1. 1000 N. Alameda St., Suite 240, Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.346.3282 bizfed.org | @bizfed | facebook.com/bizfed
We’re a
PROUD
MEMBER
2. With more than 155 business organizations
representing 275,000 employers with 3 million
employees throughout LA County, BizFed
is a massive, diverse grassroots alliance
that advocates for policies and projects that
strengthen our regional economy.
BizFed Unites the Voice of Business.
Powerin Numbers
Advocating for statewide transportation solutions
with Long Beach Mayor Garcia, Los Angeles
Mayor Garcetti, Speaker Atkins, Assembly Majority
Whip Santiago and LA County Supervisor Solis.
State Treasurer John Chiang
talks with BizFed leaders.
Senator Hertzberg
debates state tax reform
with BizFed leaders.
3. ForceMultipliers
As a united federation, existing business
groups in LA County are able to more
effectively mobilize to advance a shared
agenda on local, regional, state and
national issues.
BizFed members are force multipliers who mobilize and empower
their communities to take action on policies and projects that
affect our economy.
BizFed
Amplifies the
Voice of Business.
2015 BizFed Chair MC Townsend brings the voice of
38 Black Chambers to our powerful, diverse network.
Long Beach Councilmember Uranga and
Signal Hill Mayor Forester collaborating
with our network of networks to empower
minority-owned businesses.
4. BizFed provides high-level access to key
policy makers, elected officials and thought
leaders. We engage influencers in substantive
dialogue, partner with them on developing
and implementing solutions and hold them
accountable for successful outcomes.
Governor Brown benefits from BizFed’s grassroots
network to pass major drought-fighting initiatives.
Lt. Governor Newsom enlists BizFed
leaders to help him change the government’s
role in economic development.
CA Assembly Speaker Rendon discusses
state energy and economic development
policies with BizFed members.
Senate President pro tem de Leon huddles with BizFed
leaders to tackle state infrastructure challenges.
Accessto Leaders
5. BizFed’s influence is powered by
the 24/7 intelligence-sharing of its
hundreds of members.
BizFed delivers fast-breaking, timely information that
equips business to quickly and collectively rally together
with important leaders at all levels of government.
BizFed Mobilizes Business.
ActionAlerts
BizFed turns out leaders in force
to strengthen Metro’s Long Range
Transportation Plan.
Action alerts drive BizFed members to
testify on LA County minimum wage plan.
6. BizFed members meet regularly with
elected officials at all levels ensuring our
members’ priorities are defining the issues
that our leaders tackle.
By leveraging our power in numbers, thoughtfully exploring all sides
of critical issues and taking action, our alliance is making a real
difference for business growth, job creation and economic vitality in
Southern California.
DefiningIssues
Discussing LA’s transportation future
with labor and environmental leaders.
Introducing new Metro
CEO Phil Washington to
BizFed members.
8. BizFed’s diverse power in numbers is working.
Organizing together, we have achieved
unprecedented wins for LA County business in
every industry and every level of government.
OurVoiceis Heard
BizFed’s tireless efforts won the business
community a long-sought seat at the table at the
South Coast Air Quality Management District.
BizFed members testify at Long Beach
Economic Development Commission hearing.
Employers unite to harness $15 million to put
6,000 interns to work in LA.
BizFed rallies energy sector workers
to protect Southern California jobs.
9. BizFed’s mission is to organize,
educate and mobilize business leaders
to be catalysts for a stronger economy
in LA County.
We do this by seeking out and amplifying the voices of
existing diverse business organizations.
Our
Mission
BizFed launches in 2008.
2016 BizFed
Chair Gilbert
Ivey challenges
members to stand
up and be heard.
BizFed leaders
mobilize around health,
education and energy.
10. Advocacy
Achievements
LA County Small Business Initiative and Economic
Development Programs. Worked with LA County Board of
Supervisors to begin process to develop new countywide programs to
streamline permitting, cut red tape, reduce costs for small businesses
and to create new $15 million County Economic Development Trust
Fund to grow jobs.
Protected Access to Affordable Fuel. Successfully mobilized our
massive, diverse grassroots alliance to demonstrate to state lawmakers
the harm to small businesses and minority communities of forcing a
50% reduction in vehicle fuels by 2030, resulting in removal of this
untenable mandate from SB 350.
