $12 Million

Culver City-based cannabis ecommerce company Amuse Holdings Inc. has raised $12 million in Series A capital. The round was funded by Santa Monica-based cannabis industry private equity firm Gotham Green Partners.

LA Banks Show Some Gains in Q3 Earnings

While the earnings picture improved for Los Angeles-area banks during the third quarter, most did not match the performance levels of the largest U.S. banks.

Relativity Space Signs Rocket Contract With Lockheed

Rocket builder Relativity Space Inc., a Long Beach-based startup, signed a contract to build a 3D-printed rocket for aerospace and defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. as part of an upcoming experimental NASA mission.

SpaceX Launches 60 More Satellites

Hawthorne-based Space Exploration Technologies Corp. sent 60 more Starlink satellites into orbit using the company’s Falcon 9 rocket during an Oct. 18 launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Beverly Hills Site Sells for $36 Million

A mixed-use property in Beverly Hills has sold for $36.2 million.

Mattel Blows Past Earnings Expectations

Mattel Inc. beat Wall Street expectations and then some in the third quarter.

For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, Philanthropy Is Key to Surviving Covid

Ben Cadwallader began his tenure as executive director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra on March 9.

Despite Jobs Gains, LA Has ‘Mountain to Climb’

The September jobs report for Los Angeles County was a welcome dose of good news, as the unemployment rate fell to 15.1% — its lowest level since March — and the county saw a robust gain of 37,600 payroll jobs.

For Quibi, Short-Form Plan Was Short Lived

There’s been plenty of quibbling about the name of Quibi, the heavily hyped short-form streaming platform designed for smartphones.

Business Slows for LA Funeral Homes

On a Saturday afternoon in June 2004, a hearse carrying the late President Ronald Reagan passed by hundreds of admirers along Santa Monica’s Arizona Avenue on its way into Gates Kingsley & Gates Moeller Murphy Funeral Directors.

LABJ Insider: Sound the Trumpet for Herb Alpert

At a time like this, giving back and lifting up are more important than ever — which is what makes this week’s Philanthropy Special Report so relevant.

For Luxury Home Buyers in LA, the Prices Are Right

The luxury housing market in Los Angeles may not be immune to Covid-19, but it seems to have built up a strong resistance to the impact of the pandemic.

On the Move: The Impact of Remote Work on Your Benefits Program

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What started as a rapid response to adapt to a work-from-home environment has led more companies to ask themselves a bigger question, “Where else can employees work besides their home?”

Friday, October 23

Burbank Apartment Portfolio Sells for $31 Million

An 84-unit apartment portfolio in Burbank has sold for $31.3 million.

Thursday, October 22

Colony Capital’s Databank Makes $30 Million Investment

Colony Capital-backed Databank Ltd. has invested $30 million in edge data center business EdgePresence.

Wednesday, October 21

Industrial Properties Raise $27 Million in Financing

Newport-Beach-based MetroGroup Realty Finance has arranged $26.5 million in financing for three industrial properties in Southern California.

RadNet, Adventist Enter Into Joint Venture

West L.A.-based diagnostic imaging company RadNet Inc. and Adventist Health on Tuesday announced a joint venture to create outpatient imaging centers in Simi Valley.

Los Angeles Philharmonic Cancels Additional Concerts

Los Angeles Philharmonic has extended its concert cancellations through June 9 at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

WIPO Launches Database of Judicial Decisions on IP from Around the World

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The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) last month launched WIPO Lex-Judgments, a new database providing free-of-charge access to leading judicial decisions related to IP law from around the world.

Tuesday, October 20

IP & Licensing Law: A Roundtable Discussion

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As the legal landscape continues to evolve in terms of intellectual property and licensing law, the Los Angeles Business Journal once again turned to some of the leading IP attorneys and experts.

