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DearReaders,

We areexcitedtoannounceour first Banking and how they’vepropelled their organizations and our FinanceMagazine from the Los Angeles Times community towardssuccess. Brand Publishing team.This issue will be the first of severalengaging business-related publications Please visitour website to learn how you can coming to you in 2021. nominate outstanding individualsand vote for nominees for possible inclusion in upcoming issues During this unparalleled period, when individuals at www.latimes.com/brandpublishing/nominate. and companies must constantly pivot and reinvent themselves in amyriad of ways,it’scrucial to Please note, thecontent doesn’tinvolve the remain ahead of thegame.Tothat end, we editorialstaff of theL.A. Times.Profile selections present an insightful look at upcomingtrends and arealsomadeindependently,without regard updates, as well as shine alightonprofessionals to whetherornot an individualorcompany who continually rise to meet ongoing challenges advertises with the L.A. Times. and securefuturegoals. The visionaries profiled LosAngeles Times Brand Publishing Team herewereall nominated by their peers and selected by our Brand Publishing divisionwith input from readers. We hopeyou enjoy learning about some of their stellar accomplishments and

Contact us with comments or questions at [email protected]

MARCH 2021 TThishis c contentontent i iss p producedroduced b byy t thehe L L.A..A. TiTimesmes B Brandrand PublishingPublishing t team.eam. I Itt d doesn’toesn’t i involvenvolve t thehe e editorialditorial s stafftaff o off t thehe L L.A..A. TiTimes.mes. 4 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING BRAND

This content is produced by the L.A. Times Brand Publishing team. It doesn’t involve the editorial staff of the L.A. Times. MARCH 2021 MARCH PUBLISHING BRAND PUBLISHING BANKING AND FINANCE | 5 Road signs to Recovery BANK ECONOMISTS SEE HOPEFUL INDICATORS AHEAD

he U.Seconomy will grow at arobust pace,about 4%,overthe four quartersof2021. TThat’s thestrongest growth in nearly twodecades after thedeepestrecessionsince theGreat Depression, accordingtothe latest forecastofthe American Bankers Association’sEconomicAdvisoryCommittee (EAC). However, theeconomy remainsin thegripofthe pandemic andgrowthisexpectedtodecelerate in thecurrent quarter.

“The painful toll from COVID-19 continues to add The EAC noted further that many jobs will remain up,” said Beata Caranci, senior vice president and chief lost to business shutdowns and failures, and that many economist at TD Bank Group and the current EAC chair. surviving firmshave learned to be moreefficient and “In addition to rising hospitalizations and deaths, the operate with fewer workers. pandemic is weighing on the U.S. economy as social distancing and business shutdowns in many states have Morebroadly,great uncertainty about the outlook slowed commerce considerably.” is hindering business investment. The committee also sees significant downside risk in any delays with the After aslow start to the year,growth will accelerate distribution, administering and broad acceptance of into the second quarter and beyond, according to the the vaccines. Any widespread resistance to taking group. Committee members agree that the outlook the vaccine, or areluctance of the vaccinated to re- will brighten considerably as mass vaccinations across engage in their normal activities, would greatly affect the nation bring many consumers out of isolation and the outlook. back to stores, restaurants, movie theaters and travel. States will likely ease business restrictions when the Conversely,ifwidespread vaccinations contain most vulnerable individuals areinoculated, and hospitals the virus and any further mutations to the point that arenolonger at capacity.Moreover,$900 billion of states relax business restrictions and people areready additional federal support will bolster the recovery,with to returntoprevious activities, asurge in consumer the potential for moretocome from the new Congress spending and inventory rebuilding would certainly providing another shot in the armfor the economy. revive the economy faster,according to the EAC.

“As the balance shifts from hospitalizations to The committee remains cautious about the outlook vaccinations, growth should accelerate,” Caranci said. for external demand given the uneven recovery among the nation’smajor trading partners. While all committee members expect economic momentum to build in the spring, thereisdivergence “International tourism also is likely to remain in views on timing and speed. Those forecasting less of restrained as countries reopen at different paces,” aboost this year anticipate astronger 2022. Moreover, Caranci said. the pace of recovery will vary across states. The EAC forecasts price gains to pick up this year The bank economists expect that the labor market as the economy recovers, though they will barely meet will heal moreslowly than the overall economy.The the Federal Reserve’sinflation goal of slightly over 2%. nation lost over 22 million jobs last March and April and Accordingly,the committee anticipates that the Federal overall employment remains nearly 10 million short of Reserve will not change the target range for the federal pre-COVID levels. While committee members forecast funds rate in the foreseeable future. Consequently,the close to 5million additional jobs this year,areturnto committee sees little change for short-terminterest full employment remains two or three years away.The rates this year,and projects rates on longer-termU.S. committee expects the unemployment rate to decline Treasury securities and mortgage rates to rise modestly. from 6.7% last month to 5.4% by the end of 2021. –Paul Williams “The speed of the labor market recovery normally Brand Publishing Writer trails the economic recovery,” said Caranci. “Many businesses will be cautious in rehiring until they see concrete signs of sustained demand and areduction in slack.” ©GaudiLab /Getty Images

CH 2021 MARCH 2021 This content is produced by the L.A. Times Brand Publishing team. It doesn’t involve the editorial staff of the L.A. Times. 6 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING New Year, New Optimism EXPERTS PREDICT STRONG M&A ACTIVITY SURGE FOR 2021

espite thesocialand fiscal challenges Dof last year,2021islooking bright from amergers andacquisitions (M&A)perspective.Based on surprisingly robust activity in fourth quarter of 2020, many expertsare reflectingonlastyear’s strong finish andforecasting increased M&A activity forthe firsthalfof2021 andbeyond.

Earlier this year,Mergermarket, the leading provider of M&A data and intelligence, released its 2020 global report, which revealed that $2.2 trillion of overall M&A activity in the second half of 2020 represented the highest half-year figureonMergermarket record. Meanwhile, the $1.2 trillion announced in the final quarter was the highest quarterly value since the second quarter of 2007.

In contrast, M&A activity in the first half of 2020 was subdued ($971 billion), leading to an overall 6.6% year-on-year decline by value. Amid the social and economic disruptions caused by COVID-19, deal count was down 15.5%, from 20,767 to 17,545. While afew sectors fell, others rose, making it abumpy ride for deal professionals.

Technology,media, and telecommunications (TMT) climbed 56.8% by value compared to the previous year, from $543.4 billion to $851.8 billion, equivalent to more than aquarter of overall global activity.Volume, on the other hand, declined slightly to 3,943 deals.

The next-best performing sector was energy,mining and utilities (EMU), which also saw a3.8% increase by value to $477.7 billion, but a13.8% decline in deal count to 1,326. The industrials and chemicals sector

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rounded out the three best performing sectors in 2020, “Even as 2020 recedes into the distance, its impacts In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the number even with a27.1% drop from the previous year –from continue to shape the market,” said Mark Druskoff, of announced M&A deals arepredicted to increase 3,791 to 3,023 transactions. data-driven content coordinator (North America) at by 20% YOY,within arange of 12 to 31%. The Mergermarket. “Corporates and sponsors alike spent strongest growth contributions areexpected in the Although M&A markets went into stasis, debt their way through the crisis in the second half of 2020, financials, energy,and power and mining, chemicals and equity capital markets came alive. In addition with unprecedented levels of deal making in the final and materials sectors. M&A announcements in DACH, to asignificant volume of high yield bond issuances few months of the year.” Easternand SouthernEurope and the U.K and Ireland and secondary equity offerings, special-purpose areexpected to increase. acquisition companies (SPAC) became the phenom of Experts agree that such aresurgence in the second the second half of 2020, particularly in the U.S. Atotal half of 2020 bodes well for 2021. In Latin America, astrong resilience during these of 255 SPACs werelaunched in 2020, raising $83.1 times shows that the number of announced M&A deals billion, compared to $15.5 billion across 73 listings Earlier this month, SS&C Technologies Holdings, is predicted to increase by 22% YOY,within arange in 2019, according to financial markets platform Inc., aglobal provider of services and softwarefor the of 13 to 32%. The financials, consumer retail and real Dealogic data. financial services and healthcareindustries, introduced estate sectors arepredicted to lead any growth in optimism-sparking results from the Q1 2021 issue of announcements. Brazil is expected to carry outsized If therewas a"winner" in 2020, it was mega- the “SS&C Intralinks Deal Flow Predictor,” an indicator volume for the territory,though Chile and Colombia deal professionals. Deals of $5 billion or greater of futureM&A announcements. will also make major contributions. experienced an impressive surge, increasing from 91 in 2019 to atotal of 111 in 2020, with 79 of them "During an unquestionably volatile year,global M&A In North America, arelatively tempered increase occurring in the second half. This represented the activity is showing continued signs of confidence and of 5% YOY is predicted for the number of announced second-highest number of such large deals since 2007, recovery," said Ken Bisconti, co-head, SS&C Intralinks. M&A, within arange of -4 to 16%, led by the finance, only behind 2015 (127 deals). "Due diligence activity in virtual data rooms points to healthcare, and industrials and manufacturing sectors. double-digit growth in the first half of 2021, M&A deal Meanwhile, smaller-sized transactions saw double announcements worldwide." Overall, the consensus appears to be that the digit declines across the board. In particular,deals pronounced increase in M&A activity in late 2020 under $250 million experienced a12.1% decline in From aglobal perspective, SS&C Intralinks predicts bodes well for the months to come. value and 1,270 fewer transactions compared to 2019. M&A activity in the first half of 2021, compared to the first half of last year as follows: –Paul Williams In spite of the pandemic, global private equity Brand Publishing Writer investment, buoyed by areported dry-powder of $1.7 In Asia-Pacific, the number of announced M&A trillion, climbed to its highest annual value since the deals is predicted to increase by around 27% year- global financial crisis. In total, $608.7 billion was spent over-year (YOY), within arange of 20 to 36%, led by by private equity firmsin2020 across 3,509 deals, the financials, consumer and retail and industrials/ 3.3% up from 2019 ($589 billion). manufacturing sectors.

MARCH 2021 This content is produced by the L.A. Times Brand Publishing team. It doesn’t involve the editorial staff of the L.A. Times. 8 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING

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analysis and objectivity to the review of company-reported information –and these skills aretransferable to these other areas of company-reported information like AModern Path ESG data.”

The Roadmap also examines the history THE CENTER FOR AUDIT QUALITY RELEASES and evolution of ESG reporting, the latest developments driving towards ESG’s inclusion in SEC filings and current practices ESG REPORTING ROADMAP,ELEVATING AN of disclosureand attestation over ESG information disclosed in SEC filings. The INCREASINGLYIMPORTANT BUSINESS METRIC report includes examples of companies as diverse as Vornado Realty Trust or Etsy, including, or at least referring to, attestation astmonth,the Center forAudit Quality(CAQ) andthe Association of of an ESG report in their SEC submissions. InternationalCertified Professional Accountants(theAssociation) L “With growing company interest released anew roadmaptoprovide auditpractitioners with a in disclosing ESG information in SEC blueprinttosupport companies in achievingtheir environmental, social submissions, this is avery timely resource andgovernance (ESG)reporting goals. TheCAQ andthe Association for audit practitioners who arebeing called on to performassurance engagements arereleasing thereportatawatershedmomentfor publicand private over these ESG disclosures,” said Desiré companies’ ESG reporting: investors, consumers, andother stakehold- Carroll, CPA, association senior manager – ersincreasinglymakedecisions basedoncompanies’ESG practices, public accounting. “The Roadmap explores how and why ESG disclosures arebeing companiesincreasinglyreportESG informationusing established included in SEC submissions and provides standardsand frameworks, andthe Bidenadministrationhas made practitioners with insight into the risk climate change,and itsassociatedrisks, afocus of itspolicyagenda. and legal considerations associated with performing assurance engagements over such information.” The report, “ESG Reporting and such as proxy statements, annual reports, Attestation: ARoadmap for Practitioners,” and quarterly reports. Further,rising The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) provides tools to help independent expectations for ESG reporting come as is anonprofitorganization dedicated to auditors informtheir clients’ approach to many market stakeholders see the value of promoting high-quality performance by ESG disclosures, help clients determine having some or all reported ESG information public company auditors; convening and whether to seek an attestation report on subject to external attestation by an collaborating with financial reporting ESG information, and help determine how independent auditor. stakeholders; and advocating for policies to report ESG information in aSecurities and and standards that promote public Exchange Commission (SEC) submission. “ESG is arapidly evolving area of company auditors’ objectivity,effectiveness, reporting, and while thereisnoone-size-fits- and responsiveness to dynamic market While ESG reporting has historically taken all approach, independent auditors have an conditions. For moreinformation or to find place outside of SEC submissions, there important role as this reporting continues to the Roadmap, visit thecaq.org. areincreasing calls for public companies take shape,” said Dennis McGowan, CPA, to incorporate ESG information, including senior director of the CAQ’sProfessional –Paul Williams the impact of climate change and diversity Practice. “The auditing profession is steeped Brand Publishing Writer inclusion metrics, into SEC submissions, in bringing accountability,standards-based

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CUSIP Re-Approved as U.S. Standard for Securities Identification TWO COMMITTEES ANNOUNCE APPROVALFOR MID-2020S, BOLSTER FINANCIAL TRUST WORLDWIDE

astmonth the American BankersAssociation (ABA)and Accredited Standards LCommittee X9 Inc. (X9) announced theapproval of theupdated ANSI X9.6 (CUSIP)standardfor unique securities identifiers.