Legislative Victories to Support Employers. Educated state
legislators on the unintended consequences of proposed labor bills.
Our efforts stopped AB 853, which would have created dangerous
roadblocks for utilities contractors, and AB 357, which would have
created an unworkable state mandate on work schedules.
Expanded Business and Economic Voices in Air Quality Rule-
Making. Our assertive engagement with South Coast Air Quality
Management District leaders—including securing new pro-business
members of their Governing Board—won business a seat at the table
to help steer new rules that balance the economy and the environment.
NextUp Business Forums Tackled Critical Cap and Trade
and Drought Issues. BizFed’s
educational complement, BizFed
Institute, brought together hundreds of
business and community leaders with
diverse experts and elected officials in
two major forums to build consensus
and drive action on critical topics like
Cap and Trade and the Drought.
2015
Collaborating with Supervisor Solis
on the Small Business Initiative.
11. Energy and Environment
• Stopping abuses of California Environmental Quality Act
• Protecting energy sector jobs by improving market-based NOx
emissions reduction program
• Supporting innovative Cadiz water project to rescue drinking water
from desert evaporation
• Shaping 2016 Air Quality Management Plan
• Fighting for Bay Delta Water System for California
• Opposing local “whack-a-mole” energy extraction moratoriums
Transportation
• Supporting $305 billion federal highway bill
• Shaping Metro transportation funding ballot measure for 2016
• Defeating proposed $2.4 billion 2013 Congestion Mitigation Fee
• Supporting Express Lanes to ease gridlock
• Supporting LA City Mobility Plan Vehicle Enhanced Network
Land Use/Development
• Negotiating business community consensus on short-term rentals
• Winning approval of first LEED Platinum high-rise office building in LA
• Supporting Yusen Terminals Improvement Project for greater goods
movement/cargo capacity
• Securing LA County General Plan Fiscal Impacts Analysis
• Opposing LA City Anti-Development Initiative
Educating business leaders and local
elected officials about California’s
Cap and Trade program.
BizFed mobilized to address Port labor strike, meeting
in San Pedro to discuss rebound of goods movement.
More Advocacy Achievements
12. Taxes and Fees
• Opposing Split Roll Taxation
• Promoting accountability and transparency in state budget
• Reducing LA City Gross Receipts Tax by $45 million while working to
phase out entirely
• Defeating proposed $200 million LA County storm water parcel tax
• Defeating proposed $2.4 billion 2013 Congestion Mitigation Fee
• Blocking multiple attempted statewide sweetened beverage taxes
International Trade/Commerce
• Representing Southern California businesses on
President’s Export Council
• Supporting Trans Pacific Partnership to cut more
than 18,000 taxes on American-made products
• Winning reauthorization of US Export-Import Bank that
supported $27.7 billion in trade and 160,000 jobs in 2014
• Supporting Southern California International Gateway
project to create up to 22,000 new jobs
• Planning Vietnam trade development mission for 2016
• Supporting modernization of Los Angeles International
Airport to create 4,000 new jobs and world-class airport
Responsible Governance
• Working to shape local “whack-a-mole” minimum wage
ordinances to protect jobs
• Working to reform Public Pension systems to ensure fiscal solvency
• Supporting Medi-Cal Funding and Accountability Act to ensure fair
share of Medicare funding from Washington
More Advocacy Achievements
Assembly Banking and Finance Chair Dababneh
leads discussion on modernizing CA’s labor laws.
LA County Supervisor Antonovich connects
with BizFed leaders about land use issues.