Monday, October 19

Emanate Health to Host Free, Virtual Conference

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Emanate Health, the largest health care system in the San Gabriel Valley, will host the virtual “COVID-19 & the San Gabriel Valley” Conference, Saturday, October 24, 2020, at 9 a.m. offering the state of the virus in the valley and outlining the future of health care delivery in the region.

Breast Cancer Angels Celebrates 20th Anniversary Helping Breast Cancer Patients with Basic Needs

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While curing breast cancer through research is a long-term solution (and, indeed, a multi-billion-dollar research initiative), there is much to be said about organizations who help in the here and now – organizations who help breast cancer patients in times of crisis.

Breast Cancer Screening is Still Important During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, elective medical procedures, including cancer screening, were largely put on hold to prioritize urgent needs and reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare settings.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Guidewire Announces Girls in Tech Collaboration to Empower Women in Technology

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Girls in Tech, a global non-profit bringing the world together through education and experiences, and Guidewire Software, Inc.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: ‘How Women Invest’ Fund Announces Focus on Female Investors

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This summer, How Women Invest LLC (HWI) announced Fund I, a $10 million venture fund subscribed predominantly by female investors, over half women of color, who aim to disrupt the antiquated, unequal landscape of the venture capital system that typically excludes women startup founders.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Study Finds Dramatic Effects of COVID-19 on Women’s Careers

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Last month, McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org released the annual Women in the Workplace report, the largest study of its kind.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Study Finds 75% of Female Executives Experience “Imposter Syndrome”

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A majority of executive women across a range of industries identified having experienced feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, or imposter syndrome, at certain points in their careers and say they believe it is commonly experienced by women in corporate America, according to a new study released today by KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: SDL and Women in Localization Launch Campaign to Promote Mental Health During COVID-19

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Through its platinum sponsorship SDL will work closely with women in localization to host a series of events, forums and training initiatives.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Lenovo’s New Realities Project Features Ten Groundbreaking Young Women Changing the World

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Last week, Lenovo, championed by Girl Up, the gender equality initiative of the United Nation Foundation (UNF), and filmmaker Ava DuVernay, launches New Realities – a dynamic artistic project celebrating women who are using technology to showcase global social issues and empower empathy.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Secret Partners With YWCA to Launch #RaiseItUp Campaign

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Secret’s #RaiseItUp Initiative activates “Secret Missions” to directly support women.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Office Depot and Brit + Co Team Up to Launch Selfmade, a New Online Startup School for Women

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Collaboration enables hundreds of women to start and grow businesses

Women's Leadership Series 2020: HerMoney and Wealthramp Partner to Help Women Find Trusted Financial Advisors

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Personal finance expert Jean Chatzky and investor advocate Pam Krueger launch a new tool to help empower women to search for, vet, and hire a qualified advisor with confidence

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Investing in Women is Good Business

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Investing in women makes good business sense because diverse and inclusive workplaces are essential in meeting the needs of today’s diverse customers, clients and communities.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Kiva Receives USAID Design Funding to Support One Million Women Globally

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This summer, financial inclusion non-profit Kiva announced a partnership under the White House-led Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative with USAID to advance women’s economic empowerment by increasing access to financing for women entrepreneurs and business owners.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: ‘Women Without Limits’ Program Empowers Women and Girls Through Financial Literacy

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Morgan Stanley Wealth Management recently announced the launch of Women Without Limits

Women's Leadership Series 2020: October is National Women’s Small Business Month

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Groupon––where customers discover fun things to do and local businesses thrive––is encouraging everyone to celebrate October’s National Women’s Small Business Month by supporting women-owned small businesses in their community.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: How Do You Relate to Homelessness?

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If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is that home equals safety.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Developing a Pipeline of Women Leaders

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Women have unique perspectives and life experiences that can shape our view of the world and the way we make decisions.

Terminal Operator Fenix Marine Finds Smooth Sailing at Ports

While most of the terminals at the San Pedro Bay are struggling to keep up with a recent influx of traffic, Fenix Marine Services just added a new carrier to its roster of clients.