The approval followed an extensive review of recognized standardfor unique security identification the market by X9 as part of the customary five-year in the Americas,” said Rob Nichols, ABA president maintenance cycle. The action ensures that financial and CEO. “Sustained innovation and investment have market participants in the U.S. and around the world been the key to CUSIP’ssuccess for over 50 years can continue to place their trust and confidence in the and will allow it to continue powering efficient capital CUSIP system. markets through the unique identification of securities across countless asset classes going forward.” Since CUSIP’slaunch in 1968, the standardhas been relied upon to provide globally accepted identifiers ABA, with guidance from the leading financial for financial instruments issued by corporations, institutions at the time, created CUSIP to address the municipalities and government agencies in the U.S., major market inefficiencies during the trading surge along with dozens of other jurisdictions. The CUSIP of the late 1960s. At the time, backlogs and failures system is administered by CUSIP Global Services weresofrequent that trading had to be limited to four (CGS) on behalf of ABA. In their role, CGS doesn't just days, with Wednesdays closed for back offices to catch assign anine-character identifier; it also methodically up. By developing astandardmethod of uniquely scrutinizes offering documents beforeindividual identifying securities, CUSIP became the fundamental securities aretaken to market, expands CUSIP building block of the industry’sautomation –the first coverage into new asset classes as markets grow,and step towardthe highly efficient and reliable securities continuously adjusts and updates CUSIP elements and industry enjoyed worldwide today. systems as security issuers merge, split, change names, or as new market needs areidentified. Morethan 62.8 As the industry modernized, ABA also recognized million CUSIPs have been issued across abroad range the need for an organization entirely dedicated to of instruments, with at least 9.4 million identifiers developing and reviewing standards for the U.S. active today. financial services industry.In1974, X9 was established (originally within ABA) and, in 1976, CUSIP was among “The X9 review and approval ensures that the CUSIP the first standards to be ratified by the new body. identifier will continue to serve as the universally The most recent five-year update is part of CUSIP’s

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45-year-long history as an X9 and ANSI standard.

“Our extensive review and the update to the CUSIP standardconfirmsits continued role as the established choice for market participants who put a premium on transparency and efficiency,” said Steve Stevens, ASC X9 executive director.“U.S. clearing corporations, regulators, and market authorities continue to recognize the tremendous value and reliability of the CUSIP system.”

Globally,CUSIP is afundamental component of the International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) for securities issued in the U.S. and in other areas wheredesignated or appointed. Similar to CUSIP,ISIN is aunique global code that identifies instruments to facilitate cross-border trading. To date, most countries have adopted the ISIN either as aprimary or secondary securities identifier for trading, settlement, reconciliation and/or reporting. The standardgained accelerated global use in 1989, when the G30 countries recommended its adoption.

Today,ISIN is used in morethan 200 jurisdictions worldwide and approximately 120 global stock exchanges, securities depositories, and national numbering agencies rely and support ISIN as the single cross-border ISO instrument identification standard. In the United States, Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation recognizes and uses ISINs and CUSIPs for various critical functions.

“For 50 years, CUSIP has been essential to the efficient operation and accurate processing and settlement of trades throughout the world,” said Michael Manbeck, vice president of Institutional Data Governance and Strategy for Fidelity Investments and chairman of the CUSIP BoardofTrustees. “The re-issuing of CUSIP by X9 is atestament to its enduring viability as acritical financial services standardthat helps keep our markets moving.”

With as many as 2,000 identifiers and related data created daily,ABA and CGS have and will continue to modernize the CUSIP system to bring reliability and efficiency to all sectors of the global financial markets. The creativity and innovation that resulted in the creation of CUSIP decades ago continues to deliver on the changing needs of issuers and market participants.

The X9 is anon-profitorganization accredited by the American National Standards Institute to develop and maintain national and –through ISO –international standards for the financial services industry.The subjects of X9's standards include: data security; retail, mobile and business payments; corporate treasury functions; blockchain technology; processing of electronic legal orders issued to financial institutions; tracking of financial transactions and instruments; financial transaction messaging (ISO 8583 and 20022); quantum computing; PKI; checks; cloud; data breach notification and more.

X9 acts as the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for ISO TC68 (Financial), TC321 (ECommerce) and TC322 (Sustainable Finance) and performs the secretariat functions for ISO TC68. Visit x9.org for moreinformation.

–Paul Williams Brand Publishing Writer

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though similar to consumer credit respondents, business credit quality is expected to deteriorate over thenext sixmonths.

“Although credit quality is still expected to worsen over the first half of the year for both consumers and businesses, the overall outlook for creditmarkets has improved significantly sincethe summer andfall,” said Strand. “As widespread inoculations against the virusand new fiscal stimulus measures help healthe economy,banks will continue to work closely with policymakers,consumers and businesses to ensure that affordable credit remains available and recovery strengthens.”

Meanwhile, credit card marketresilienceisalso ©Nattakorn Maneerat /Getty Images reflected in the ABA’slatest quarterly Credit Card Market Monitor. Monthly purchase volumes rebounded strongly across risk groups in the thirdquarter of last year,even as the ratioofcreditcardcredit outstanding as ashareofnational disposable incomeremained near an all-time low.

The February 2021 Monitor,whichreflectscredit Full Credit carddatafromJulythrough September 2020,found that monthly purchase volumes jumped morethan 20% quarter-over-quarter,thoughcredit cardpurchases remain well below pre-pandemic levels.Meanwhile, MARKET CONDITIONS REBOUND FOR CONSUMERS AND credit cardcredit outstanding as ashareofnational disposable income rose slightlybysix basispointsto BUSINESSES AS HOPEFUL INDICATORS DRIVE DOWN 4.54%,though it remainsnear an all-time low(nearly DEBT,DRIVE UP ON-TIME PAYMENTS 100 basis points below its Q4 2019 level). Theshareofcardholders who are transactors (those who pay their monthly balance in full) rose 1.5 espite persistentchallengesfromthe pandemic-induced recession,the credit percentage points to an all-time high of 33.7% for card market continuestoshowresilience.The chiefeconomistsofNorth the second straight quarter.Atthe same time, the D share of revolvers (those who carry over amonthly America’slargest bankssee improvementinbusinessand consumer credit balance)fell another 1.7 percentage points in the marketconditionsoverthe next sixmonths, accordingtothelatestquarterly report thirdquarter to an all-time low of 40.7%.Meanwhile, from theAmericanBankers Association(ABA). the shareofDormant accounts ticked up atenth of a percent to 25.6%.

The Q1 2021 ABACreditConditions Outlook “Both lenders and borrowers fared better last year “The record-high shareoftransactors illustrates the highlights the results of the ABA Credit Conditions thanwewould have expected as aresult of the severe resilience of U.S. consumers,” said Strand. “Though Index. The report represents asuite of indices derived dislocations causedbythe pandemic,” said ABAsenior many people arestill unemployed, acombination from thequarterly outlook for credit markets produced economist Rob Strand. “A robustfederalresponse of restrained spending and continued government by ABA’s EconomicAdvisory Committee,which is has been acritical element of the recovery, andbanks supporthas leftmany consumerswell-positionedto comprised of chief economists from major banking continue to work with consumers andbusinesses managecreditcardpayments.” institutions across NorthAmerica.Readings above 50 struggling to make ends meet.” indicate that, on net, the economists expect business Theeffective finance charge yield (which measures and household credit conditions to improve, while In the first quarterof2021: interest payments relative to total outstanding credit readings below 50 indicate adeterioration. in the market) decreased22basis points inthe •The HeadlineCredit Index jumped to 43.8, its second quarter to 12.33% duetothe declining share “The ABA Credit Conditions Index provides a second consecutive quarterly improvement after of revolvers and the Fed’sbenchmark interest rate barometeronthe direction of credit markets going bottoming out last summer.While the current remainingnear zero.Outstanding credit card credit fell forward,” said Beata Caranci, senior vice president readingrepresents the strongest creditmarket to its lowest level since the second quarter of 2017. and chief economist at TD Bank Group and the current conditions since mid-2018, the Index remains chair of ABA’s Economic Advisory Committee. "Going below50, signaling that bank economists expect “Credit card issuers continue to takeacautious- forward, this quarterly analysisoffers another tool to somecontinued weaknessincredit market but-balanced approach towardaccount activity,” helpbankers, policymakers and thepublic assess the conditionsoverthe next six months. saidStrand. “The increaseinsuper-prime accounts outlook for consumer and business credit conditions.” also reflectsthatmany cardholders have improved •The Consumer Credit Index rose to45.3, the their financial position andcredit scores during the The Q1 2021 report finds that near-term highest readingsince mid-2019, as expectations pandemic.” expectations forcreditquality and availability improved for both consumer credit quality rebounded for both consumers and businesses after and availability compared to last quarter.Bank Results of thisand all previous reports can be found bottoming out lastsummer.Specifically, all three economists expect consumer credit availability at aba.com. components of the new Index increased in the first to increase over the next six months, whilea quarterof2021, though eachcomponent remains slight majority expect consumer credit quality to –PaulWilliams below the 50-point threshold. This suggests that, deteriorate. Brand Publishing Writer while bank economists expectcreditmarketconditions to remain softover the nextsix months, their near- •The Business Credit Index climbed to 42.2, the termpessimism has waned since the survey was last strongestreadinginmorethan twoyears. The conducted in September. increase wasdriven by improved expectations for both business credit quality and availability;

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Mohamed “Mike” Belva Ahmar Barney A. Anakwenze Executive Allison Entertainment Business Manager Chairman of the Board Partner –InfrastructureGroup and TaxProfessional PartnersBankofCalifornia Nossaman Abacus Financial BusinessManagement Commercial Banking Professional Services Professional Services

ohamed “Mike” Ahmar is afounder, and the or morethan 30 years, clients have relied on Bar- sthe principalofAbacusFinancialManagement Mexecutivechairman of the board, of Partners FneyAllison forpractical and strategic guidance AGroup,Belva Anakwenze serves as avirtual CFO Bank of California, and the president of Ah- in thepublicfinanceand infrastructurefields. forseveral creativesinLos Angeles.Having mar Investment Inc.,areal estate developmentcompany Allison offerspublicagencies unique expertise with served as atrusted advisorfor manyintheentertain- that develops and leases commercial and multi-family specialized financeissues in infrastructure transactions. ment industry formorethan15years, her clients range properties.InMarch 2019,Ahmar spearheadedthe Theseinclude the use of public and private debt, private from entertainersand their closelyheld companies to opening of PartnersBank of California’sbranch office equity andfederal credit assistance–particularly the large entertainment tech companies.She also hasseveral in BeverlyHills,providingfull-servicebusiness banking Transportation InfrastructureFinanceand Innovation music live events and musicians. and commerciallending solutions to clientsinthe greater Actand Private ActivityBond programs.Hehelps clients In the male-dominated financial world, Anakwenze is Los Angeles area. navigatethrough all elements of public-private partner- able to reach her goals as aCFO by facing challenges and shipsand other innovative project delivery methods. Ahmar is alsosignificantlyinvolvedinthe Los Angeles tough conversations head-on and speaking in everyday and OrangeCountycommunities.Heiscurrentlythe Over thelastyear,Allison has served as the legal lead vernaculartoensurecomplete transparency andfinancial chairman of the Los Angeles Fire Department Founda- on theLincoln South BeltwayProjectwith Nebraska climateunderstanding.Anakawenze also spends agreat tion, andserves on severalother boards,including the Department of Transportation. Preliminary work began deal of her time educating youthand emerging creative Cedars-Sinai BoardofDirectors; the USCMarshall in February 2020 on the project, with construction an- entrepreneursonfinancial literacy. School of Business BoardofLeaders; and the Chapman ticipated to be completedinspring of 2024, afullfour UniversityBoard of Counselors.In1999, Ahmarand yearsahead of the originalschedule. Additionally, he has hiswifeHania started the Ahmar FamilyFoundation, worked as co-lead on the OrangeCounty Transportation anon-profit organization formed to serveand benefit Authority–I-405 Improvement Project. charitable and educational purposes.