13. • Supporting SB 272 that
strengthened open data
rules to improve government
transparency and accountability
• Supporting Los Angeles Air
Force Base to prevent closure of
only active-duty military base in LA County
• Persuading state legislators to bring new accountability to state
regulatory agencies
Regulatory Reform
• Supporting LA County Small Business Initiative to reduce costs
and red tape for small businesses
• Securing more school choice for military families
• Protecting pre-dispute employment arbitration agreements
• Opposing costly and duplicative local Clean Up—Green Up
regulations targeting small businesses
• Working to ensure LA County wage enforcement rules are fair for
employers
Tourism/Entertainment
• Expanding Film and TV Production Tax Credit to stop runaway
production and keep jobs in California
• Supporting $700 million Paramount Pictures development and
12,000 new jobs
• Supporting $1.6 billion NBCUniversal development
• Supporting $1 billion Wilshire Grand Hotel redevelopment
• Stopping costly music piracy
Workforce Development
• Helping LA Community Colleges secure $15 million Career
Pathways grant—partnering to implement grant in 2016
• Creating regional partnerships between employers and workforce
development institutions
• Supporting LA County as a Federal Manufacturing Hub
14. 2016 Officers
David Fleming
Founding Chair
Latham Watkins
Mark Grisby
Operations/Treasurer
Imprenta
Communications
Javier Angulo
The Ambassadors
Walmart
Tracy Rafter
Founding CEO
BizFed
Paul Little
Operations/Treasurer
Pasadena Chamber
Mark Wilbur
The Ambassadors
Employers Group
Gil Ivey
Chair
Former CAO, Metropolitan
Water District
Charles Gale
Secretary
South Bay Association
of Chambers
Mike Lewis
Chair-Elect
Construction Industry
Air Water Quality
Coalitions
Joe Ahn
Advocacy Committee
Northrop Grumman
Lou Baglietto
Advocacy Committee
Harbor City/Harbor
Gateway Chamber
Susan Sifuentes-
Trigueros
Advocacy Committee
Southern California
Gas Company
Laura Yamanaka
Advocacy Committee
National Association
of Women Business
Owners
David Grannis
The Ambassadors
Point C, LLC
Larry Kosmont
Advisory Council
Kosmont Companies
Steve Samuelian
Advisory Council
California Consulting
Zanku Armenian
Advisory Council
Southern California
Edison
Steve Bullock
Advisory Council
Cerrell Associates/
Glendale Chamber
Joe Hower
Energy Environment
Committee
Ramboll Environ
MC Townsend
Immediate Past Chair
Regional Black
Chamber of Commerce
San Fernando Valley
15. Frances Keeler
Energy Environment
Committee
FuturePorts
Jennifer Kurrie
Health Care Committee
Walgreens
Emily Roberts
International Trade
Committee
Council on Filipino Trade
and Foreign Investment
Richard Montgomery
Land Use Committee
Lamar Advertising
Fran Inman
Responsible
Governance Committee
Majestic Realty
Brissa Sotelo-Vargas
Energy Environment
Committee
Tesoro Refining and
Marketing
Tom Burr
International Trade
Committee
Union Bank
Chip Ahlswede
Land Use Committee
Arcadia Association
of Realtors
Ron Hasse
Polling Committee
Los Angeles News
Group
Ilse Metchek
Responsible
Governance Committee
CA Fashion Association
Lupe Valdez
Energy Environment
Committee
Union Pacific
Ken Duong
International Trade
Committee
Vietnamese
American Chamber
Ray Jan
Polling Committee
Rosemead Chamber
Donna Duperron
Health Care Committee
Torrance Area Chamber
Weston Labar
International Trade
Committee
Harbor Trucking
Association
Sam Freshman
Land Use Committee
Standard Management
Sandy Sanchez
Polling Committee
Newhall Land
Laura Olhasso
Nominating Committee
Burbank/Glendale
Association of Realtors
Will Wright
Responsible
Governance Committee
American Institute of
Architects – LA
Rudy Espinoza
Small Business/Diversity
Committee
Leadership for Urban
Renewal Network
16. Kish Rajan
Technology/Innovation
Committee
CalInnovates
Art Yoon
Tourism/Entertainment
Committee
FilmLA
Doane Liu
Transportation
Committee
Port of Los Angeles
Frank Garcia
Small Business/Diversity
Committee
Comerica Bank
Fred Abdelnour
Transportation
Committee
Enterprise Holdings
Hilary Norton
Transportation
Committee
Fixing Angelenos Stuck
in Traffic (FAST)
Elias Cortez
Technology/Innovation
Committee
San Gabriel Valley
Civic Alliance
Nicole Shahenian
Tourism/Entertainment
Committee
Hollywood Chamber
Patty Cortez
Water Committee
Upper San Gabriel
Valley Municipal
Water District
Robb Korinke
Technology/Innovation
Committee
GrassrootsLab
Mary Valencia
Tourism/Entertainment
Committee
Outfront Media
2016 Officers
State Controller Yee seeks input on pending
tax proposals from BizFed members.
