Drones, recycled water, social media, live polling, compact scooter and more...the first ever Executive Forecast was a huge success. With more than 150 attendees and elected officials including Mayor of Calabasas David Shapiro and City of Burbank Councilmember Emily Gabel-Luddy, the morning was filled with innovative technology, interactive surveys and tools to stimulate productivity and growth.

The Los Angeles Daily News positively reviewed the executive forecast in their Sunday, January 24-25 issue and reported that Kenn Phillips, TVEA president and CEO, was pleased with this initial endeavor. "All of the customer surveys that came in gave us high marks," he said. "The thing they liked the best was the ability to learn about the different types of technology and innovation and the cross talk between the industries." Full article below.

Sponsors included Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Chase Bank, Time Warner Cable, Hilton Woodland Hills, Metro, Datastream, Van Nuys-Los Angeles World Airports, and Fresh Potato Factory. Media Sponsors included AGF Media Services, Randy Witt Productions, The San Fernando Valley Sun, Community Connection and Daily News.

Visit www.thevalley.net/news/executive-forecast-january-2015 to see more photos from the event.

On Thursday, January 22, 2015, The Valley Economic Alliance hosted a Grand Reopening after their remodel during the Holidays. The ribbon cutting took place after the Board of Directors Meeting. Ron Galperin, Los Angeles City Controller was in attendance and spoke on encouraging businesses to locally bid for Request for Proposals (RFP) through the City of Los Angeles. 

1. Eat breakfast every day.  Front-loading your calories curbs your hunger and prevents over-eating later in the day.  

2. Go nuts.  Nuts are packed with heart-healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. Just make sure you stick with just a handful per serving.

3. Eat the rainbow.  Focus on picking a rainbow of different colors of fruits and vegetables, from dark leafy greens to bright citrus fruits - each of the colors usually represents different nutrients.

4. Say no to sugar.  Focus on eating lean protein and healthy fats instead of refined carbs.

5. Drink water.  Stop drinking your calories.  Those sodas, juices, and gourmet coffee lattes can quickly add up to 1-2 extra pounds per week.

6. Keep track.  Keeping a food diary, or using an app like MyFitnessPal, can be eye-opening as to how quickly those calories can add up in a day.

7. Build muscle.  Strength-training revs your metabolism, so you burn more calories at rest.  

8. Add intensity.  If you want to blast calories, intensity is key.  High-intensity interval training is a super-fast and very effective way to work out. You can do this easily with a brisk hike or run with your kids.

9. Find a buddy or join a group.  A workout partner keeps you accountable and motivated on those days you just don't feel like getting to the gym.  Children, husbands and pets all make great workout buddies. Dr. Angeline Ong's weekly "Walk with a Doc" program meets every Wednesday at the Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center and is open to the community.

10. Get a good night's sleep.  Sleep reduces stress, improves your memory, and helps control body weight issues.  Aim for 7-8 hours per night.

And most importantly, make healthy living a part of your everyday life - not just a resolution you will forget about in a month or two.

For more healthy tips, recipes and information, please visit https://foodforhealth.kaiserpermanente.org/