Raul A. Bita Anaya Andrew M. Ardalan President of Business Banking, Apfelberg ManagingDirector, Market President, Greater Los Angeles Partner Head of Commercial Banking Bank of America GreenbergGlusker LLP Union Bank Commercial Banking Professional Services Commercial Banking

spresidentofbusinessbankingfor Bankof ndrew Apfelberg, apartner at GreenbergGlusker ita Ardalan is managing director and head of AAmerica, Los Angeles-based RaulA.Anaya ALLP,isacorporateand finance attorneyfor BCommercial Banking forMUFGUnion Bank. leads anationwide division that serves nearly middle-market companiesthroughout the The Commercial Banking group is an origination 40,000 U.S. mid-sized companies with annual revenues United States.Oftenacting as outside general counsel, and portfolio management unit serving middle-market from $5 millionto$50 million. Anaya is partofthe Apfelbergprovides adviceonabusiness’ significant companies with revenues of $50 million to $2 billion bank’sexecutive management team thathelps setthe transactions whether it’samergeroracquisition, private across arange of industries with credit and non-credit overallstrategic direction of BankofAmerica. He is equityorother financing, joint ventureorlicensingdeal. ancillary products. the first Latino to represent one of the eight major lines He has aconsiderable depth of experienceinthe branded As the leader ofabusiness witha150+ year history of business at Bank of Americaand is nowthe highest consumer products, manufacturing and distribution,new on the West Coast, Ardalan sets its strategic vision rankingLatino at the bank. He also co-chairsthe bank’s media and technology industries. and headsahigh-caliber team. Ardalan oversees 160+ Hispanic-Latino Executive Council. Apfelberg’sbusiness and financebackground comes employees in 17 offices and morethan 200 support From 2015 to 2020,Anaya wasalso the Pacific South- from his USC’sMarshall School of Business education partners. Herdivision is strategicallydesignedtobelean west regionexecutive forBankofAmerica’sGlobal Com- andworking in investment banking prior to going to law and efficient, howevershe is closelyaligned with many mercial Banking Groupwhereheled ateam of morethan school. This experienceenables Apfelbergtoeffectively other divisions forwhich herteamgenerates significant 100professionalstodelivercommercial and investment structure transactions and negotiateagreements to maxi- revenue, including Transaction Banking,Capital Markets, banking productsand servicestocompanies with annual mize the value to the clientand increase the likelihood of Intrepid Investment Bankers, Real EstateIndustries, revenues from $50 million to morethan $2 billion. getting deals closed. He is also the former president of Asset-Based Finance, Syndications,FX, InterestRate Association of CorporateGrowth LosAngeles chapter Derivatives, Wealth Management and Private Banking and currentlyholds avariety of leadership positions in and Consumer Banking. the global ACGorganization.

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Ed Frida Bruce Bagdasarian Bank Behnam CEO, Managing Director, Executive Vice President& Head of Banking Services, and Founding Principal Head of Risk Management U.S. West Market Unit Intrepid Investment Bankers CTBC Bank USA Accenture Investment Banking Commercial Banking Professional Services

dBagdasarian’s professionalcareer spans more hroughout herexceptional 30-year career,Frida ith morethantwo decades of experience, Ethan three decades and hisaccomplishments in- TBank stands out forher leadership roles at top WBruceBehnam leads Accenture's banking clude helping build twopreeminentmiddle-market Los Angeles area banks.Beginning hercareerat and payments businessinthe West.Behnam M&A advisory firms,overseeing their sale to twoofthe an entry levelposition in banking, through asuccession works with some of the world's largest andmostpromi- largestfinancial institutions in the world and advising of promotions at severalprestigious institutions, she rose nent banks to drive large-scale business transformation. some of the leading entrepreneursand middle-market to her current role. He leads amulti-disciplinaryteam that envisions and companies in defining M&A and capital transactions. executes digital-drivenchangefor clients to stay at the At CTBC BankUSA,which is supported by more than forefront of the industry and bestservetheir customers. Bagdasarian is currentlythe CEO and afounding $180billion in global assets, Bankleadsthe U.S. risk As the worldbecomesevermoredigital, the waycustom- principal of IntrepidInvestmentBankers, aLos Angeles- management team focused on traditionalrisks as well ersengagewith their financial institutions has become based investment bank providing M&A, capital raising as emerging and complexrisks including cybersecurity, an almostentirelydigital proposition. and strategic advisory services to entrepreneursand fraud and othertechnology threats that arecriticalto middle-market companies.Heisresponsible forsetting stakeholders. Over the pastfew years, Frida has been Behnam helps middle-market banks thinkthrough and executing the firm’svision. His priorities include instrumental in establishing CTBC’s state-of-the-art howtoshift theirbusinessfromatraditional model to creating awinning cultureand recruiting toptalent who risk management, complianceand governancepractices adigital one in which theycan bring newproducts and embrace the firm’s values. In addition to leading thefirm, in conjunction with achieving optimal business objec- services to compete and meetthe changing demands of he manages client relationships and oversees the execu- tivesand phenomenalgrowth.She hasover30years their customers, and allinacost-effective way. Ultimately, tion of keyadvisory mandates.In2019, nine yearsafter of banking experienceinthe areas of bank operations, he makes surefinancial institutions canservetheir cus- founding Intrepid,Bagdasarian and his partnersjoined regulatory complianceand risk management, including tomersinthe waytheywant to be served. forces with MUFGUnion Bank. the assessment of enterprise risks.

Gal Jan Ben-Naim Deborah Brzeski Senior Vice President &Head of Benton Managing Director U.S. Private Banking for California Founder,General Partner &Chief Investment Officer IDB Bank Willow Growth Partners Arixa Capital Advisors, LLC Commercial Banking Private Equity Lending

al Ben-Naim is ahighlyexperiencedand talented eborah Benton is the founding partnerofWillow an Brzeski foundedArixa Capital in 2006 and serves Gprivate banking and investment management DGrowth Partners,anearly-stageconsumerfund Jas managing director and chief investment officer. professional with an unwavering dedication to focused on investing in visionary entrepreneurs Inthis capacity, he has ultimateresponsibilityfor hisclients’ success.Ben-Naim’spersonalapproach and buildingthe next generation of iconic brands and the the firm’s investment strategy,risk management and op- hiscommitment to building deep,long-term relation- technology that supports them. Aseasoned consumer erations.Hehas extensive experiencewith every aspect ships has helped his clients weather the COVID crisis retail executive,Benton brings manyyearsofinvesting, of real estateinvestment. He has participatedinmore while driving impressive growth forIDB’s California operatingand board managementexperiencetoWillow. than 1,600 real estatetransactions,investing over $1.7 region in 2020. Willowfocuses on consumerbrands (emphasizingbeauty, billion on behalf of Arixa’sinvestors and partners. Since wellness, apparel,and home/pet), that arevalues-led and he foundedArixa Capital, it has become one of the West Year after year,Ben-Naim has been one of the bank’s connect deeplywith the consumer. Coast’spremier non-bank real estatelenders,providing topperformers. His success in bringing in newclients small balance loansolutionstolower middle market is adirect result of his analytical skills,his knowledge In thepastyear,Willow Growth Partners, under Ben- residential and commercial investorsand developers. of the financial industry,and hisinvolvement in the ton’sstewardship,has completedorisinthe process of localcommunity.Heconsistentlyreaches out to new completing five deals in theportfolio,including leading Brzeski is aregular speaker,moderator and panelist customersone-on-one and throughseminars, educating the seed financing and the bridgefinancing forCoterie. at variousindustry conferencesand events. Overthe them about their investment options and introducing Willowalso took asuper pro-rata investment in Good- past15years, he has organized an annualReal Estate them to newand innovative products.Hethen delivers fair and wasamajor participating investorinBubble's Investment Roundtable at UCLA’s Anderson School of solutions custom-tailored to each client’sfinancialgoals pre-seed financing. Management and is also aregular guestlecturer there. andcontributes to the bank’snew product development basedonhis research.

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Sherry Curt A. Kelly Cefali Christianssen Coffey Managing Director EVP Chief Financial Officer Chief Executive Officer Duff &Phelps Pacific Mercantile Bank City National Bank Investment Banking Commercial Banking Commercial Banking

herryCefali is amanaging director in the Trans- urtChristianssen has dedicated mostofhis career henKellyCoffey took the jobofCEO of Saction Opinions practiceand theheadofDuff & Cworking in the banking industry,with aspecific Wthe largest bank basedinLos Angeles,City Phelps’ Los Angeles officeofapproximately100 focus on communitybanks.Christianssen is a NationalBank, twoyearsago,she became people. She has been with Duff &Phelps for30years, keymember of themanagement team that turned around the bank’sfourthchief executive officerand is nowone advisingcompanies and boards,rendering fairness opin- Pacific Mercantile Bank, which worked with its strong of onlyfour women CEOs among the largest 50 banks ions and solvency opinions and determining valuations board to implement and execute its strategy focused in the country.Atthe start of her second year with the of companies andsecurities. on banking medium-sized businesses,designed to help bank, she didn’texpect aglobal pandemic to upendthe those businesses succeed. economy. When clients needed CityNational most, the Cefali’stransactions in 2020 includedafairness opinion bank facilitated 16,000 Paycheck Protection Program to the boardofNeonTherapeutics, Inc. in connection As CFOofPacific Mercantile Bank, Christianssenhas (PPP) loans,literally saving thousandsofbusinesses with its sale to BioNTech; afairness opinion to NN,Inc. shown to be adedicatedpartner with clients during an from going under. in connection withthe sale of itsLifeSciences business unprecedentedand challengingyear serving medium- to American Securities; afairness opinion to the board sized businesses.For example, he led the bank’sefforts Coffey overseesthe bank’soverall strategy and growth, of Xtant Medical Holdings Inc. in connection with the to implement asuccessful SBA Paycheck Protection as well as itsprivate banking, commercial banking and exchangeofdebtfor equity; and afairness opinion to Programapplication process within days of theCARES entertainment banking divisions.She’salso leading certain fundsaffiliated with Blackstone in connection with Act passingintolaw,helping over 700 businesses pro- CityNational’sjourney to become adigitally-enabled arecapitalization transaction to sell BioMed Realtytoa tect the payroll of 36,000 employees.His passion and relationship bank.The bank launched anew mobile app group led by existing BioMed investors; among others. commitment to helping companies succeed extended to andhas strengthened its treasury services capabilities the PPP Forgiveness phasewithhis willingnesstospeak and streamlined the process foronboarding newclients. one-on-one with clients to advise them on forgiveness questions specific to each client’sbusiness needs.

Malcolm Eva James F. Davies Davis Davidson Principal Los Angeles Office Managing Partner President Managing Director &Co-Chair,Private Equity Practice Avant Advisory Group George Smith Partners Winston &Strawn LLP Professional Services Professional Services Professional Services

ames F. Davidson is managing director,president alcolm Davies has over 20 yearsofexperience va Davisworks with some of the mostactive Jand founderofAvant Advisory Group,amanage- Mas an award-winning capital advisor and de- Eprivate equity funds in the country. Sheprovides ment consulting and financial advisory firm that veloper,having advised and been involved with commercial advicealongside strategic M&A specializes in operational turnarounds and financial nearly$7billion worth of financings,bothinthe equity counselingwhennegotiating on behalf of U.S. andglobal restructurings,mergers and acquisitions,CFO,C-Suite and debtmarkets.Heand his team structured and placed public and private companies,and private equity funds and corporategovernanceadvisory, forensic, fraud a$460 million non-recourse senior construction loan involving significant transactional matters.Asco-chair and corporateinvestigations.HeisbothaCertified forthe ground up developmentofBlock 216,alandmark of Winston’sPrivate Equity Practice—which includes Turnaround Professional and Certified Insolvency & 1.1 million square-footmixed use development in the about75lawyers —Davis oversees agroup that lastyear Restructuring Advisor. heart of Portland, Oregon’scentral business district. It handled morethan200 deals with atotal deal value of wasthe largest deal in GSP companyhistory.In2020, closeto$18 billion. Despitethe challengespresented Davidson andAvant Advisory Group provide M&A whilemanyadvisorsstruggledtocomplete transactions, by COVID-19, she personallyled over 10 deals valued transaction support and have performed hundreds Davies and his team successfullyclosed over $600million, at morethan $1.4billion in 2020. of buy-side andsell-side diligenceengagements that capitalizing nearly$1billion in transactions. includefinancial/qualityofearnings and operations As awoman in thepredominantlymale private equity forcompanies ranging from distressed to multi-billion- As the principal and managing directoratGeorge field, Davis built her practiceentirelyonher ownbyhit- dollar firms.Heand his firm have been engaged by both Smith Partners, Daviesisresponsible forrunning the ting thepavement,slowlybuilding relationships across counsel and buyers/investors to investigate andopine on highestproducing team and helps drive the firm’svision the industry,and leveragingher knowledgetospottrends numerous forensic and fraud examinations.Inhis work, andbranding efforts which help steer GSP to be at the quicklyand to synthesize and sharethat information Davidson integratesexperiencefromprivate industry, forefront of capitalization innovations. with clients and prospects. public accounting, auditing and consulting.

