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April 2019 Highlights

Health Expo & Career Fair Recap

The Valley Economic Alliance and Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) hosted the 2019 Health Expo and Career Fair at LAVC's Student Union Plaza on Tuesday, April 23rd.

A special morning program kicked off the eventful day with remarks by Kenn Phillips, President and CEO of The Valley Economic Alliance, Denise F. Noldon, I nterim President of LAVC and Dr. Douglas Marriott, Dean of Adult/Community Education and Workforce Development at LAVC.

The Health Expo promoted good nutrition, healthy eating and adopting an active lifestyle and offered free onsite health screenings such as blood pressure, BMI and HIV. Premier health providers and wellness based businesses were onsite offering resources, services, products, samples and giveaways. Exhibitors included AIDS Healthcare Foundation, American Red Cross, City of Hope, Tarzana Treatment Center, Hello Fresh, DaVita, Arbonne and many more.

"We really enjoyed being at the event and were able to screen 54 participants," said Kelly Santen, Senior Manager of Business Transformation, DaVita.

The Career Fair offered attendees and Valley College students the opportunity to meet and network with employers and explore a variety of career paths and industries including H&M, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Sears Operation Center, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and many more.

Event sponsors were Maximus and Daily News.

Visit www.facebook.com/HECF2019 ti view photo album.

Cancer, Asthma and ADA Innovations at Fourth HealthX on April 26th

The Valley Economic Alliance (TVEA) held its fourth annual HealthX on Friday, April 26th; a TEDx talk-style conference that featured talks by top doctors and industry leaders from Adventist Health Glendale, Cedars-Sinai and MemorialCare sharing advances in health and wellness at Adventist Health Glendale.

Kenn Phillips, President and CEO of TVEA, Randy Witt, Chairman of TVEA and Ramella Markarian, Event Mistress of Ceremonies and Vice President of Business Development of Adventist Health Glendale opening HealthX with special welcoming remarks by City of Glendale Mayor Pro-tem Vrej Agajanian and Alice Issai, President of Adventist Health Glendale.

Dr. Dennis R. Holmes , internationally-renowned breast surgeon and researcher specializing in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and non-cancerous breast conditions shared advances in breast cancer care that are changing the way we treat breast cancer today with a focus on cryoablation, targeted intraoperative radiotherapy and oncoplastic surgery.

Leading specialist in internal medicine, pediatrics, immunology, allergy medicine and pulmonology, Dr. Inderpal S. Randhawa withMemorialCare Miller Children's and Women's Hospital presented new developments in prevention and treatment of asthma including airways directed therapy, COPD and childhood asthma.

Dr. Yulian Khagi , hematologist and medical oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Valley Oncology Medical Center discussed the future of cancer immunotherapy and shared evolving technologies and therapies that harness the immune system to fight and one day cure cancer. Dr. Khagi discussed cancer vaccines, cell therapies and gene therapy.

Daryn Harpaz , CEO and Founder of ZenythGroup demonstrated how non-sighted users navigate websites using assistive technology, explained how to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for website accessibility and showed a video comparison of a compatible versus non-compatible website.

"The event was beautifully executed from start to finish. We were proud to participate and support, as [The Valley Economic Alliance] brings this valuable programming to the community," said Lauren O. Gallant, Community Outreach and Government Relations Manager with MemorialCare.

The event concluded with a moderated question and answer session with presenters and questions from attendees. Event sponsors were Adventist Health Glendale, MemorialCare and Cedars-Sinai.

"I really enjoyed HealthX, was impressed with the presentations and enjoyed speaking with other event participants," Cecilia Laiche, Communications Manager, Walden Family Services.

Visit www.facebook.com/HealthX2019 to view photo album.

In the News

Career, Health Fair Draws a Crowd to the Valley Glen Campus

By Daily News, Staff Reports

Health. Career...

The two came together at Los Angeles Valley College on Tuesday, April 23rd, as students and local residents basked in the spring sun while also looking for career possibilities, and receiving health screening.

The Health Expo & Career Fair, presented by The Valley Economic Alliance certainly drew a crowd, offering information on good nutrition, healthy eating and giving a go to an active lifestyle. There were also free, on-site health screenings for HIV, blood pressure and BMI, and health activities. All that in addition to career opportunities.

Photo caption: Long Tran checks the vital signs of fellow nursing student Sandra Bitar at the the Valley College Health Fair Tuesday, April 23, 2019. The free health fair featured a variety of health screenings all offered free of charge for students at the campus. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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In the News

HealthX Event Enjoys Its Fourth Year

By Amy Stulick, San Fernando Valley Business Journal

The Valley Economic Alliance hosted its fourth annual HealthX conference on April 26th, with roughly 90 members of the L.A.-area health care community in attendance at Adventist Health Glendale.

Topics, presented TED talk-style, included a glimpse into the future of cancer immunotherapy led by Dr. Yulian Khagi, Hematologist and Medical Oncologist for Cedars-Sinai; an update on asthma treatments with Dr. Inderpal Randhawa, Co-Chief and Program Director, MemorialCare Miller Children's and Women's Hospital in Long Beach; evolving standards of breast cancer surgery with Dr. Dennis Holmes, Breast Surgeon and Researcher, Adventist Health Glendale; and a dive into ADA compliance for websites with presenter Daryn Harpaz, Founder and Chief Executive of ZenythGroup, headquartered in Los Angeles.