Organizing BizFed’s Export Development Mission to
Southeast Asia with our LA-based experts.
Giovanna Brasfield
Small Business/Diversity
Committee
Hensel Phelps
17. Joni Topper
Workforce Development
Committee
JP Morgan Chase
Richard Verches
Workforce Development
Committee
LA County Workforce
Development Board
Holly Schroeder
Workforce Development
Committee
Santa Clarita Valley
Economic Development
Corporation
Maria Mehranian
Water Committee
Cordoba Corporation
BizFed CEO and EVP educate Governor Brown and key
state officials at critical decision-making junctures.
LA Councilman Englander collaborates with
business leaders to keep our streets safe.
Charley Wilson
Water Committee
Southern California
Water Committee
LA Mayor Garcetti engages with BizFed and
media leaders to encourage civic dialogue.
LA City Councilman
Buscaino championing
logistics jobs with
BizFed leaders.
18. 2015 Former Officers
Joe Ahn
Energy/Environment
Committee Co-Vice Chair
Northrop Grumman
Joe Hower
Energy/Environment
Committee Co-Vice Chair
Ramboll Environ
Chris Shimoda
Energy/Environment
Committee Co-Vice Chair
California Trucking
Association
Randal Hernandez
Advisory Council
Co-Vice Chair
Union Bank
Steve Samuelian
Advisory Council
Co-Vice Chair
California Consulting
Susan Sifuentes
Trigueros
Advisory Council
Co-Vice Chair
Southern California
Gas Company
Hilary Norton
Nominating Committee
Vice Chair
Fixing Angelenos Stuck
in Traffic (FAST)
Zanku Armenian
Advisory Council
Co-Vice Chair
Southern California
Edison
Mark Wilbur
Secretary
Employers Group
David Grannis
The Ambassadors
Point C, LLC
Laura Olhasso
The Ambassadors
Pasadena-Foothills
Association of
Realtors
MC Townsend
Chair
Regional Black
Chamber of Commerce
San Fernando Valley
Larry Kosmont
Advocacy Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Kosmont Companies
Paul Little
Operations Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Pasadena Chamber of
Commerce
Don St. Clair
Immediate Past Chair
Valley Economic
Development Center/
Woodbury University
Fran Inman
Advocacy Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Majestic Realty
Gil Ivey
Chair-Elect
Former CAO,
Metropolitan Water
District
Brissa Sotelo-Vargas
Advocacy Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Tesoro Refining and
Marketing
Steve Bullock
Advocacy Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Glendale Chamber of
Commerce/Cerrell Associates
Ron Adams
Operations Committee
Co-Vice Chair
West Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce
19. Jaime Garcia
Health Care Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Hospital Association of
Southern California
Michael Camuñez
International Trade
Committee Co-Vice Chair
ManattJones Global
Strategies
Brad Jensen
Polling Research
Committee Co-Vice Chair
San Gabriel Valley
Economic Partnership
Jennifer Kurrie
Health Care Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Walgreen Co.
Lou Baglietto
Land Use/Development/
Housing Committee Co-Vice
Chair
Harbor City/Harbor Gateway
Chamber of Commerce
Chip Ahlswede
Land Use Development/
Housing Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Arcadia Association of Realtors
Holly Schroeder
Land Use/Development/
Housing Committee Co-Vice
Chair
Santa Clarita Valley Economic
Development Corp.
Cynthia Ruiz
International Trade
Committee Co-Vice
Chair
Port of Los Angeles
Kristine Guerrero
Polling Research
Committee Co-Vice Chair
League of California Cities
LA County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair
Ridley-Thomas brainstorms with BizFed on
affordable housing and transportation strategies.
CA Assembly Appropriations Chair and Transportation
Special Session Chair Gomez educates business on the
nuances of lawmaking in Sacramento.
Supervisor Knabe celebrates newly elected
Torrance Councilman Goodrich and Manhattan
Beach Councilwoman Howorth at BizFed’s
Annual Freshman Rush Party.