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Jacky Caroline Gene Dilfer Djang Dunford CEO Partner Senior Managing Director BusinessFinance Capital Best Best &Krieger Umpqua Bank Lending Professional Services Commercial Banking

acky Dilfer is atrustedadvisor,helping her clients arolineDjang is aleading businessattorney ene Dunfordhas been in the banking industry Jgrow their businesses,createjob opportunities,and Cand authorityinbankruptcylaw whom debtors, Gfor30years and hasworkedwithbothlarge better serve their communities.Her vast experience creditors, trustees and an array of other parties and smallbanks.Heholds an MBAfromthe in commercial lending extends twodecades in the San rely on to help themnavigatepre-bankruptcyissues UniversityofRedlands.Healso graduated with aB.S.in Francisco BayAreaand Southern California, whereshe throughpost-bankruptcyfinancial relationships in ways Business from Utah StateUniversity’sJohn Huntsman hasled Business FinanceCapital’s(BFC’s) rapid growth that maximize value and minimize risks. School of Business. He has been heavilyinvolvedwith as the organization’s executive director and chairman theuniversitywherehehas held various alumni board Apartner in Best Best&KriegerLLP’sBusiness of theboard. With Dilfer'sleadership, BFCisone of positions over the years. He has been instrumental in Practicegroup and chiefbankruptcycounsel, Djang is the topcommercial real estatelendersinthe country, helping severalstudents attend Utah Stateand receive known forher integrity, businessacumen, andturnaround and No.1inLos Angeles forSBA real estatelending. scholarships. management and legal skills.She wasthe first woman In 2020,BFC funded over $730 million dollarsinSBA appointed to serveasaSubchapter Vtrusteeinthe Dunfordissenior managing director of Umpqua Bank’s commercial real estatetransactions. Central District of California from apool of morethan Los Angeles CorporateBanking Division. He joined Dilfer, alongtimeCalifornia resident, serves the lo- 150 applicants.With morethan 18 million residents,the Umpqua Bank in 2016 to establish its newLos Angeles calcommunitybeyond her professional lifeasaboard Central District is by far themostpopulous federaljudicial team. He is a25-year veteranofL.A.’s commercial banking of trusteemember forAltaMed Health CareServices, district. With little diversityinbankruptcylaw —astark scene. Dunford’sgroup currentlymanages approximately an organization that delivers much needed health care comparison to the District’scitizens who arefiling for $500 millioninassets.Dunfordplayedacritical role in to underserved communities in SouthernCalifornia. bankruptcy—Djang’sappointment as aminoritywoman Umpqua Bank’s highly successful participationinthe is celebratedbywomen and minoritybankruptcyjudges Paycheck Protection Program. and practitioners.

We areproud of all our 1st Century bankers and congratulate Bonnie and Meredith forbeing recognized among the TopCommercial Banking Visionaries.

Bonnie Rubin Meredith Esarey EVP, Regional Director SVP, Regional Manager 310-270-9511|[email protected] 310-270-9548|[email protected]

SantaMonica|CenturyCity|Beverly Hills |DowntownLos Angeles |San Fernando Valley|OrangeCounty 1875 CenturyPark East,Suite 1400,Los Angeles,CA90067 | 1CBANK.com |Main 310-270-9500

Member FDIC Adivision of MidFirst Bank 20 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING

Meredith Gilbert Eric Esarey Estrada Ellingsen Senior Vice President, Senior Vice President, President and CEO Regional Manager Regional Manager California Bank &Trust 1st Century Bank Citizens BusinessBank Commercial Banking Commercial Banking Commercial Banking

alifornia Bank &Trustrecentlyannounced the eredith Esarey is asenior vicepresident and ilbert Estrada bringsmorethan 35 yearsoffinancial Cpromotion of EricEllingsen,abanking industry Mregional managerfor 1stCentury Bankand is Gexperiencetohis role as senior vicepresident leader and companyveteranofover20years, responsible forleading her team in developing and regional manager of the Inland Empire from presidentand COO to CEO,effective January 4, newcommercial banking clients.She has morethan 15 forCitizens Business Bank. Estrada has abackground 2021.Ellingsen continues his role as president with new yearsofbanking expertise, spanning both coasts with working with middle-market companies in avariety of leadership responsibilities as CEO.Hewill continue to experienceincommercial,asset-based and cash flow areas,including treasurymanagement, specialtydepos- oversee the growth of the bank across the state, includ- lending solutions to privatelyheld companies. its, operations,and commercial services.Beforejoining ing direct oversight of its commercial banking division. CitizensBusinessBank in 2014,heserved as director of This pastyear, driven by adesiretoincrease connect- operations forCommunityBank, overseeing 18 banking Ellingsenbegan hisimpressivecareer trajectory at edness andtangible opportunities,Esareyspearheaded centers. In his current role at Citizens Business Bank,he CB&T in afour-month temporary role as ajuniorac- acommittee of motivatedwomentolaunch 1stCentury is responsible forall of the Business Financial Centers countant thatled to apermanent position within the Bank’sWomen’s Connection–aneducationaldiscussion located within the Inland Empire. company. From there, he waspromotedtomoresenior group that bringsawarenesstoissues womenfaceintheir roles handlingrisk management, regulatory compliance, personal andprofessionaldevelopment.Itpromotesan Estrada is agraduateofCalifornia StateUniversity, international banking and asset/liabilitymanagement. inclusive environment wherewomenfeel safe to share Los Angeles,with aBachelor of ScienceinBusiness In 2012, he waspromotedtoCFO,and then in 2016,to their experiences,strengthening the strategic relation- Administration and Finance. He is also agraduateof president and COO. Ellingsennow manages the credit shipsbetweensenior andjunior women, and building Pacific CoastBanking School. and lending process and oversees the commercialbanking acommunitywherewomenat1CB canfind practical division and holds aseat on the Zions Bancorporation solutions fordefining their individual vision of success. executive committee.

Jim Brian Freedman DanielleV. Ford Managing Director Garcia Partner and Chairman Partner Kirkland &Ellis LLP Intrepid Investment Bankers Holland &Knight LLP Professional Services Investment Banking Professional Services

rianFordisaDebtFinancepartner in the Los im Freedman is managing director,chairman, and anielle Garcia is afinancialservices attorney BAngelesoffice of Kirkland and Ellis wherehe Jfounding principal of Intrepid Investment Bankers. Dwho focuses on representing lendersinsecured continuouslyleads complexfinancing transactions He has morethan 38 yearsofinvestmentbanking financetransactions on an asset-based, recur- forsome of the firm’smostprominent clients,including andcorporatefinanceexperience, and he is an expert in ringrevenue, cashflowand leverage basis.She advises OaktreeCapital Management and FranciscoPartners. the financial aspects of corporatestrategy. Founded in clients on the establishment of credit facilities regarding He regularlyrepresents private equityfirms,commercial 2010,Intrepid has built areputation forguiding clients acquisitions,recapitalizations,refinancings,debtor- lending institutions and other private andpublic com- through value-defining events throughout the lifecycle in-possession financings, working capital and other panies in connection with the negotiation, structuring of theirbusinesses,including mergers and acquisitions, strategic financings.She has extensive experiencewith and documentation of secured and unsecured financing shareholderliquidity, raising capital, and business suc- restructurings,workouts and intercreditornegotiations. transactions forbothborrowersand lenders, including cession planning. Garcia'stransactional experienceincludes U.S. and senior,mezzanine and subordinated debttransactions, cross-border financing transactions involving avariety Freedman has advised morethan500 middle-market acquisition financings,dividend recapitalizationsand of public and private companies including retail, dining, companies in the areas of corporate finance,mergers and loan workouts and restructurings,including debtor-in- technology,software,energy,transportation, importing acquisitions,corporatevaluation, and strategic decisions. possession and exit financings. anddistribution, construction, manufacturing, service In addition, he has acted as the principal financial advisor and agriculture. Ford is an active participant in the alumni associations in hundreds of capital raisings and mergers and acquisi- of his alma maters–the UniversityofNotre Dame and tionstransactions ranging in value from $20 million to Garcia began her career in representinglenders24 Georgetown UniversityLaw Center.Heisamember of the morethan $1 billion. Among his recent notable deals yearsago while stillinlaw school. She has worked at Sorin Society at NotreDame and is actively working with ishis work advising RSI Home Products on its sale to manytop 100 lawfirms and presentlypractices at Hol- theschool to establish agreater alumni footprint in L.A. American Woodmark Corporation. land &Knight LLP.She is also aco-coordinator forthe Women's Initiative in Holland &Knight's L.A. office.

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Ross Gerber Russell Lloyd President and CEO Goldsmith Greif Gerber KawasakiWealth Chairman President &CEO and Investment Management City National Bank Greif &Co. Asset/Investment Management Commercial Banking Investment Banking

oss Gerber is the co-founder,presidentand CEO ussell Goldsmith serves as chairmanofbothCity loyd Greif is at thetop of hisgame in his field, Rof Gerber Kawasaki Wealthand Investment RNational Bank and RBCWealth Management Lwhich is M&A deal-making. Aveteraninvest- Management. He oversees Gerber Kawasaki's in the United States. ment banker,this November marks Greif’s 40th corporateand investment management operations and anniversary in the field and next year will markthe 30th Duringthe COVID-19crisis,Goldsmith leveraged serves individual clients. anniversary of the investmentbankGreif &Co.,for which hisdecades of banking experiencetodiscussthese he serves as founder,president &CEO. Gerberand the Gerber Kawasaki team oversee$1.6 challenges and the appropriatepolicy responses with billionofinvestments as of last year andfocus on technol- experts,including aformer Federal Reservechairman, a Greif &Co. is amiddle-market investment bank that ogy, media, andentertainmentsectors. Gerber Kawasaki former Council of Economic AdvisorsChair and others. engineersmerger&acquisition transactions between hasbecome aleader in fintech by leveraging technology Drawing on his yearsofserving on the Federal Reserve’s $50 million and $2 billion in enterprisevalue,aswell andsocial media to work with alarge and diverseclient Federal Advisory Council and his leadership of the Los as equityand debtfinancings in excess of $10 million, base. GK strivestodemocratize investment adviceand Angeles Coalitionfor theEconomy&Jobs,aswell as exclusively forentrepreneuriallyowned and operated preparethe younger generation fortheir future. Gerber his positioninresponding to the 2008 financial crisis, growth companies—henceGreif &Co.’s trademark as is an expert in onlinemarketing and social media and co- Goldsmith also called on Congress to pass aNew New “The Entrepreneur’s InvestmentBank.”His extreme developed the company’sapp foriOS,My-MoneyPage. DealinApril,which included a$2trillioneconomic work ethicislegendary, going back to the days when Ever sincehewas achild, Gerber has had apassion for recovery plan that supported infrastructure investment, he worked the midnight-to-nine "graveyard" shift at a investing and music. jobretraining and other measures. grocery storetopay his waythroughschool at UCLA and USC, working full-time while attending college full-time.

Channing Patrick Jeri Hamlet Harder Harman Managing Director Chair –InfrastructureGroup Founder&Chairman ObjectiveCapital Partners Nossaman Avante Capital Partners Investment Banking Professional Services Lending

hanning Hamletisamanaging director and co- verthe past severalyears,PatrickHarder,chair eri Harman is aseasoned executive,investorand Cowner of Objective Capital Partners, aleading Oof Nossaman's InfrastructurePracticeGroup, Jentrepreneur who has built teams and marketsfor investment banking and valuation firm serving hasserved as the leader of the legal team advis- majorinstitutional investorsand founded and run the lowermiddlemarket,specificallycompanieswith an ing on severalofthe largest, mostinnovative,impactful ahighlysuccessful private assetmanagement business. enterprise value of $20–$75 million. Hamletleads the and technicallycomplexpublic-private partnership Over the course of hercareer,she has held boardroles transaction execution of the investment bankingpractice, (P3) projectsinthe United States and California. These in over 20 private middle-market companiesacross and concurrentlyoperates as the head of the business projectsinclude the massive $7 billion Landside Ac- the U.S. in avariety of industries,including healthcare, valuation practice. cess Management ProgramatLAX, whichiscurrently business services,consumer products,and industrial. underconstruction, and the recentlycompletedUC Hamletisaresults-drivenexecutivethathas 25+ years Harman has consistently provided adviceonstrategy, Merced 2020 project forthe University of California of experience advisingbusinessownersonmanagement growth, management and organizational development, BoardofRegents.Progress has continuedunfettered issues,transaction execution and businessvaluation. He acquisitions and financial matters.Moreover,she is an on many of the projectsheleads, despitethe ongoing drawsfromadiverse background that incudes direct expert in finance, M&A and capital marketsissues and COVID-19pandemic. management experience, strategy consulting,private is afrequent speaker on thesetopicsatconferences equityinvesting, investment banking andbusiness ap- Currently,Harder is serving as the lead on the Los and symposiums across the country. She is founderand praisal experience. As one of the primary transactional Angeles Convention Center renovation and expansion chairman, and former CEO of AvanteCapital Partners. bankersatObjective,Hamlethas personallyclosed over forthe CityofLos Angeles,where he isworking with With over $800 million of committedcapital underman- 20 sell-side transactionsoverthe lastfiveyearsand the Citytohelp negotiateand draft an implementation agement, Avantemakes debtand equityinvestments to countless others throughout his career,ranginginsize agreement forthe LACC expansion P3 project,for which financebuyouts,minorityrecaps,acquisitions and growth. throughout the lowermiddle market from $10-250 million. theCityentered intoanexclusive negotiationagreement with AEG/Plenary.