Khagi and Holmes spoke about T-cell therapy and cryoablation, respectively, to treat cancer. Cryoablation is used to treat certain cases of breast cancer, which involves using liquid nitrogen to destroy tumors and avoid body-changing mastectomies.

In some cases of cryoablation, Holmes said, the immune system is activated and destroys the remainder of cancer cells, which is what cancer immunotherapy aims to do.

"Pretty much any human being with an intact immune system can benefit from it. Immunotherapy can be theoretically applied to any patient, any cancer, at any stage," added Khagi. "That's why I think it's worth potential. It's something that we can use in patients even with poor functional status, or even more advanced cancers."

The event's four presenters took questions at the end of the seminar, with topics ranging from smog and its effects on young people susceptible to asthma, to the fact that 95 percent of websites today are not ADA compliant.

"The lawsuits are specifically around non-sighted users, and that's counting for a majority of the percentage. We'll see a higher percentage as processes become a requirement," added Harpaz.

Sponsors for the event included Adventist Health Glendale, MemorialCare and Cedars-Sinai.

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TVEA Business Accelerator Program Alumni Recognized, Woman of Promise

The Valley Economic Alliance (TVEA) member, Comerica Bank honored Southern California women business and community leaders and recognized them at a Los Angeles Lakers Game on April 9th, at the Staples Center.

Comerica Bank closed it's Women's Business Awards program by recognizing March honorees including TVEA Business Accelerator Program Alumni and Owner of J Squared Communications, Jessica Joy Reveles, who was honored with the "Woman of Promise" Award.

"She is an incredible role model and an inspirational leader. In the last two years that I've worked with Jessica, I've seen her grow and develop her self confidence in business and as a mother. It's been my pleasure to watch her discover what is possible and to be there to test, acknowledge, create and challenge her to new heights," said Jeff Cohen, Director of TVEA Business Accelerator Program and Business Coach.

Other honorees were: Beatriz Gonzalez, Woman of Philanthropy and Courtney Smith, Woman of Entrepreneurship.

Out and About

TVEA member, Mission Valley Bank held a Cyber Crimes event at Angeles Golf Course on April 3rd.

Pictured are TVEA Board members from left; Brian Chu with EPIC Insurance Brokers, Marc Bartholomew of Integritechs, Detective Any Kleinick with Los Angeles Police Derpartment and Tamara Gurney, President of Mission Valley Bank.

The San Fernando Valley Business Journal held their 2019 Women's Council Awards on April 17th at Hilton Woodland Hills.

TVEA Boardmembers Paula Bahamon of Mission Valley Bank was recognized for Rising Star Award and Gloria Pollack of Gelp Group received the Not-for-Profit Award.

Pictured from left are; Angela Amirkhanian of TVEA, Omar Rahmat, TVEA Boardmember with Office Technology Partners and Kenn Phillips with TVEA.

Celebrating with three Los Angeles Pierce College Presidents.

From left; Current Interim President Larry Buckley, Former President Rocky Young and past President Tom Oliver with Kenn Phillips of TVEA. Each of these President have served on TVEA's Board.

New Horizons, a North Hills-based nonprofit whose mission is to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live independent lives, celebrated their 65th Anniversary on April 17th.

Pictured is Kenn Phillips from TVEA with John Brauer, CEO and President of New Horizons.

Los Angeles Valley College hosted an Open House for their Manufacturing and Technology Department on April 24th.

Attendees visited the newly renovated machine shop with over $250,000 in facilities and equipment improvements, as well as the master CAM, solid works computer lab, CNC, inspection and conventional machining lab.

LAHq hosted their 58th Annual Awards Luncheon on April 24th at The California Club.

Pictured is TVEA Boardmember Darnell Tyler from NBC Universal introducing the Community Award recipient; Leron Gubler with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

The City of Glendale, Beacon Properties and Service Titan co-hosted a press conference where Service Titan announced their expansion into the former Nestle Building (800 N. Brand), with future plans to take additional floors once Nestle has fully vacated.

VEDC Names Alex Guerrero as President

Alex Guerrero has been named the new President of small business lender Valley Economic Development Center. (VEDC)

Guerrero joined the Sherman Oaks non-profit almost five years ago, first as Chief Operating Officer and then as Chief Development Officer. His appointment was effective immediately after approval by the VEDC's Board of Directors.

In a letter to partners of the center, Chairman Scott Aney said that Guerrero's promotion was a natural one.

"Over the past five years, Alex has continued to assume broader responsibilities in the organization and has been instrumental in reshaping the organization's future with a renewed focus on serving small business efforts in Los Angeles County," Aney wrote.

Guerrero is the fourth person to occupy the President's post in less than three years.

He replaces Ray Valdama, who left last August after about a year in the position. Valdama replaced Quentin Strode, who stayed in the position for about four months. Strode had replaced Roberto Barragan, who had served as Chief Executive for 17 years and left in October 2016.

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