20. Hasan Ikhrata
Workforce Development
Committee Co-Vice Chair
Southern California
Association of Governments
John Kelsall
Chair
Greater Lakewood
Chamber of Commerce
David Fleming
Founding Chair
Latham Watkins
Theresa Martinez
Business Diversity
Committee Co-Vice Chair
Los Angeles Latino
Chamber of Commerce
Fatma Yuceler
Tourism Entertainment
Committee Co-Vice Chair
Turkish Airlines
Roger Torneden
Workforce Development
Committee Co-Vice Chair
UCLA Extension
Mark Wilbur
Chair
Employers Group
Sandy Sanchez
Polling Research
Committee Co-Vice
Chair
Newhall Land
Christina Davis
Technology Innovation
Committee Co-Vice Chair
LAX Coastal Area Chamber
of Commerce
Jim Thomas
Transportation Committee
Co-Vice Chair
Thomas Properties/Fixing
Angelenos Stuck in Traffic (FAST)
LaDonna DiCamillo
Chair
Long Beach Area
Chamber/BNSF Railway
Company
Thomas Flintoft
Chair
LAX Coastal Area
Chamber of Commerce
Frank Garcia
Business Diversity
Committee Co-Vice
Chair
Comerica
Francesca Vega
Technology Innovation
Committee Co-Vice Chair
California State University,
Northridge
Will Wright
Transportation
Committee Co-Vice Chair
American Institite of
Architects – LA
Don St. Clair
Chair
Valley Economic
Development Center/
Woodbury University
Holly Schroeder
Workforce Development
Committee
Santa Clarita Valley
Economic Development
Corporation
Virginia Gomez
Business Diversity
Committee Co-Vice Chair
Southern California
Minority Supplier
Development Council
Leron Gubler
Tourism Entertainment
Committee Co-Vice Chair
Hollywood Chamber of
Commerce
Chito Cajayon
Workforce Development
Committee Co-Vice Chair
Los Angeles Community
College District
20142010
20122008
20132009
2011 2015 Former Officers
21. Get the power and protection of the largest and most diverse alliance
of business groups in California—join BizFed today!
BizFed members keep each other informed and have each others’ backs. Together, we
shape policy to create a robust and job-creating economy in LA County. Visit bizfed.org
for more information or contact Elizabeth Shapiro at 310.401.4549 or 213.346.3282.
US Senator Feinstein discusses water and
national security policy affecting LA.
BizFed members are sought-after speakers in
planning for our region’s future.
BizFed is a frequent media commentator on
issues affecting business.
County Supervisor Antonovich digs into
BizFed’s Annual Poll Results.
Take
Action.
JoinBizFed
22. As a massive grassroots network of
business networks, BizFed unites
top business associations with
premier companies, public agencies
and educational institutions across
the nation’s largest county. BizFed
educates, engages and mobilizes
business, aligning both large and small
in a powerful voice advancing a shared
agenda for economic vitality. For more
information, visit www.bizfed.org.
BizFed’s Political Action Committee
is the only PAC that directs their
resources and contributions in all
88 municipal elections in LA County
and at the County level. As a PAC
of business focused PACs, we have
had unprecedented success electing
public officials focused on building
a business-friendly region. For more
information, visit www.bizfedpac.org.
The BizFed Institute, a sponsored
project of Community Partners, is
the educational and research arm
of BizFed. Bringing together diverse
civically minded business, academic,
labor and environmental leaders, the
Institute looks for common ground and
hard facts to help solve some of the
most pressing issues facing California
communities. For more information visit
www.bizfedinstitute.org.
23. With more than 155 business organizations
representing 275,000 employers with 3 million
employees throughout LA County, BizFed
is a massive, diverse grassroots alliance
that advocates for policies and projects that
strengthen our regional economy.
BizFed Unites the Voice of Business.
Powerin Numbers
Advocating for statewide transportation solutions
with Long Beach Mayor Garcia, Los Angeles
Mayor Garcetti, Speaker Atkins, Assembly Majority
Whip Santiago and LA County Supervisor Solis.
State Treasurer John Chiang
talks with BizFed leaders.
Senator Hertzberg
debates state tax reform
with BizFed leaders.
24. 1000 N. Alameda St., Suite 240, Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.346.3282 bizfed.org | @bizfed | facebook.com/bizfed
We’re a
PROUD
MEMBER