This content is produced by the L.A. Times Brand Publishing team. It doesn’t involve the editorial staff of the L.A. Times. MARCH 2021 24 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING

Jeremy Michele L. Holland Brad Havens Managing Partner, Holtmeier West Region President Origination Partner NorthernTrust The Riverside Company CriticalPoint Capital, LLC Asset/Investment Management Private Equity Private Equity

asedinLos Angeles, MicheleHavens is Northern eremyHolland movedtoLos Angeles from Ba- radHoltmeierisapartner at CriticalPoint Capital BTrust’spresident of the West Region. In this posi- Jkersfield to attend CSUNorthridge, and he has B(CPC), an operations-focused private equity firm tion sheisresponsible forleading thecompany’s remained in L.A.throughout his career.Hespentthe in the middle market.CPC specializesincorpo- wealth management businessinthe Western United first12yearsofhis career with smaller moretradition- rate carve-outs,special situations and privately-owned States,fromWashington to Texas.Havens is responsible allystructured private equity firms,allowing him to be businesses seeking atransition.Holtmeier joined CPC forthe investment management,trust, estate, private involved in all aspects of the investing process.Now in at its founding in 2012 and has worked on the firm’s12+ and business banking business.She and her team work his thirddecade of private equityinvesting, he has been investments sinceinception. His strong business acumen withhigh-net-worth familiesand theirrelated charitable with The Riverside Companysince2010. and transaction instinctshaveled to successful acquisi- entities,bringing an uncompromising focus on clients. tionsacross avariety of industries,including industrial As managing director,heisspecificallyfocusedon In addition, she is amember of theNorthern Trust’s and manufacturing; aerospaceand defense; consumer; finding newinvestment opportunities at Riverside, Wealth Management Executive Committee. logisticsand distribution; business services; technology, primarily overseeing the businessdevelopment function media and telecom; and healthcare. Havens holdsaBachelor of Arts degree in financeand across severalofthe Riverside fund strategies.Holland marketing from BostonCollege and an MBAfromthe has completedscoresofinvestments across manydiffer- Holtmeier has demonstratedhis abilitytoidentify UCLA AndersonSchoolofManagement, whereshe was ent industries (including software, franchising, business companies’ untapped potential and CPC’soperational recognized as the mostvaluable student by classmates. services,healthcare,manufacturing and education/train- andfinancial resourcestotransform them.Heleads the Havens hasattended the HarvardBusinessSchool’sPost ing) throughout the entirecapital structure. Holland has investment team at CPC and deal sourcing, evaluating, Graduate ExecutiveEducation Programfor membersof also served as Riverside’sglobal industry specialization structuring, financing and executing transactions, and Young Presidents' Organization. head forinvestments in franchising, wherethe firm has portfolio companymanagement. He also serves on the made controland non-control investmentsinmorethan boards of all of CPC’scurrent portfolio companies. 35 franchised concepts.

Holland &Knight congratulates our own Danielle Garcia and all of the 2021 Banking &Finance visionaries.

Danielle focuses her practice on representing lenders in secured finance transactions on an asset-based, recurring revenue, cash-flow and leverage basis.

www.hklaw.com

LosAngeles,CA|213.896.2400

Copyright ©2021Holland &KnightLLP AllRightsReserved 26 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING

Carolyn David Shadi Hunt Iannini Jahangir Partner President Partner Barnes &ThornburgLLP William&Henry Associates Blank Rome LLP Professional Services Investment Banking Professional Services

arolyn Hunt is regarded as an authorityinthe avid Iannini has over 30 yearsofinvestment hadi Jahangirfocuses her practiceinthe areas Cfilm and television finance anddistribution Dbanking transaction experience, having held Sof commercial lending and corporate finance. arenas. She is one of onlyafew women leading a senior positions at Salomon Brothers and She represents financial institutions,leading film financepracticeatamajor lawfirm,offeringclients Schroders, among others.Iannini hasexecutedover200 private equitysponsors, and corporateborrowersin big-picturethinking and morethan25yearsofexperi- transactions forlarge capitalization companies as well middle-market debt financingsand investment-grade encerepresenting financiers, producers, distributors as medium-sizeentrepreneurial and private businesses. credits.Her experienceincludes widelysyndicated, and sales agents in the financing of hundreds of film, club andsingle-lender representation in connection Some of his transaction experiencewith values of television and gaming projects. with traditional asset-based lending facilities,aswell $25–$200 million includes the sale of Intercontinental Art as cross-border financings, restructurings, acquisition Hunt’s clientslook to her as atrustedadvisorwho can to MadisonDearborn, the sale of KBell Socks to Compass financings andrecapitalizations.Jahangiralsorepresents help solve problems thatcomewith structuring theoften Equity, the sale of Arrow Food to U.S. Foodservice, and clients in senior-secured, first-lien/second-lien, mezza- puzzling deals within the entertainment industry.Asa the sale of Entertainment Data to A.C. Nielsen. He has a nine, unitranche, and unsecured financing transactions. lawyer who has represented financial institutions,equity B.S. in Accounting, Magna CumLaude, from theCarroll ventureand productionfunds,production companies, School of Management at BostonCollege as well as an In addition to herpassionfor law, Jahangir has a sales agents,distributors, high-net-worth individuals MBA,Summa Cum Laude, from the Anderson School passion forcommunityservice. She is actively involved and talent in awide variety of capital and distribution of Management at UCLA. withThe Center in Hollywood,whosemission it is to end transactions, she generallytakes the lead role in compli- isolation and homelessness in Los Angeles. She notonly catedmulti-partytransactionsbecause of her reputation provides probono legal servicestoThe Center,but also forunderstanding the big pictureofwhatisrequired to serves on the BoardofDirectorsfor theorganization. close such deals. She is also amember of Blank Rome’sDiversityand Inclusion Committee.

Danilo Ron Catherine Kawasaki Kent Jooyan Vice President &COO Partner,West Region Senior Vice President Gerber Kawasaki Wealth Financial Services Leader US Bank &Investment Management RSM US LLP Commercial Banking Asset/Investment Management Professional Services

atherine Jooyan is asenior vicepresidentrespon- anilo Kawasaki, Vice Presidentand COO of on Kent is an accomplished audit partner with Csiblefor SBAlending in Southern California,as DGerber Kawasaki Wealth &InvestmentMan- Rmorethan30yearsofexperienceinpublic ac- well as severalmid-western states,for US Bank. agement, oversees the complianceand day-to- counting. He has served as anationalco-practice In hercapacity, she is responsible formanaging ateam of dayoperationsofthe firm. He is also amember of the leader forRSM’s specialty finance practiceand currently bankersdelivering SBAlending to small business in her Gerber Kawasaki BoardofDirectorsand the Investment serves as aregionalfinancial servicespracticeleader.As community. Jooyan has nearlyfour decades of banking Selection Committee. Currently, the firm has over 7,000 the firm’sregionalleader, Kent is responsible forprovid- experiencewhere she has served on the executive board clients nationwide and manages over $1.4billion, with ing the long-term vision andbusiness strategies of the foracommunitybank and forher trade association, has ambitiousplans to eclipse the $10 billion-dollar mark West region’sfinancial services practice.Throughout his helped thousands of small businesses getthe financing over the next fewyears. tenurewith RSM, Kent has worked on numerous capital theyneed, and has provided financial advocacy to busi- and debtraising campaigns,including initial public and Kawasaki wasborn and raised in Brazil and received ness ownersand her team of respected bankers. secondary offerings and private placement memorandums. his B.S. degree in BusinessAdministration from the Jooyan has served as aGirl Scout Leaderfor 14 years, UniversityofRedlands.Asascholar athlete,heisa Kent is also responsible forthe firm’slargest client whereshe hashelped many girlslearn aboutfinanceand three-time All-American in tennis.Hereceived acer- relationshipsinthe West region, assists the RSM’s helped them achieve theirdreams around girl scouting. tificateinPersonal Financial Planning from UCLA and national officeinestablishing Regulation AB guidance Additionally, she has worked with food banks and other is aprofessional Certified Financial Planner.Healso and is the engagement leader forclients who regularly need-basedorganizations,inher capacityasaGirl Scout received acertificateinWealth Management Theory complete asset-backedsecuritizations. He is sought Leader,servicing the underprivilegedinher community. &PracticefromYale andisaCertified Private Wealth after to serveasthe concurring partner or subject mat- Advisor professional. terexpert on the mostsignificant mortgagebanking relationships in the firm.

This content is produced by the L.A. Times Brand Publishing team. It doesn’t involve the editorial staff of the L.A. Times. MARCH 2021 28 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING

Kiyoun Kim Andrew John M. Executive Vice President & Kline Krambeer Regional Manager for California Managing Director Founder&Partner IDB Bank Park Lane IBS LLC Camden Capital Commercial Banking Investment Banking Asset/Investment Management

sIDB Bank’s regional managerfor California, ndrew Kline, managing director and founder ohn Krambeer founded Camden Capital in 2004 AKiyoun Kim oversees the bank’sfull-service Aof Park Lane,brings abroad background of Jand is apartnerofthe firm and the chairman of branches in DowntownLos Angeles and Beverly professional sports experience, investment Camden Capital’sinvestment strategyteam, wherehe Hills.Kim leadsMiddleMarket Business Banking, Com- banking expertise, and industry knowledgetohis firm. oversees the investment managementprocess,including mercial Real Estate, and Private Banking forIDB.She Klinehas advised on M&A transactionsacross all major manager selection and review. Krambeer has specialized continues to focus on bringing new, innovative products sports leagues as well as emerging and international in providing wealthyfamilies with strategic investment and customized solutions to thelocal marketplace. She sports leagues.Hehas also been integralinadvising on advice, including portfoliodesign and creation along bringsmorethan twodecades of commercial banking financing manyearly-stagesports-based businesses and with oversight of investment partnerships.Krambeer experienceatrelationship-focused banks. real estatetransactions.Within the firm, Kline actively has worked with both traditional and alternative invest- oversees all Park Lane's strategies:sportsteam M&A ment managers, evaluating assetallocation strategies, Kim is the first female EVP/regional manager at advisory,early-stagesports-business corporatefinance, managinglong-term equity portfolios and implementing IDB.Since2014, she and her teamshaveworkedto traditionalreal estatefinancing, and secondaries.He optionsstrategies forlarge concentrated stock positions. increase loans,deposits,and investments,all of which focusesprimarily on client relationship management led to profitabilitynearlydoubling in recent years. Krambeer is amember of the Advisory Boardof and deal execution. Despitethe pandemic of 2020, IDB CA achieved its Rosemawr Management, FrontRangeCapital Partners, bestresults to date, with record-breaking growth and Beforefounding Park Lane, Kline wasdrafted by an NewRoad Capital Advisorsand Saybrook Fund Advi- financial performance. Under Kiyoun’sleadership,the professional football team, forwhom he playedcenter sors. He wasalso an inaugural member of the Schwab CA region had loan growth of 20% and deposit growth and quick guard. After retiring, Kline became an active Institutional Advisory Council forAdvisors Turning of 21%, all while maintaining stellar credit qualitywith investorinthe San Diego andArizona real estatemar- Independent(ATI) –asoundingboardfor firms tran- no losses or charge-offs. kets and brought sizable returns to investorsinhis fund. sitioning to independenceinthe ever-changing wealth management industry.