Halloween Businesses Brace for a Scary Season

When the state’s Department of Public Health “strongly discouraged” trick-or-treating last week, it put a damper on already weak Halloween spending.

Gender Parity Remains a Work in Progress for LA Businesses

Gender diversity is one of the most intractable issues in the global economy.

LA28 Exec Kathy Carter Goes for the Gold

Kathy Carter knows how tricky it can be to execute a successful plan in the sports business world.

Wilshire Courtyard Due for High-Rise Overhaul

The Wilshire Courtyard, an iconic 1 million-square-foot Miracle Mile office complex, could be getting a new look.

Commercial Landlords Offer Perks to Tenants but Keep Asking Rents High

Asking rates for office property leases remain high, even as many businesses have turned to remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Los Angeles County Real Estate Market, 3rd Quarter 2020

Quarterly highlights from every submarket of L.A. County in the Real Estate Quarterly Special Report.

Net Lease Properties Offer Real Estate Investors Stability in Uncertain Times

With Covid-related uncertainty top of mind for many investors, net lease properties have become one of the most in-demand real estate asset types in Los Angeles.

Metro Starts Final Phase of Downtown Tunnel Project

Work begins this weekend on the final major phase of the $1.8 billion regional connector rail project downtown.

LA Consumer Confidence Remains Near Record Low

Consumer confidence in Los Angeles County during the third quarter hovered near the record low set during the second quarter, according to a survey released last week to the Business Journal.

Headspace Taps Morken as CEO

Headspace Inc., the Santa Monica-based meditation app developer, has promoted CeCe Morken to chief executive.

PPE Maker Moldex-Metric Plans Factory in Tennessee

Moldex-Metric Inc., a Culver City-based manufacturer of hearing and respiratory protection equipment, is expanding operations to Lebanon, Tenn.

Torrance Office Building Sells for $56 Million

Nome Ventures has purchased Pacific Gateway, a 10-story office building in Torrance, for $55.5 million.

Disney Shifts Strategy, Execs to Focus on Streaming

Walt Disney Co. is about to become the streamiest place on Earth.

YogaWorks Files for Bankruptcy

YogaWorks Inc., citing pandemic-related studio closures, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Oct. 15, with its secured-debt holder Serene Investment Management as a stalking horse bidder.

Virgin Orbit Seeks Funds Ahead of Launch

Long Beach-based satellite launch company Virgin Orbit, looking to rebound from a failed test flight in May, is seeking to raise funds ahead of a second launch.

Culver City Office Sites Set $70 Million Refinance

Two newly renovated office properties in Culver City have received a combined $70 million in refinancing.

Pontifax AgTech Closes $302 Million Fund

Sawtelle-based Pontifax AgTech Management has wrapped a $302 million investment fund, riding the technology wave sweeping the food and agriculture sector.

LABJ Insider: Tuning Into SpaceX

For everybody who’s ever thought, “I wonder what SpaceX is really like?” you may soon have at least a partial answer.

Cannabis Businesses Back Ballot Initiatives

Cannabis is on the ballot in six Los Angeles-area cities this November.

AECOM Supports FAA During Pandemic

Century City-based infrastructure giant AECOM has been partnering with the Federal Aviation Administration to support the agency’s operation of the national airspace system during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dodger Stadium Gondola Project Ready for Next Step

A downtown-based company trying to build a gondola tramway between Union Station and Dodger Stadium has reached a significant milestone, as the public environmental review process for the project gets underway this month.

Lemonade Signs Up for CloudKitchens Space

CloudKitchens, a Pico-Union-based operator of several shared commercial kitchen locations, has a new tenant — El Segundo-based Lemonade Restaurant Group.

Local Venues Cancel, Alter Halloween Plans Over Pandemic

With major theme parks in the L.A. area still closed because of the coronavirus, their popular annual Halloween attractions are also shuttered.

