L.A. BUSINESS THIS WEEK
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Weekly Newsletter
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Chamber's Bixel Exchange leads discussion on the future of virtual and augmented reality
Last week, more than 300 people attended Bixel Exchange's Tech Salon to discuss the future of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Attendees heard how AR and VR are shaping Los Angeles' booming tech industry in a variety of applications, from media and entertainment to health care and education, and experienced the technology for themselves at demo tables. Speakers included Travis Cook, head of post production at RYOT, Joe Burg, director of virtual reality and content development at Sony Pictures, and Mark Dochtermann, engineering manager at Google. SEE THE PHOTOS and the VIDEO.
You can learn more about the Chamber's upcoming tech events here, or stay in touch by following Bixel Exchange on Twitter.
BOTTOM LINE: Bixel Exchange explores the future of AR and VR with L.A.'s tech community at latest Tech Salon.
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Southern California Logistics & Supply Chain Summit features UPS and Amazon leadership
On Thursday, 300 business and government leaders attended the Southern California Logistics and Supply Chain Summit, sponsored by the Chamber and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership. Keynote speakers were UPS Chief Information Officer Juan Perez and Amazon Regional Director of Operations Kelvin Downes. Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments, was presented with the Peter Drucker Award for Excellence in Supply Chain & Logistics Management. LEARN MORE.
Chamber withdraws opposition to AB199 after amendments to bill
Earlier this year, the Chamber joined partners in opposition to AB 199 (Chu). Originally, this bill eliminated the residential construction exemption from prevailing wage for nearly all housing projects in California, which would exacerbate our housing crisis. The author recently made amendments to the bill, eliminating the residential exemption, while still serving the sponsor's intent of ensuring projects that have been approved by a redevelopment agency continue to pay prevailing wage. These changes satisfy the Chamber and our partners, thus we withdrew our opposition to the bill.
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Celebrate the spirit that powers the L.A. economy
In California, more than half of our private sector jobs are employed by the State's 3.5 million small businesses. Join the Chamber on May 17 for the 2017 Small Business Awards as we shine a spotlight on these business owners and celebrate the people working everyday to ensure their success. RSVP NOW.
BOTTOM LINE: Attend the 2017 Small Business Awards on May 17 and celebrate the economic power and spirit of the 3.5 million small businesses in California.
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A taste for creating equal opportunity pathways
April is Second Chance Month to bring awareness to the need to remove legal and societal barriers that prevent individuals with a criminal record from becoming productive members of society. The Chamber highlights the Coca-Cola Company, a member that "recognizes the importance of ensuring that every member of our community has an equal and fair chance at economic opportunity, including individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system." The Coca-cola Company recently sent a letter of support for a Chamber Foundation Smart Justice grant application, which would fund our work to provide support and technical assistance to chambers around the country interested in working with businesses to help the reentry population get back to work. The Chamber Foundation was awarded a grant of $500,000. Now that's refreshing! LEARN MORE.
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SCLN 30-in-30: Donella Wilson
We are proud to honor Donella Wilson as one of Southern California Leadership Network's 30-in-30, a campaign to celebrate SCLN's 30th anniversary by honoring 30 outstanding SCLN alumni throughout 2017. Donella has shown that being a true community leader is more than just a title. She is an audit partner at Green Hasson Janks, leading the firm's nonprofit practice, however, her leadership responsibilities do not end there. She also serves as the Board President of the Downtown Women's Center, a nonprofit organization committed to ending homelessness for women. For Donella, "Leadership is about engaging and empowering others to achieve their full potential as they work towards a shared goal." Thank you to our 30th anniversary sponsors: Southern California Gas Company and Walmart. To learn how you can support SCLN's 30th anniversary celebrations, contact Nancy Olson.
BOTTOM LINE: READ MORE about Donella Wilson's personal leadership journey -- and check back each week as we reveal the next SCLN 30-in-30 honoree!
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Former World Trade Week Chair appointed as Port of Long Beach Executive Director
International maritime industry leader Mario Cordero was named as executive director of the Port of Long Beach last week. Cordero is a recipient of the Chamber's Stanley T. Olafson Bronze Plaque Award and served as chair of World Trade Week in 2010. He has served on the Federal Maritime Commission since 2011 and just completed a four-year term as chairman; he previously served nearly a decade as a Long Beach Harbor Commissioner and was president from 2007 to 2008. SEE THE RELEASE.
BOTTOM LINE: Chamber's current and former members play an integral role in the regional international business community.
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Chamber-supported higher education partnership wins prestigious award
The Chamber and its affiliate, UNITE-LA, commend our higher education partners who received $1 million through the Governor's 2017 Awards for Innovation in Higher Education. One of 14 awards issued statewide, this award will help launch the L.A. Reverse Transfer initiative among three Los Angeles Community College District campuses in the San Fernando Valley and California State University, Northridge. Reverse transfer enables students who have left the higher education system without a bachelor's degree to apply their coursework to a partnering community college in order to receive an associate degree. The idea for the L.A. Reverse Transfer Pilot was first explored in a working group of the L.A. Compact that focuses on improving postsecondary student success. READ MORE.
BOTTOM LINE: A recent higher education award, which will launch the L.A. Reverse Transfer Initiative, echoes the L.A. Compact's ethos of regional collaboration for student success.
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The Los Angeles Regional Export Council (LARExC) is pleased to have played an important role in the opening of the Guangdong Economic and Trade office in L.A. LARExC and Guangdong Provincial representatives met in China in late 2016 to discuss the plans to formally open this commercial representation. On April 17, Yuan Baochen, vice governor of People's Government of Guangdong Province, officially made the announcement at a formal ceremony in L.A. accompanied by a trade delegation of 43 Chinese business executives. LARExC is an affiliate program of the Chamber.
BOTTOM LINE: LARExC continues to promote global trade and Investment in the L.A. Region.
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The Action |
Chamber's Bixel Exchange leads discussion on the future of virtual and
augmented reality
Policy This Week |
Southern California Logistics & Supply Chain Summit features UPS and Amazon leadership
Chamber withdraws opposition to AB199 after amendments to bill
Celebrate the spirit that powers the L.A. economy
The Member |
A taste for creating equal opportunity pathways
SCLN 30-in-30: Donella Wilson
Former World Trade Week Chair appointed as Port of Long Beach Executive Director
Chamber-supported higher education partnership wins prestigious award
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CHAMBER
CALENDAR
Tuesday, May 2
Thursday, May 4
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