Simone Jason A. Jonathan Lagomarsino Lawit Lee President President, Principal &ChiefExecutive Officer Los Angeles Region Managing Director LutherBurbank Savings Northern Trust George Smith Partners Commercial Banking Asset/Investment Management Professional Services

imone Lagomarsino serves as president and chief ason Lawit is the presidentofthe Los Angeles onathan Lee recentlybegan his15th year at George Sexecutiveofficer of Luther Burbank Corporation Jregion forNorthernTrust.Heworks to grow the JSmith Partners, having movedtothe firm from and Luther Burbank Savings.She leads the Ex- businessand regularlyparticipates in newbusiness ahomebuilding development firm in 2006.He ecutive Committeeand is amember of Luther Burbank’s and relationship opportunities.Lawit leads Northern began his work in capital advisory as part of co-founder boardofdirectors. Prior to joining in 2019,Lagomarsino Trust’s Los Angeles client serviceoffering, coordinat- SteveBram’steam beforeforming his owngroup in served as president and CEO of the WesternBankers ing and implementing investment and broader wealth 2012.Hebecame apartner in 2014 and todayheisa Association and as adirector of Pacific Premier Ban- strategies aroundwealth transfer,tax efficiencies,and managing director. corp; from 2011 to 2017,she served as CEO of Heritage philanthropy forprivate clients and small and mid-sized In hisfirst year as managing director,Lee established Oaks Bank and as president and CEO of HeritageOaks tax-exemptand institutional clients. aFannie/Freddiecorrespondent agreement and, in Bancorp; previous to that, she held executive positions He is also aleader in Northern Trust’sGoals-Driven concert with his fellowpartners, grew the firm’scapital withCityNationalBank, Hawthorne Savings, Kinecta Wealth Managementcapabilities,which seeks to inte- advisorbase. From 2017–2019,firm revenue grew 58%, Federal Credit Union, VenturaCountyNationalBank grateportfolio management with clients’ goals and full transaction volume increased, and GSP began to laythe and Warner Center Bank. balancesheet. groundwork forits geographic expansion. Lee and his Most recentlyLagomarsino has providedtireless team continuetofocus on ground up construction and Prior to joining Northern Trustin2010, Lawitwas a leadership in navigating Luther Burbank Savings’ es- permanentdebtinthe multi-familyspace. Notably,Lee director at Waterline Partners, where he wasasenior sential business through the evolving situation related and team closed an 80% loan to cost project in Azusa. portfolio manager and aleader in business development. to COVID-19. She wasalso recentlyinvited to join the The 163-unitmixed use development is located one He joined Waterline Partnersasadirector in March of Federal ReserveBank of San Francisco’sCommunity block south of the Metro Gold Line. 2006. Prior to joining Waterline, Lawit wascounsel to Depository Institution Advisory Committee. the firm from its inception. He began hiscareerasa transactional corporateattorney.

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Derek J. Christopher Chang M. Lynn Lewis Liu Vice President, Managing Director President and CEO Los Angeles Regional Manager RLH Equity Partners CathayBank PartnersBank of California Private Equity CommercialBanking Commercial Banking

hrisLewis co-founded RLH and ledthe firm hang M. Liu is the president and chief execu- erek Lynn serves as Vice President, Los Angeles Cthrough amulti-decade trajectory of growth and Ctive officer of CathayBank and CathayGeneral Dregionalmanager forPartners Bank of Califor- success,developing from asmall familyofficeto Bancorp and serves as amember on the Board nia. In this role, Lynn has helped fund several an institutional private equitygroup managing assets in of Directorsfor Cathay. Liu leads the oldestoperating million dollarsofPaycheck Protection Programloans excess of $1 billion.Overthat period,hehas been instru- bank in the U.S. foundedbyChinese Americans,with forhis clientsacrossthe Southland.Overhis 20-year mental in building adistinctive culture based on respect $19billion in assets over anine-statefootprint with career in the banking industry,Lynnhas held several and fairness,shaping the firm’s investment strategy, and 61 branches,aswell as abranch in Hong Kong, and positions in various banking departments,including growing the firm’steam of full-time investment profes- representative officeinBeijing, Shanghai, and Taipei. newaccounts representative,assistant branch manager, sionals from oneto14. Under hisleadership,RLH has andvicepresident of credit administration. Prior to his With morethan three decadesofbanking experience, refined and executed along-term investment focus and current role, Lynn served as head underwriter in Credit Liu prides himself on his ability to think outside the box strategy that has generated consistentlystrong returns. Administration, with thisperiodconsistingofthe bank’s to formulateinnovative and effective responses that largest loan portfolio growth. Under Lewis’ stewardship,RLH has enabled numer- minimize risk, and to deliverworkable and timelysolu- ous entrepreneurstorealize financial and professional tions.Heissuccessfullyleading CathayBank’sdigital AgraduateofCalifornia StateUniversity, Long dreams,while creating career opportunities and personal transformation efforts to enhancethe bank’sonline and Beach, Lynn currentlyresides in BelmontShorewith growth formanymembers of the portfolio companies’ mobile platforms to unifyseamlessly across different his wife, Danielle. teams.Overthe course of the past38years, he has also devices and has introduced newonline service features, served on the boards of morethan twodozen RLH suchas, onlineconsumerwires and online account open- portfolio companies and has counseled these companies ing, to createbetter front-end user experiences. through critical strategic transitions.

Congratulations to Restructuring PartnerSamuel Maizel forbeing recognized as oneofthe visionaries in theBanking&Finance industry by theL.A.Times BrandPublishing Banking andFinance magazine.

Dentons, thelaw firmofthe future is here.

dentons.com

©2021 Dentons. Dentons is aglobal legal practice providing client servicesworldwide throughits member firms and affiliates. Please see dentons.com forLegal Notices. 30 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING

James Madden Samuel Jenn Co-Founder Maizel McCabe and Managing Director Partner Partner Carrick Capital Partners Dentons Armanino LLP Private Equity Professional Services Professional Services

im Madden is an entrepreneur,investor, and amuel Maizel is apartner in the Restructuring, enn McCabe has morethan25yearsofoutsourced Jpioneer of the HR Business Process Outsourcing SInsolvency and BankruptcypracticeatDentons, Jaccounting and financeexperience, with aparticular (BPO) sector.Hewas thefounder,chairman, and theworld’slargest lawfirm. He is an authorityon expertise in startups and the advertising and creative chiefexecutive officer of Exult, Inc., the Irvine based, the issues that arise in the restructuring of health care productionindustries.She is passionateabout seeing pioneer of HRBPOfor Global 500 corporations.Insix industry entities,including nonprofits.Hehas spokenat companies utilize accounting technology to maximize years, Maddengrew Exult from aconcept to morethan manyconferences nationallyand internationallyand is a theirefficiency,productivity, and ultimately, success. $500 million in revenue and led the company’ssuccess- published expert. Maizel has also counseled numerous Before joining Armanino,she foundedand ledTeam fulIPO in 2000. health care organizations through complexbankruptcy Jenn Corp., afirm dedicated to the strategic financial proceedings. management of startups and small businesses,offering In 2012,Madden co-founded Carrick Capital Partners, acomprehensive back officesolution with accounting, wherehedirectlyoversees the sourcing and growth of Maizel recentlyconcluded leading the representa- financeand HR solutions. successful software and software-enabled businesses. tionofVerity HealthSystemofCalifornia and16re- Together with co-founder MarcMcMorris,heco-chairs lated entities,including six acutecarehospitals,inthe An advocatefor women in accountingher whole ca- the investment committee. Maddenisclosely involved in second-largest hospital bankruptcycase in American reer,McCabe plays acentral role in the firm’sWomen’s theidentification, selectionand post-investment growth history.All six hospitals in the Veritysystemhavenow Advancement Network and helped foundthe Executive guidance of Carrick’s portfoliocompanies.Leveraging his been soldasgoing concerns, and acontestedchapter Access Program(EAP).The programprovideshigh- deep understanding of sales,operations and corporate 11 plan has been confirmed. As co-lead counsel, Maizel potentialfemale account professionals with access to governance, he works with these companies to create helped craft and executethe unique, innovative legal firm executivesearlierintheir careerstohelp them substantial long-term value. arguments that consistentlywon favorable rulings from understandthe pathtopartnershipand recognize the the bankruptcycourt. benefits of partnership.McCabe has abachelor’sdegree in economicsfromPepperdine University.

Marc RudyB. McMorris Medina Noor Co-Founder and President, SouthernCalifornia Menai Managing Director Commercial Banking President &CEO Carrick Capital Partners U.S. Bank CTBC Bank USA Private Equity Commercial Banking Commercial Banking

ntrepreneur,investorand philanthropistMarc udy Medina serves as the Southern California oor Menai has morethan30yearsofexperience EF. McMorris is aco-founder and managing Rmarket president forU.S.Bank, the fifth largest Nin global banking, having successfullyled and director of Carrick CapitalPartners, wherehe commercial bank in the United States.Medina transformed avariety of consumer and com- is directlyinvolvedinthe identification,selection and leads themarket in company-wide efforts and activities mercial businesses.With banks under morepublic and post-investment growth guidanceofthe firm’sportfolio and directs commercialbanking in the greater Southern regulatory scrutinythaneverbefore, Noor possesses companies in software andsoftware-enabled businesses. Californiaarea. Medinahas over 35 yearsofbanking and therarecombination of vision, operational expertise Together with co-founder JimMadden, he co-chairsthe financial services experienceinCalifornia and joinsU.S. and relationships necessary to take on the toughest investmentcommittee. McMorris closelyworkswiththe Bank after 35 yearsatBank of America. leadership challenges in the industry. CEOs, executive teams,and boardsofthe firm'sportfolio, Medina is active and dedicated in the communityand Since2012, he has served as President &CEO of leveraging his deep understanding of sales,finance, capital currentlyserves as aboardmember of the Western Bankers CTBC Bank USA, and during his tenurehehas grown structures and corporategovernance.McMorris assists Association and the California Chamber of Commerce. the institution’s assets from $900 million to over $3.6 thesecompanies in navigating growth opportunities and Medina servesonthe boards of the Central CityAssocia- billion. In December 2020,hewas also named CTBC the creation of their substantial long-term value. tion of LosAngeles,United WayofGreater Los Angeles, Bank’sDeputyHead of International Business oversee- Previously,asamanaging director forGeneral Atlantic, Los Angeles EconomicDevelopment Council, and the ing 14 countries.CTBC’sglobal assets total over $180 agrowth-oriented $15 billion global private equity firm, Dean’sAdvisory Boardfor the college of Business and billion. Noor is also aBoardMember of USC’sRossier McMorris wasthe lead or co-lead in approximately$900 EconomicsatCalifornia StateUniversity, LosAngeles. SchoolofEducation, where he ensured large donations to million in investments in businessservices,financial the USCCollege Advising Corps,which helps foster the services,and software,whichincludedthe successful college-going cultureofLos Angeles area high schools. IPOs of numerous companies.

This content is produced by the L.A. Times Brand Publishing team. It doesn’t involve the editorial staff of the L.A. Times. MARCH 2021 BRAND PUBLISHING BANKING AND FINANCE | 31

Karen Steven Joshua Miles Miller Mogin Managing Director Partner Partner HoulihanLokey Morgan, Lewis &Bockius LLP Raines Feldman LLP Investment Banking Professional Services ProfessionalServices

aren Miles is amanaging directorand head teve Miller is apartner in Morgan, Lewis & osh Mogin is apartner at Raines FeldmanLLP and Kof Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Advisory Ser- SBockius LLP’sFinance practice, advisingequity Jhead of the real estatefinancepracticegroup.He vices businessfor SouthernCalifornia. She sponsorsand their portfolio companies as well as is arealestateand financeattorneywithover20 co-chairsthe firm’sTechnical Standards Committee, strategic buyersand borrowersinconnection with the yearsofexperiencerepresenting institutional lenders, which determines the appropriatemethodologiesfor debt component of large cap, middle-market andlower- financial institutions,developers, specialservicers, rating dealing withvaluation issues.She is aleaderinthe firm’s middle-market leveragedacquisitions,inaddition to a agencies,insurancecompanies, credit unions,hotelsand Global CorporateValuation Advisory Services practice wide variety of publicand private commercial lending propertyownersinfinancing, securitization, construction and is also amember of the firm’sEstateand Gift Tax transactions.These include syndicated credit facilities; financing, agency lending, mezzanine financing, loan re- Engagement and ReviewCommittee. cash-flowand asset-based loans; multiple-lien, mezza- structurings,foreclosures,acquisitions and dispositions. nine and other subordinated credits; recapitalizations; Mogin works with each of his clients to provide sound Miles has morethan twodecades of experiencein restructurings; and workout-related matters. advice which enables themtoefficientlyand effectively valuation and financialconsulting,with emphasis on the close transactions. valuation of businesses,securities,and intangibleassets. With morethan30yearsofexperience, Millerhas Herexperienceincludes fairness opinions,solvency represented both lendersand borrowers, butfor the last Mogin alsohas extensiveexperience in distressed opinions,purchase priceallocations,goodwill impair- 15 yearshas focused exclusively on borrower represen- real estatetransactions including the implementation of ment analyses,valuations fortransactions,financings, tation. He is one of onlyfour domestic Morgan Lewis financed note sale programs,loan sales and acquisition, gift and estatetax planning, ESOPs, dissolutions,and partners who solelypractices borrower-sidefinance, receiverships and the sale of REO properties. His practice litigation. She has consulted on ownership transition issues and the onlypartner who solelyrepresents borrowers also includes entertainment and corporatefinancing, in- and liquidityalternatives. She also chairsthe Director on the West Coast.Heleads anumber of high-profile cluding therepresentation of banksand private financing Development Panel, whereshe mentors, develops and and cross-border borrower-side transactions,assisting companies in connection with financingpower facilities, selects the next generation of leadersfor the company. the complete spectrum of borrowers. film production, and intellectual propertyrights.