Friday, October 16

L.A. County Unemployment Rate Fell to 15.1% in September

L.A. County’s unemployment rate declined to 15.1% in September from a revised 16.4% in August.

Slingshot Lands Space Force Contract

El Segundo-based startup Slingshot Aerospace has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Space Force.

Thursday, October 15

ImmunityBio To Begin Phase 1 Trials For Covid Vaccine

Culver City-based ImmunityBio’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate drug has been approved to begin Phase 1 clinical trial testing.

Tiltify Raises $6.5 Million For Fundraising Platform

Charity fundraising platform Tiltify Inc. has raised $6.5 million in Series A funding.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Extending the Homebuying Season

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This year’s homebuying season has been like no other.

Wednesday, October 14

Virgin Orbit Seeks Funds Ahead of Launch

Long Beach-based satellite launch company Virgin Orbit, looking to rebound from a failed test flight in May, is seeking to raise funds ahead of a second launch.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: College Planning in a Pandemic: Five Questions to Ask

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Whether your child is just beginning the planning process, an entering freshman or a returning student, getting ready to send them off to college is traditionally an exciting time for all.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: The Road to Entrepreneurship - The Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson

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As Director of the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson, I regularly see the ingenuity and energy that female entrepreneurs bring to startups.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Women View Financial Success Differently

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While many wealth management firms and financial advisors believe that men and women have the same financial needs, research shows that a more customized approach may serve women better.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Supporting Women Entrepreneurs During COVID-19

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The Coronavirus pandemic is not stopping people from volunteering.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: WBENC and EOS Worldwide Announce Partnership to Accelerate the Growth of Women-Owned Businesses

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WBENC, the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S., is excited to announce last month announced its partnership with EOS Worldwide (the Entrepreneurial Operating System), to accelerate the growth and success of women-owned businesses.

Levine Leichtman Closes Second European Fund

Beverly Hills-based Levine Leichtman Capital Partners has closed a $544 million European investment fund.

Charter Health Acquires Two Hospice Companies

Covina-based Charter Health Care Group has acquired two hospice service companies, part of a series of acquisitions this year.

Tuesday, October 13

Women Of Influence Accounting: Letter From The Publisher

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The 2020 Accounting MOVE Project Report took a look at the inroads women accountants - and the firms that benefit from their work - have made toward equality in the accounting field.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Anita Wu

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Anita Wu has more than 20 years of auditing experience, with a specialty in profit participation audits.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Christy Woods

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Christy Woods began her public accounting career in 2006, after graduating Cum Laude from The University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Sally Wong

Sally Wong is currently a director in KPMG’s Accounting Advisory Services practice with 13 years of experience in assurance and advisory.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Darcy Wilson-Jones

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With over 20 years of experience, Darcy Wilson-Jones is an Assurance Services partner in the Los Angeles office and the National Media and Entertainment practice leader for RSM.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Donella Wilson

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Donella Wilson leads Green Hasson Janks’ Nonprofit Practice and has more than 20 years of public accounting experience providing audit, accounting and special project services and works exclusively in the nonprofit sector.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Brianne Wiese

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Brianne Wiese is a managing director in KPMG’s Public Sector practice.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Natalie Tronkina

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Natalie Tronkina is a principal in CohnReznick’s Transactional Advisory Services practice, based in the Los Angeles office.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Nicole Stan

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Nicole Stan is a director in CohnReznick’s Los Angeles office with more than 15 years of experience in public accounting.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Helena Song

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Helena Song has been with Gumbiner Savett Inc. for 12 years and was promoted in July 2019 to audit and accounting principal.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Kelly O’Neil

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Kelly O’Neil is a lead managing director at CBIZ MHM, LLC and a Shareholder at Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (MHM).

