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Serving the San Fernando Valley cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita
Valley Industry & Commerce Association || vica.com
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- VICA Hosts After Dark with Councilmember John Lee and LAPD Commander Elaine Morales
- VICA Hosts Consul General of India at International Trade Committee
- VICA Hosts LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan
- Watch Women in Extraordinary Leadership on Youtube
- Business Life Column: Advocating for Business Interests in Sacramento
- VICA is Hiring!
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"As you know, I'm a proponent of law enforcement, and my support for them has never wavered. I've fought against defunding four years ago, and I believe we need more police on our city streets. Thank you to the men and women for putting on that badge and uniform, and the team at Devonshire (PALS) works to provide a safe community ."
Councilmember John Lee
Statement at After Dark with Councilmember John Lee and LAPD Commander Elaine Morales
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VICA Hosts After Dark with Councilmember John Lee and LAPD Valley Commander Elaine Morales | |
From Left to Right: Ruben Zaragoza (Southwest Airlines), Arlen Valdivia (Motion Picture Association), Maricela Gomez (Jacobs), Francisco Uribe (The Home Depot), VICA Chairman Lupita Sanchez-Cornejo (AT&T), Councilmember John Lee, LAPD Commander Elaine Morales, Victor Berrellez (U.S. Bank), Barry Cohn (JorgensenHR), VICA President Stuart Waldman | |
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On Tuesday, LAPD Devonshire PALS and East Valley PALS hosted a VICA After Dark with Los Angeles Councilman John Lee and LAPD Valley Commander Elaine Morales, who discussed important subjects ranging from community safety and community engagement to keeping economic development at the forefront in the community.
The Councilman emphasized the necessity of robust funding for law enforcement initiatives, mainly focusing on reducing juvenile arrests and crime within Council District 12. As one of the safest regions in Los Angeles, CD 12's low crime rates testify to the effectiveness of supporting and funding law enforcement.
Commander Morales shed light on law enforcement's challenges, including staffing shortages and community perceptions. She underscored the pivotal role of organizations like PALS in bridging connections between law enforcement and the community, fostering mutual understanding and support.
The event also highlighted innovative initiatives such as implementing surveillance technology to monitor vehicles involved in criminal activities, an effort to further enhance safety measures within CD 12.
We thank our event presenting sponsors, LAPD Devonshire PALS, East Valley PALS, and Anheuser-Busch, whose support made this important dialogue possible.
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VICA Chairman Lupita Sanchez Cornejo (AT&T) and Nancy Hoffmeister (PALS Youth Center) | |
VICA President Stuart Waldman and Councilman John Lee | |
LAPD Valley Commander Elaine Morales | |
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VICA Hosts Consul General of India, Dr. K. Srikar Reddy | |
Left to Right: International Trade Committee Chair Jeffery Daar (Daar & Newman), Consul General of India Dr. Srikar K. Reddy, and Gunjan Bagla (Amritt, Inc.) | |
On Tuesday, VICA hosted Dr. K. Srikar Reddy, Consul General of India, who provided our members with an in-depth presentation on India's economic growth, innovative reforms, and expansive opportunities for international cooperation.
Dr. Reddy discussed India's impressive infrastructure plans, such as constructing the largest rail network in Asia and achieving a fourfold increase in port capacity by 2047. He highlighted India's rise to the 5th largest global economy, supported by significant reforms including low corporate taxes and substantial incentives for domestic production. Reddy also emphasized India's technological advances, such as aiming for a $1 trillion digital economy by 2026 and significant sustainability and renewable energy achievements.
The discussion also covered India's strategic trade agreements and robust foreign direct investment growth, underscoring the strong bilateral trade and economic ties with the US, which foster substantial mutual benefits and opportunities for collaboration in sectors like AI and semiconductors.
The event fostered a vibrant discussion on the potential for enhanced trade relations and technological partnerships between India and the United States, especially in sectors like AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors.
VICA remains committed to facilitating meaningful exchanges that underscore international trade and the immense potential and mutual benefits of further collaborations.
|  | VICA Members with Consul General Dr. Srikar K. Reddy | |
VICA Hosts LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan | |
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On Wednesday, VICA’s Government Affairs committee hosted Dean C. Logan, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk of Los Angeles County, for a presentation on the county’s election systems. Logan explained that the publicly-owned voting system was developed to serve over 5.6 million registered voters, ensuring accessible voting options for a diverse electorate.
During the presentation, Logan focused on the Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP) model, which provides various voting methods, including in-person voting at Vote Centers, mail voting, and secure ballot drop boxes. This model is designed to ensure accessibility, security, and efficiency. Additionally, Logan detailed the features of the state-of-the-art ballot processing center, which has comprehensive security measures, including continuous cybersecurity and physical monitoring.
The event offered a forum for discussing the latest advancements in election technology and administrative strategies to maintain transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
VICA is committed to facilitating discussions that inform and engage the business community on critical civic innovations.
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Left to Right: Jeff McConnell (EKA), Francisco Uribe (The Home Depot), Lupita Sanchez Cornejo (AT&T), LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan, and David Gershwin (David Gershwin Consulting) | |
Watch VICA's 2024 Extraordinary Women in Leadership Breakfast | |
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We’re excited to announce that the 2024 Extraordinary Women in Leadership event is now available for viewing on YouTube. This event showcased inspiring stories and insightful discussions from some of the most influential women in our community.