CONGRATULATIONS

Jeremy Holland of TheRiverside Companyand allthose being recognized as aVisionary in Banking &FinanceinLos Angeles!

riversidecompany.com 32 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING

Steve Joel Moon Edward Montminy Managing Director & Moyzes President and CEO Deputy Head of M&A, Americas CEO Montminy &Co. Duff &Phelps Strategic View Advisors Investment Banking Investment Banking Asset/Investment Management

oel Montminyfounded and leadsMontminy&Co., teve Moon has been with Duff &Phelps Securi- dMoyzeswas born in Kiev beforethe fall of spearheading its clientassignments and operations ties forover20years. He is amanaging director the SovietUnion, eventuallyimmigrating to Jacross the globe. He is ahigh-impact leader who Sanddeputyheadofmergers and acquisitions for EDenverwith his familywhen he wasfive. After successfullyspearheads both Montminy&Co.’sdaily Americas.Heisalsoco-headofthe firm’sAerospace, spending time at big four public accounting firms and a operations as well as client assignments across theglobe. Defense andGovernment Mergers&AcquisitionsGroup. dotcom start up,hedecided he wanted greater control Montminy’sexpertise includes domestic mergers and over his professional futureand startedhis career as a Moon has 23 yearsofinvestmentbanking and cor- acquisitions, leverage and managementbuyouts,and financial advisor. poratefinance experience. He has completedarange private placements of equitysecurities,restructurings, of investment bankingengagementsincluding merg- Originallyasolo advisor,Moyzes wasaleader among business valuations,fairness opinions and strategic ers, acquisitions,sales, divestitures,recapitalizations, his peers from day one, finishing first in the country advisory assignments. leveragedbuyouts,debtand equityfinancings,strategic among newadvisorsduring three of his first four years. Growing profitablyevery year sinceinception, Mont- alternative reviews and fairness opinions on behalf of As his practicegrew,hesawanopportunitytoexpand miny&Co.has represented over 140clients in various private equityfirms,public corporations and private client impactbybuildingateam of talentedprofessionals corporatefinanceactivities across 12 countries,leading companyclients.Among hisrecent transactions has been whose values align with his own. Over the lastfiveyears over $3 billion in closed middlemarket transaction the recapitalization of Innoflight,the sale of Impresa Moyzes’ team, Strategic View Advisors, has doubled in volume. Today, the firm has 22 employees,including 15 Aerospace, the sale of Thaler Machine Co., the sale of size from five to tenteam members, including five Certi- registeredreps and is consistentlyranked as one of Los Prospect Mold Company, the sale of AIM MRO, andthe fied Financial Planners(CFPs). Angele’stop boutiqueinvestment banks.Montminy& sale of SEMCO Aerospace. He is afrequent speaker on Co.enjoysastellar reputation andacultureoftrust, topicsconcerning M&A and financings. performanceand results.Montminyholds an MBAfrom USCand attended CaseWestern Reserve School of Law.

CONGRATULATIONS

Gil Estrada LaVon Short Senior Vice President Senior Vice President RegionalManager Sales and Support Group Manager

Recognized as Financial Visionaries

Equal Housing Lender |Member FDIC 03.21 cbbank.com| BRAND PUBLISHING BANKING AND FINANCE | 33

Daniel Muñoz DavidM. René Vice President, Nemecek Nourse Commercial Lender Partner Founder/CEO CDC Small BusinessFinance Kirkland &Ellis LLP Urban Wealth Company Lending Professional Services Asset/Investment Management

aniel Muñoz, who began his financial career in avid Nemecek is acorporatepartner in Kirk- fter 25 yearsasafinancial advisorinthe corporate Dthe spring of 2011, hasworked in small business Dland &Ellis’ Los Angeles office. His practice Aworld, René Nourse left amajor firm in 2012 banking forBank of America, Chase Bank and focuses on representing privateequity sponsors, to launch Urban Wealth Management Group. nowCDC Small Business Finance. In the summer of portfolio companies,hedgefunds,assetmanagers and Sensing thatashift wastakingplaceinthe financial 2016,hebegan with CDCSmall Business Financeand has alternative capital sourcesincomplex financing transac- services industry,her intention wastobuild aplatform served as avicepresident–commercial lender specializing tions,including leveragedbuyouts,liabilitymanagement thatfocused on strategic financialplanning alongside in SBA504 financing. He began his professionalcareer transactions,recapitalizations,restructurings and other investmentmanagementtobetterserveclients.But it was in the material handling industry as an entrepreneur. special situation transactions.Nemecek’stransactions her ownpersonalexperience, her mother’schallengesin span the capital structureand vary in size from multi- her life(and subsequent passing in 2017)that inspired With the knowledge of commercial banking and experi- billion dollar to middle market andlower middlemarket Nourse to focus on supporting the needs of women. ence in owning and operatinghis familybusiness, Muñoz transactions. brings aunique perspective to each and every deal. He Focused on the manywomen who arestrong, ambitious, has continued to be active in the local communityasan Nemecek specializes in helping stressed companies and independent and yet have neglected to consider the advocatefor small businesses. Over the last12months,he navigateturbulent times by developing and executing risksoflongevityand the importance of making good has assistedvarious small businessborrowersthroughout cutting edgefinancing transactions.Hehas worked with financial decisions todaysothat theycan have acomfort- OrangeCounty andbeyond with expandingtheir current leadingretailersand led the financing aspects of six out able lifestyle tomorrow,Nourse has made it her and her business,the purchase of aproperty, and relocations. of the top20largest retaildebtrestructuringsarising out firm’smission to encourageand assistwomen to create of the pandemic. Adriving forcefor the firm, Nemecek’s the lifestyle theydesireand deserve. expertise in special situationsand complexliability management transactions have been marketleading cementing his status as athought leader in the field.

2021 VISIONARY L.A. TIMES BRAND PUBLISHING BANKINGAND FINANCE MAGAZINE

GHJcongratulates Anant on being recognized as a2021 Visionary.

WE GOTTHIS. As the GHJ’sAdvisory Practice and Transaction AdvisoryPractice Leader, Anant challenges both clientsand employees to think outside the boxin 700S.Flower St., Suite 3300 order to navigatethe future. Los Angeles, CA 90017

His dedicationtosupport clients during difficulttimes to help them navigate businessdisruption is what makeshim atrailblazer in the industry.

Find out what makehim avisionary. 34 | BANKING AND FINANCE BRAND PUBLISHING

Daniel Kevin M. Passage Anant O’Malley Partner &Co-Chair, Patel Partner Structured Finance Practice Partner Blank Rome LLP Winston &Strawn LLP GHJ Professional Services Professional Services Professional Services

evin O’Malleyconcentrates his practiceon o-chair of Winston&Strawn’sStructured Fi- nanthas over 25 yearsofpublicaccounting Kfinancial services and secured lending across CnancePractice, Daniel Passagehas morethan Aexperienceand leads GHJ’sAdvisory and severalindustries,including manufacturing, 25 yearsofexperience structuring programs for Transaction Advisory Servicespractices and healthcare, and technology.Headvisescommercial banks, the origination, financing, and securitization of novel is amember of GHJ’sExecutive Committee. He advises mezzanine and second lienlenders,equitysponsors,and or esotericfinancial assets. He is among the nation’s in mergersand acquisitions and provides financial due other institutional lendersand borrowersincomplex leadingattorneys in the securitization andfinance of diligenceconsulting.Patel has assistedondeals rang- asset-based and cash flowfinancings,including split- severalcutting-edgefinancial products,including life ing from $20 million to $500million and is aCertified lien and unitranche structures.Heisalso experienced in settlements,PropertyAssessed Clean Energy (PACE) Merger &Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA). Patelhas guiding clients through distressed loan workouts,Article assets (residential and commercial),and non-bank fintech clients owned by Private EquityGroups,VCs and in- 9sales,orderly wind downs,and bankruptcy proceedings. or “marketplacelending.” stitutional investors. O’Malleyisalso aco-founder,generalcounsel and In recent years, Passagehas represented investment Patelismotivated by hisincrediblyentrepreneurial CEO of Indie Brewing Company, acraft brewery and banks,fund managers, andoriginatorsinground-breaking and inquisitivemindset. This is an essential assettothe taproom in downtownLos Angeleswithdistribution financingsand securitizations of nearly$5billionof firm, helping to challengebothemployees and clients to throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. As general residential and commercial PACE assets. think outside the boxinorder to navigatethe future. He counsel, he acted as leadcounsel foraprivate offering to is akey figureofthe firm and has severalaccomplish- He hasrepresented originatorsinproduct development, raise the start-up capital necessary to start the brewery, ments,including, following the COVID-19shutdown, non-banklending platform construction, and the financing has negotiated distribution contracts,navigated various exhibiting theabilitytopivot andassistclientsinseveral and securitization of nearly$6billion of consumer,small city, stateand federal licensingrequirements,and handles ways,including accessing the PPP loans that were not business, and franchise loans and receivables through day-to-daylegal issues. previouslyavailable. online “marketplacelending”platforms.

Nishen Paul Jim Radia Rahimian Pitrat Co-founder Chief Executive Officer Managing Partner &Managing Partner &Founder SingerLewak LLP FocalPoint Partners, LLC Parkview Financial Professional Services Investment Banking Lending

im Pitrat has been the managingpartner of Singer- ishen Radia is managing partner and co-founder sCEO and founder of Parkview Financial,Paul JLewakLLP since2013. He has driventhe growth Nof FocalPoint Partners, aleading investment ARahimianmanages anational debtfundthat of thefirm through organic andmergergrowth. bank headquarteredinLos Angeles,with branch provides construction financing to ground-up Sincebecoming MP,hehas overseen over tenmergers, offices in Chicago,New York, and Shanghai.Radia heads real estatedevelopment projects.Through the private which have more than doubled the size of the firm and the firm’smergers and acquisitions practice. Sinceits fund, the firm provides short-term bridgeand construc- increased revenues to $70million. Inaddition to the inceptionin2002,FocalPoint has growntobecome tionloans secured by first trustdeedstodevelopers financial success of the firm, he has also created initia- one of the largermiddle-market investment banks in throughout the United States.Sincelaunchingthe fund in tiveswithin the firm that have addedtothe diversityand thecountry,with approximately60professionals who 2015,Parkviewhas successfullyexecutedinexcess of $1.6 thus,success of an evolving and growing organization. deliveradiversified suiteofadvisory servicestoclients, billioninfinancingfor morethan 125multifamily, retail, including mergersand acquisitions,debtplacements, office, industrial and mixed-use projects.The executed Pitrat has experiencewith both private and publicly and financial restructurings. loan size ranges between $5 million to $100 million. traded companiesand has also advised on cost man- agement, internal controls,corporaterestructuring, Radia has approximately25yearsofinvestment banking Rahimian foundedParkviewFinancial in early2009 and mergers and acquisitions.Pitrat has client service experienceadvising ownersand stakeholders of middle- –during the height of financialcrisis –and hassince responsibilitiesinthe business sectorsofinvestor-backed market companies (typicallythose with revenues of $50 originatedhundreds of commercialand residential loans, private companies,family-owned companies and public to $500 million) on mergers and acquisitions,debtand always plying his trademark, hands-on management style. companies.His primary industries and focus areas include equity recapitalizations,and financial restructurings. He has beenwidelyrecognizedasanindustry pioneer as technology,media and entertainment, lifesciences,and He hasservedasprincipal financial advisor on numer- he wasone of the first to offer complete integration of manufacturing and distribution. ous high-stakes transactions,notablyinthe healthcare, loan origination and servicing under one roof. consumer,and business services sectors.