Women Of Influence Accounting: Patricia O’Connell

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As COO of Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP, Patricia O’Connell leads many of the firm’s strategic and operational initiatives, including many that are transformational to the organization.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Tanya Nelson

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Tanya Nelson is a senior manager at Moss Adams and has practiced public accounting since 2007.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Jenn McCabe

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Jenn has more than 25 years of business outsourcing experience, with a particular expertise in startups and the advertising and creative production industries.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Karla Chavez Luna

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Karla Chavez Luna joined Gumbiner Savett in 2000 and has steadily risen through the ranks of the tax department to become the firm’s first Latina shareholder as of January 2019.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Gibi Lappin

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Gibi Lappin is a managing director in KPMG’s Los Angeles International Tax practice.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Tracy Katz

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Tracy Katz is a partner at Gursey | Schneider LLP (Gursey) and is the practice leader in the firm’s litigation support department.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Karen Jong

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Karen Jong is a tax partner in the Los Angeles office of RSM. She has more than 30 years of experience in providing federal and state tax consulting and compliance services to both privately and publicly held middle market companies.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Coral Hansen

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Coral M. Hansen is a CPA with over 29 years of combined public accounting and private industry experience, specializing in providing accounting expertise in engagements involving forensic accounting, litigation support, expert witness testimony, and fraud investigations.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Jennifer Hang

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Jennifer Hang is a senior manager for assurance services at RSM in Los Angeles.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Kelley Gastineau

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Kelley Gastineau has 20 years of experience consulting clients in the areas of forensic accounting, fraud investigations, litigation consulting and corporate bankruptcy and restructuring.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Crystal Do

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Crystal Do serves as a director in Armanino LLP’s Business Management and Family Office Services Group.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Brandy Davis

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Brandy Davis has over two decades of managing the financial and business needs for high net worth individuals in entertainment.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Valerie Colin

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Valerie Colin joined Gumbiner Savett Inc. in 1994. She took over the position of Tax Department leader in January 2020 and is a senior tax shareholder with over 30 years’ experience in tax, accounting and business consulting.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Peggy Clark

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Peggy Clark has more than 30-years of experience as a public accountant.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Alexandra Chernyak

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Alexandra (Alex) Chernyak has 20 years of public accounting experience, focusing primarily on labor organizations and employee benefit plans.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Polina Chapiro

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Polina Chapiro is a member of Green Hasson Janks’ Executive Committee, International Tax Practice leader and has more than 35 years of tax experience.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Cheryl Calhoun

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A managing director in the CBIZ MHM Los Angeles office, Cheryl Calhoun brings more than 30 years of experience and expertise to all facets of the entertainment industry, with a particular emphasis in filmed entertainment.

Women Of Influence Accounting: Sasha Baluka

Sasha Baluka has more than 15 years of experience in public accounting and is a partner with Sherman Oaks-based CPA firm, Bessolo Haworth LLP.

Tetra Tech Wins $24 Million Asia Contract

Pasadena-based engineering and consulting firm Tetra Tech Inc. was awarded a $24 million water resources contract for Central Asia.

Monday, October 12

CalScrew Is Acquired by Avantus Aerospace

California Screw Products Corp., a Paramount-based manufacturer of commercial and military aerospace products, has been acquired by Avantus Aerospace Inc.

Why Take a Leadership & Management Program?

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Saybrook University offers uniquely effective Leadership & Management programs.

At the Forefront of Online Education: Master of Studies in Law

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The MSL degree, available entirely online, enables practitioners and leaders to enhance their business expertise with an essential legal education.

Distance Learning & Education: Cultivating Transformational Leaders for Sustainable Business

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Located at the heart of Los Angeles’ business and creative economies, Woodbury University offers an innovative MBA program that secures career progress through design-thinking skills and lucrative connections.

Distance Learning & Education: Why Do Students Like Online Learning?

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With millions enrolled in online schools and universities or practicing socially distanced learning due to COVID-related restrictions, many are discovering compelling arguments for attending a cyber classroom.

New Buyer Set for Crenshaw Plaza Mall

The Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza may have a new buyer after a deal for the iconic mall fell apart earlier this year.

