2015 Recap 

2015 marked the inaugural year of the Select LA Investment Summit. Spearheaded by WTCLA Chair Steve Olson, WTCLA President Stephen Cheung and the LAEDC, the 2015 Summit was the first step in a lengthy commitment by local government, organizations and businesses to make LA the top destination for FDI. In fact, the 2015 Select LA Summit was the first of its kind to be devoted solely on promoting FDI in Southern California. Three informative plenary and two breakout sessions drove the Summit’s educational aspect covering topics from CEO Perspectives to LA’s Talent Advantage to Manufacturing. The lengthy list of notable speakers included Assistant Secretary for Global Markets at Department of Commerce Arun Kumar, LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.

 

 

Agenda

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

5:30-8:30pm Universal Studios

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015

8-9 am Welcome Remarks - Local Elected Officials and Ambassadors

9-10:15 am Plenary Session 1: Why Los Angeles: CEO Perspectives on Investing and Operating in the LA Area

10:30-11:45am Breakout Sessions

  • Session 1: Real Estate Panel

  • Session 2: Manufacturing Panel

11:45-1pm Luncheon Keynote Speaker - Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

1-2pm Plenary Session 2: LA's Position at the Intersection of Entertainment and Technology

2-2:20pm Speaker: Arun Kumar, Assistant Secretary for Global Markets - United States Department of Commerce

2:30-3:20pm Breakout Sessions

  • Session 3: Matchmaking Meetings

  • Session 4: Special Interest Roundtables

3:20-4:25pm Plenary Session 3: LA's Talent Advantage: A Higher Education Panel with University Leaders

4:25-4:30pm Conference Closing Remarks

4:30-5:30pm Networking Reception

 

 

Speakers

Master of Ceremonies

 
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William C. "Bill" Allen

CEO
LAEDC

 
 

 

Opening Remarks

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Michael D. Anthonovich

Mayor
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

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R. Rex Parris

Mayor
City of Lancaster

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Curren D. Price jr.

Council Member
City of Los Angeles

 

 

Why Los Angeles: CEO Perspectives

Partner at O’Melveny & Myers Steve Olson led the discussion among CEOs in banking, architecture, utilities and start-ups. They discussed what the business landscape is like in LA and pinpointed the various strengths and incentives surrounding investing and operating in the greater LA region.

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Steve Olson

moderator

Partner
O'Melveny & Myers LLP

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Chance Barnett

PANELIST

CEO
Crowdfunder

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Theodore F. Craver, JR.

PANELIST

CEO
Edison International

 

 
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Russell Goldsmith

PANELIST

CEO
City National Bank

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Chris Martin

PANELIST

CEO
AC Martin

 
 
 

 

Real Estate

CBRE Southern California President Lewis Horne moderated this breakout session. The session showcased executives involved in the LA real estate industry and highlighted the industry’s vaunted status across all asset classes among international investors.

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Lewis C. Horne

MODERATOR

President
CBRE Southern California

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Raymond S. Chan, C.E.,S.E.

PANELIST

General Manager
LA Dept. of Building and Safety

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I Fei Chang

PANELIST

President
Greenland USA

 

 
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Noor Menai

PANELIST

President and CEO
CTBC Bank

 
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Nadine Watt

PANELIST

President
Watt Companies

 
 
 

 

Manufacturing

WTCLA President Stephen Cheung led this breakout discussion panel which covered LA’s extensive manufacturing industry and provided insights into supply chain logistics across myriad verticals such as food and beverage, apparel and pharmaceuticals. Each companies’ unique journey to success was relayed to the audience.

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Stephen Cheung

MODERATOR

President
WTCLA

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Steven Dai

PANELIST

CEO
IVC

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Lynne Koplin

PANELIST

President
J Brand Jeans

 

 
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Stella Li

PANELIST

President
BYD Motors

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Willie Zuniga

PANELIST

President
Grifols Biologicals

 
 

 

Keynote

 
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Mayor Eric Garcetti

Mayor
City of Los Angeles

 
 

 

LA's Position at the Intersection of Entertainment and Technology

Deputy Chief of Staff for Los Angeles Mayor Richard Jacobs led the discussion among leading executives about how LA is uniquely defining the evolving intersection between entertainment and technology.

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Richard D. Jacobs

MODERATOR

Deputy Chief of Staff for
Los Angeles Mayor

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Malik Ducard

PANELIST

Global Head of Family and Learning
YouTube

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Larry Kursweil

PANELIST

President & COO
Universal Studios Hollywood

 

 
 
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Peter Rice

PANELIST

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Fox Networks Group

 
 

 

Featured Speaker

 
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Arun Kumar

Assistant Secretary for Global Markets
Dept. of Commerce

 
 

 

LA' Talent Advantage - Higher Education

LAEDC CEO Bill Allen moderated an in-depth dialogue between university heads throughout the LA region. The panel focused on how LA is a leading hub for college graduates that help spur local innovation. It also touched on the necessity to retain local talent upon completion of academic studies.

Erika Endrijonas

MODERATOR

President
LA Valley College

Fred Farina

PANELIST

CIO
California Institute of Technology

Dianne Harrison

PANELIST

President
Cal State Northridge

 

 

Edward Leamer

PANELIST

Director
UCLA Anderson Forecast

Quingyun Ma

PANELIST

Dean
USC School of Architecture

 
 

 

Sponsors

The World Trade Center Los Angeles would like to recognize and thank Select LA’s 2015 sponsors, including Title sponsor Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation; Lunch Sponsor International Vitamin Corporation; Premier Sponsor Los Angeles Business Council; Event Sponsors CBRE, MS&K and O’Melveny & Myers LLP.