Whether you missed the live event or want to revisit the robust conversations, you can now watch the entire session at your convenience. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and inspiration from leaders paving the way in their respective fields. Watch it now on YouTube!
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Business Life Column: Advocating for Business Interests in Sacramento | |
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As the legislative session kicks off, the corridors of Sacramento are abuzz with the introduction of over 2100 bills, each vying for attention and consideration. Among this bureaucratic avalanche, we find ourselves amidst discussions on critical issues impacting our communities and industries, including housing, homelessness, crime and public safety, artificial intelligence, and of course, our perennial favorite in the business community - labor.
Here at VICA, we're vigilantly monitoring the legislative landscape, advocating for policies that promote economic growth, innovation, and fairness for businesses across the region.
To read the entire column, click the link below.
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VICA Congressional Officeholders Breakfast
Thursday, May 30
8:30 to 10:30 AM
Burbank Airport Mariott
This event is a unique and fun opportunity to directly engage elected officials from Washington D.C., who represent the San Fernando Valley in a "Talk Show" format.
VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsor Amazon and
Co-Sponsors The Garland and SoCalGas.
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Congressman Tony Cardenas | |
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove | |
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Transportation Committee
Tuesday, May 21
8:30 to 10:30 AM
Hosted by The Garland
RSVP
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VICA Thanks Our Renewing & New Members! | | |
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Renewing Members
Bronze Member
Members
New Members
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Dean Kirk
General Manager
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Porter Ranch Los Angeles
Dean was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He spent 23 years living in Raleigh, North Carolina, before relocating to Los Angeles, California, in April 2022.
With over 17 years of experience managing Hilton Brand hotels and a background in high-end food and beverage management spanning over two decades, Dean brings a wealth of expertise to his role.
Dean is spearheading the opening of his fourth Hilton Brand hotel, a 100-room Hampton Inn & Suites in Porter Ranch, scheduled to open in July 2024.
The upcoming hotel promises a delightful experience for guests. It features a variety of room options, including standard one-king and two-queen beds, as well as spacious King Studio Suites equipped with a wet bar containing a microwave and refrigerator.
During their stay, guests can enjoy a complimentary full hot breakfast buffet, along with access to a 24-hour fitness center and an outdoor, heated pool boasting stunning mountain views. The hotel is conveniently located near premier dining and shopping destinations and offers leisure and business travelers an ideal retreat.
The hotel provides 700 sq ft of event space equipped with the latest audiovisual amenities for those planning business meetings or special occasions.
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California in Jam for Borrowing Billions
California's massive budget deficit and relatively high joblessness have become a significant barrier to reducing the billions of dollars of debt it has incurred to pay unemployment benefits. The surge in unemployment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the state's unemployment insurance trust into insolvency. And, over the last year, California's joblessness has been on the upswing again, reaching 5.3% in February - the highest among all states. To keep the program operating at a time when the taxes paid by employers and earmarked for jobless benefits are insufficient, Sacramento has been borrowing billions of dollars from the federal government.
Fast Food Operators Rush to Use AI
In response to California's recent increase in the minimum wage to $20 per hour, a fast-food franchise operator has implemented several strategies to manage the elevated labor costs. To avoid drastic price increases or employee layoffs, the operator has begun limiting worker hours, adjusting operational times, and significantly incorporating AI and automation technologies. This includes the rollout of self-service kiosks and the testing of AI-driven order systems at drive-thrus. These measures reflect a wider industry trend towards reducing reliance on human labor, aiming to maintain profitability and operational efficiency in the face of rising wages.
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California's Staggering Budget Deficit Squashes Hundreds of Bills
California's budget crunch is forcing the Legislature to scale back its agenda this session, with bills to legalize psychedelic therapy, offer reparations to the descendants of enslaved people, and require more transparency around who is paying for lawmakers' sponsored travel among the early carnage. Facing estimated deficits of tens of billions of dollars over the next two years, leaders of the Legislature's appropriations committees said today that they had to make difficult decisions as they held or amended hundreds of proposals with a significant cost during the biannual culling process - although most bills in each committee still passed.
Inflation Improves, Housing Still Obstacle
The federal government released data Wednesday showing that inflation eased slightly in April, but it remains at a relatively high level. The latest report isn't likely to lift the grim mood that much of the public has toward an otherwise good economy. Though incomes have generally risen more than consumer prices, the overall rate of inflation remains stubbornly high. It dropped a notch in April but was still up 3-4% from a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. And, unexpectedly, the biggest culprit is housing. Thus far, the Federal Reserve's policy of fighting inflation by pushing up interest rates has worked in large parts of the economy.
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Get Your Message in VICA Weekly!
VICA members can promote their business, events and news in VICA Weekly. Member messages are available for $50 per week or $175 for four weeks. Messages are text-based and may not contain more than 70 words. A logo may be added for an additional $5 per week. For more information or to schedule your member message, contact yoko@vica.com or call (818) 817-0545.
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ABOUT VICA
Presenting the business perspective on behalf of employers in the
San Fernando Valley cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas,
Hidden Hills, San Fernando and Santa Clarita.
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