Special Report: Who's Who in Real Estate 2020

Read the 2020 Who's Who in Real Estate Special Report to learn about the latest trends and some of the biggest players in Los Angeles real estate.

Teuscher Adapts to Chocolate in the Time of Covid

Beverly Hills Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland, a well-known local purveyor of gourmet chocolate, has managed to adjust to Covid-19 concerns.

Ticketmaster's Global Chairman to Step Down

Jared Smith plans to step down as global chairman of Ticketmaster, according to reports.

Executive Insights

In the midst of headlines about layoffs and shutdowns, L.A. business leaders seem to be ramping up.

Who’s Who in Real Estate: Residential Brokers, Builders Ride a Roller Coaster

Just five years after entering the Los Angeles market, Compass is the largest residential brokerage firm in L.A.

Who’s Who in Real Estate: Playing the Long Game in the Office Space

Perhaps no developer has made as much news in the past few months as Brentwood-based Hudson Pacific Properties Inc.

Who’s Who in Real Estate: Demand for Supply Drives Industrial Developers

Santa Monica-based Dedeaux Properties is one of the busiest industrial real estate developers in Los Angeles.

Who’s Who in Real Estate: Multifamily Companies Race to Keep Pace

In Koreatown, the big name in development is Jamison.

Health Care Sector Sets the Pace for Job Gains in LA

Entertainment, technology, tourism and real estate have long been regarded as the star sectors of the Los Angeles economy.

EP Wealth Acquires $1 Billion Management Firm

EP Wealth Advisors, a Torrance-based registered investment adviser, or RIA, has acquired Salt Lake City-based Insight Group Inc. and Financial Insight Center.

Wilshire Associates Founder Tito to Retire After Acquisition

Santa Monica-based technology and advisory company Wilshire Associates Inc. has agreed to be acquired by two New York-based private equity firms

PE Firm Corridor Capital Looks Toward Tech-Enabled Businesses

Despite its sometimes opaque and immutable image, private equity is a constantly evolving field.

Local Tech Companies Work to Get Out the Vote

Social platforms and media content creators in Los Angeles are leveraging their influence to encourage voting by Gen Z and millennial audiences as registration deadlines approach.

Jerry Moss Donates $25 Million to Music Center

The Music Center has received a $25 million gift from A&M Records co-founder Jerry Moss and his wife Tina to benefit new programming initiatives.

Water Tech Companies Are Springing Up in LA

In many areas of the world, there may be no more precious commodity than water — and that’s especially true in Los Angeles.

CodeSpark Wants to Teach Kids to Code

Pasadena-based CodeSpark Inc. wants to teach kids to code even before they can read.

Construction Firm Cumming Names New CEO

Downtown-based construction management firm Cumming Corp. has named Chief Operating Officer David Baird as its new chief executive, effective Jan. 1.

KGI Medical School Receives $5 Million Donation

L.A. Care Health Plan is committing $5 million toward the launch of the Keck Graduate Institute School of Medicine in Claremont.

Arrowhead Strikes Major Partnership With Takeda

Pasadena-based Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced a major licensing and drug development deal with a Japanese pharmaceutical company to develop and commercialize a drug to treat a rare form of inherited liver disease.

How See’s Candy Is Adapting to the Covid Era

A sweet sorrow overtook the city’s chocolate lovers when news broke in late March that See’s Candy Shops Inc. was suspending operations for only the second time in a century.

New AECOM CEO Unveils Restructuring Plan

Just two months into his tenure as chief executive of Century City-based engineering and infrastructure giant AECOM, Troy Rudd’s first bold move is a company restructuring.

Wave of Bankruptcies Washes Over LA Businesses

Impresa Aerospace is the latest of more than a half-dozen large companies in Los Angeles County that have filed for bankruptcy this year.

Who’s Who in Real Estate: Struggling Retail Sector Shows Signs of Life

Woodland Hills-based NewMark Merrill Cos. Inc. is an active player in L.A.’s retail real estate market.

Ida Brings AI to Schools, Governments

Silicon Beach newcomer Ida Artificial Intelligence Inc. is bringing fresh ideas to enterprise management systems

Telehealth Platform TigerConnect Raises $45 Million

Santa Monica-based telehealth platform TigerConnect Inc. has raised $45 million in Series D funding.

MediaAlpha Files for $100 Million IPO

Downtown-based insurance marketing company MediaAlpha Inc. plans to raise $100 million in an initial public offering, according to a preliminary prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SpaceX Lands $149 Million Defense Contract

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., the Hawthorne-based aerospace company, last week secured a substantial new government contract and made progress on multiple fronts with its Starlink satellite project.

Culver City Office Site Secures $110 Million Loan

The Symantec Southern California Campus in Culver City has received a $110 million loan.

LABJ Insider: Cause for Celebration

The Women’s Leadership Awards, already one of the Business Journal’s signature events each year, has taken on even more significance in 2020.

Friday, October 9

Cedars-Sinai Wins $8.3 Million Grant for Covid-19 Study

Cedars-Sinai Health System has been awarded a five-year, $8.3 million grant by the National Cancer Institute to study the risk of Covid-19 for minority populations

West Adams Project Lands $49 Million Construction Loan

Nearly $49 million in construction financing has been arranged for Exposition 3, a creative office property in West Adams.

Thursday, October 8

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Increasing Access, Opportunity for People with Disabilities

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We as a nation need to tear down the barriers for people with disabilities.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: More Than Half of Women Small Business Owners Had to Overcome Greater Obstacles Than Males

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With one out of every five small businesses failing before the end of their first year, opening and running your own business is an enormous challenge.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: NWBC & SBA Focus on Resiliency in Face of Pandemic

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Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) remains focused on carrying out its critical mission of advocating for the nation’s 13 million women-owned businesses.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: In Response to COVID-19 Crisis, NAWBO Calls on Policymakers to Protect New and Small Businesses

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In response to the economic crisis that has hit new and small business owners particularly hard, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) has joined the Start Us Up coalition — led by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and comprising more than 190 entrepreneurship advocacy groups and organizations across the country.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Children, Families and Community

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Since 1992, Positive Results Center (Formerly The Positive Results Corporation, aka PRC) has been committed to creating awareness to strengthen, educate and safeguard children, families and the community on the intersections of violence from a cultural and age perspective.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Women in the Workplace - A Strategic Priority

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In a global economy with an increasingly tight yet diverse workforce, employers must create workplaces that suit the needs of diverse populations.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Women Leading Through Change in 2020

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Change, Challenge, Handling Adversity, Navigating Excellence. A wise man said to me, “When you are in the middle of a spin – on ice or in life – hold steady on the wheel.”

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Leadership Training Can Help in Times of Change

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When Cecile Lin crossed the ocean to earn her business degree in California in the 1960s, very few business schools in the U.S. admitted women. Enrollment by women averaged less than ten percent nationally.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Nonprofit Board Diversity in Action

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Nonprofits were early advocates for building diversity within their organizations, but to really walk the walk, nonprofit boards must also make diversity a priority.

Women's Leadership Series 2020: Emotional Health in the Time of COVID

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In March, it looked like COVID-19 would be the most anxiety-provoking news event of the year.

Leading Through Change: Dara Castle

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Dara Castle is the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Offices managing partner and is the national leader of RSM’s government contracting practice.

Wednesday, October 7

Construction Firm Cumming Names New CEO

Downtown-based construction management firm Cumming Corp. named chief operating officer David Baird as its new chief executive.

Women’s Leadership Series & Awards: Jane Schwartzberg

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Jane Schwartzberg leads the UBS Strategic Client Segments team for WM USA, which was established to develop a strategy for and execute on growth within the Firm's highest potential client segments.