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Bonnie Trevor M. Mark Rubin Saliba Sampson EVP Regional Director Managing Partner Managing Partner 1st Century Bank NMS Consulting Inc. Pacific Growth Investors, LLC Commercial Banking Professional Services Private Equity

onnie Rubin is currentlyanexecutive vice revor Saliba is NMS Consulting’smanaging ark Sampson co-founded Pacific Growth president with 1stCentury Bank, adivision of partner and global head of private equity, M&A Investorsand its predecessor fund, Vintage BMidFirst Bank. She has been in the banking Tand strategy of NMS Consulting, based in the MCapitalPartners,toaccelerate value creation industry forover30yearsand with 1stCentury Bank firm’sBeverlyHills headquarters, whereheserves a at lowermiddle market companies as their control for15years. Herleadership,entrepreneurial spirit and global client base. Saliba currentlyleads aglobal team financial sponsor.Heco-managesall aspects of PGI’s enthusiasm have been integralto1st Century’s success of over 130 professionals across 14 officesinthe United investing activities and serves on its investmentcom- sincethe bank’s inception. She also maintains and grows States,Europe, Middle Eastand Asia. mittee. Sampson also serves on the boardsofSpectra herown book of clients. Aerospace, Emerge Diagnosticsand Originate, Inc. Saliba's career as an investment banker,private equity Importantly, in 2020 Rubin personallyhelped 100 investor and management consultant spans 25 years, in Sampsonbegan hiscareer in banking, culminating of herclientsnavigate thePPP applicationand their which he has originated, overseen and completedover with his role as the head of the West Coastcreditprod- forgiveness process. Rubin,along with her various teams, $20 billion in transactions both as an advisor and/or uctportfolioand member of theinvestment banking arepositioned to helpher clientsonthe next round of principal investor.AtNMS Consulting,aglobal man- healthcaregroup forCreditSuisse First Boston. Over funding as well. Additionally, she opened and staffed a agement consulting firm, he recentlyadvised clients on the years, Sampson hasbeen involved withfinancingand newprivate andbusiness banking officefor 1stCentury strategy launches acquisitions or targetedroll ups in a investing over $3 billion forawide variety of companies Bankinthe San Fernando Valley.Rubin encourages diversearray of industry sector includingtechnology in aerospaceand defense, healthcare, medical devices, women to continue to develop their personal and career andvirtualreality, fintech,hedgefunds, sustainable industrial manufacturing andtechnology companies,both skills through aWomen’sLeadership Council that she products, healthcareand manufacturinginboththe public and privately held, including manyinCalifornia. co-created and is co-chairing at 1stCentury. United States and Europe. CurrentlyPGI holds investments across four platform companies,three of which aregrowing California-based companies.

Amanda John Greg Schutzbank Schweisberger Seibly Co-Founder, Partner-in-Charge, President and General Partner Business Outsourcing Services Head of Regional Banking Willow Growth Partners Armanino LLP Union Bank Private Equity Professional Services Commercial Banking

manda Schutzbank spent the lastsix yearsin- ohn SchweisbergerservesasArmanino’s partner- regSeiblystepped intohis role at Union Bank Avesting in and supporting portfolio companies. Jin-charge of the Business Outsourcing Services Gat the beginning of March 2020,joiningUnion Having been an operatorherself, she’spassion- practice, focused on providingessential outsourced BankfromFederal Home Loan Bank of San ateabout what comes after the check. Prior to Willow, accounting, finance, human resourcesand restructuring Francisco, whereheserved as president and CEO. Schutzbank wasaninvestoratAmplify.LA andPrimary services to clients in avariety of industries.Hebrings Seiblystarted at Union Bank right at the onsetofthe VenturePartnerswhereshe focused on the e-commerce over 30 yearsofexperiencetohis role. pandemic in the United States.AsUnion Bank has navi- sector.AtPrimary,she built one of the mostrenowned After the pandemic hit and the CARES Actwas gated throughthe pandemic, Seibly has spearheaded the portfolio supportplatformsinNew York, whichher passed, virtuallyevery bank in the country wasinundated effort to ensurethatsafety, transparent communication portfolio companies leveragedfor operational advice, with hundreds,ifnot thousands,ofPPP loan requests. and empathywereadded to every situation –whether mentorship,boardseats and recruiting. Schweisbergerand team,bythe beginning of 2021,had client interactions or internallywith colleagues –so Prior to hertime in venturecapital, Schutzbank was supported roughly25,000loans that aggregated to about thatthe bank could addressthe needs of thebusiness an operator on the founding team and vicepresident of $3.5 billion.Withasecond round of PPP loansset to and communities.Withhis team, Seiblyhas been able marketing of Karma, aconsumer productscompany. seek forgiveness at the end of 2021,itisindustry leaders to prepareand createaseamless transition to aremote She wasone of the first Associates in theTechstarsNew likeSchweisbergerwho have the vision to buildout the environment(over 80% of MUFGAmericasColleagues York Cityprogram. She is able to leverage her operating infrastructuretohelp banks and their borrowersfocus areworking remote), allowing them to continue offering experience andyearsofinvesting to addrealvalue to her on their work and keep the loans serviced and forgiven uninterruptedservicetoclients. ForSeibly,the pandemic portfolio companies. in atimelymanner. brought an opportunitytofurther demonstrateUnion Bank’s commitment to the communities it serves.

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Maytal LaVon Shainberg Dan Short Senior Vice President, Shea Sales Support New Media Managing Director Group Manager East West Bank ObjectiveCapital Partners Citizens BusinessBank Commercial Banking Investment Banking CommercialBanking

aytal Shainbergbegan her career focused an Shea is amanaging director of Objective aVon Short has morethan40yearsoffinancial Mon venturecapital-backed digital advertis- DCapital Partners,aleading investment banking Lservicesexperience.She began her career with ing start-ups,where she developed strong and valuation firm servingthe lowermiddle CrockerNational Bank and later joined Wells competencies around the publishing, user-experience market,specificallycompanies with an enterprise value FargoBank as apersonalbanking officer.She wasa and video categories.In2015, she joined fintech start-up of $20–$75 million. Shea leads the businessdevelop- branchmanager for15yearsfor five branchesbefore FastPay, whereshe developed the company’ssalesstrategy ment and transactionadvisory efforts forengagements moving to CitizensBusiness Bank. During her time with and led a15-person team focused on enterprise clients. across all practicegroups.Heisaresults-oriented leader the bankshe has been honored with an entry intothe with a25+ year track record of success with transaction President’sClub forthree different years, wasawarded Today, Shainbergleads EastWestBank’sNew Media experienceincluding private and public companysales, thePresident’sAward,and successfullyled her teams to Lending Group,leveraging her 10+ yearsofexperience corporatedivestitures,mergers,acquisitions,and capital aDepartment of the Year award. in the newmedia, advertising and technologyindustries. raise engagements, as well as preparing strategicassess- She is skilled in business development,origination, sales In her current role as senior vicepresident and sales mentsfor owners, management and their boards,often management, and strategic planning. Within the first 60 support group manager,Short oversees the Treasury as aprecursor to transaction execution. days of joiningthe bank,she closed a$10 million facility Management Sales,Bankcard Sales,Deposit Services, with Sonobi, Inc., aconsumer-focused tech company. In As one of the primary transactional bankersatObjec- Product and Sales Support, and Marketing groups.She less than ayear,she has successfullyrevampedthe sales tive and his previous firms,Shea has assistedinclosing serves on severalcommittees within the bank, including strategy and has grownthe bank’scustomer base in this countless transactions throughout his career in awide the Fair Lending, Management Risk Committeeand the constantlyevolving industry.The result has been over variety of sectors. From 2019 to now, he has been particu- Management ComplianceCommittee. In addition, she $400 million in commitments in one year. larlyactive in themanufacturingand distributionspace. is chair of the Citizens ExperienceCommitteeand the Digital Customer ExperienceCommittee.

Dan Shumovich Lisa Aaron Principal, Simonetti Solganick Business Risk Consulting Shareholder CEO RSM US LLP GreenbergTraurig, LLP Solganick &Co. Professional Services Professional Services Investment Banking

an Shumovichisaprincipal of business risk outinelylistedamong thebestlawyers in America aron Solganick has built astrong boutique Dconsulting at RSM US LLP.Inhis current role, Rforbanking and finance litigation, LisaSimonetti Ainvestment bank focused exclusively on soft- he is responsible forthe delivery of business joined Greenberg Traurig in 2019 and has quickly ware andtechnology companies over the past riskconsulting services to financial institutionsand become akey member of the firm’sFinancialServices 11years. He has successfullymanaged and completed specialtyfinancecompanies, including riskassessments, Litigation and Regulatory Compliancepractices,carving severalM&A transactions (of morethan $8 billion) and internal audit, regulatory compliance, Bank Secrecy outanimportantniche defendingcomplexclass actions is considered an expert among his peers. He has worked Act/anti-money laundering, commercial loan review, and enforcementproceedings.Simonettihandles cases in M&A and investment banking forapproximately25 and Sarbanes-Oxley/FDICIA testing in the Western in stateand federal courts nationwide. yearsand projects apositive attitude to all of his clients Region of RSM. andemployees. Simonettiisrecognized by colleaguesatthe firm Shumovich has morethan 33 yearsofexperienceserving and within the industry forher creative thinking in the Ahigh-energy and experiencedtechnology investment financial servicescompanies and has been responsible for courtroom, and her abilitytocraft unique arguments bankerwith an entrepreneurial spirit,Solganicklaunched managing the regional business risk consulting practice and present issues of first impression. Among her many the investment bank Solganick &Co. in 2009tofocus in various capacities forfinancialinstitutions forthe last career achievements,Simonettihas scored high-profile exclusively on completingmergers and acquisitions 22 years. He hasassembled ateamofhighlyqualified winsdefending creditcardcompanies,loan servicers, software and tech-enabled servicescompanies.Prior and specialized professionals to provide fulloutsourcing mortgagelenders, e-commerce companies,automotive to starting Solganick &Co.,hewas asenior investment or co-sourcing of variousservices.Inaddition,heserves financecompanies, national banks,and savings and banker withB.RileyFBR, KPMG Corporate Finance, as amember of RSM’snational financial institutions loanassociations.She regularlyworks withfinancial Southwest Securities,and Bear Stearns &Co. leadership team. Shumovich holds aBachelor of Science services companies to build plans to mitigatelitigation in business administration and financefromCalifornia or regulatory risk, providing counseling on compliance StateUniversity, Northridge. with federaland statelaw.

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Alex Duane Soltani Marshall C. Stullich Founder, Stoddard Co-founder Chairman &CEO Partner &Managing Partner Skyview Capital Morgan, Lewis &Bockius LLP FocalPoint Partners,LLC Private Equity Professional Services Investment Banking

lexSoltani founded SkyviewCapital in 2005 or morethanfourdecades,beginningasanin- uane Stullich is managing partner and co-founder Aand is chairman of the firm’sexecutive and Fhouse counsel with Aetna Business Credit (now Dof FocalPoint Partners, aleading international investment committees.Heisaserial entrepre- apart of Bank of America), Marshall Stoddard boutique investment bankheadquarteredin neur and started his first business when still astudent at has distinguished himself as one of the foremostadvis- Los Angeles.Since its inceptionin2002, FocalPoint UCLA. Soltanibrings extensive operational experience erstothe secured financeindustry.His indispensable has growntobecome one of the largermiddle market to his work in private equity. His strong businessacumen legal counselhas helped guide virtuallyevery major investment banks in the country,with approximately60 andprescientinvestmentinstinctshaveled to successful institution in the industry,including JPMorgan Chase, professionals who deliveradiversified suiteofadvisory acquisitions across anumberofdifferent industries. Citibank,BankofAmerica, Wells Fargo, Finova,HSBC, servicestoclients, including mergers andacquisitions, BNYMellon, TransAmerica,GECC,and PNC,among debtplacements,and financial restructurings.Stullich Soltaniisactively involved with every aspect of the manyothers.Hehas closed morethan1,000 asset-based spearheadedFocalPoint’s international expansion, re- transaction lifecycle and plays asignificant role in all of lending transactions.Hesuccessfullydefended severalof sulting in aShanghai officeopening in 2019. Skyview Capital’sinvestments.Soltani serves as chairman theseaforementioned institutions in asignificant lender of the Board of Directorsfor all current SkyviewCapital Stullich has over 20 yearsofexperience advising owners liabilityaction beforethe bankruptcycourt in Seattle. portfolio companies.Heholds aB.A.degreefromthe and stakeholdersofmiddle-market companies.Hehas UniversityofCalifornia, Los Angeles and is asought- Stoddard is currently apartner in Morgan, Lewis & recentlybeenactively working with companies across after guestspeaker on the topicsofentrepreneurship, Bockius LLP’sTransactional FinancePractice, where an arrayofconsumer sectorsincluding food and bever- mergers and acquisitionsand corporatedivestitures he continues his longstanding relationships with many age, healthyand active living, enthusiastproducts,and at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and financial institutions,representingthem in avariety franchising. An area of particular focus is e-commerce, financial conferences. of debttransactions in the United States and globally, digitallynative consumer brands,and industry sectors including syndicated, club,and bilateral transactions. being disruptedbyD2C business models.

Daniel Paul W. James K. Walker Sweeney,Jr. Verzino Chairman of the Board Partner Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer K&LGates LLP Northwestern Mutual Farmers&Merchants Bank of Long Beach Professional Services Asset/Investment Management Commercial Banking

aul Sweeneyisamemberofthe K&LGates henachildhood friend introduced him aniel K. Walker has been with Farmers&Mer- PLLP Los Angeles office’scommercial litigation Wto Northwestern Mutual, James Verzino DchantsBank of Long Beach since1975, and he group,wherehefocuses his practiceonhandling discoveredaplacewherehecouldtruly has held nearlyevery position in the company. complexbusinessdisputes,bothindividualand class lead and inspirepeople. Nearlyadecade later,hehas From his first job as an elevatoroperator at the ageof action lawsuits,involvingunfair business practices, developed and influenced dozens of newfinancial 14,tothe executive titles he holds now, hisdedication falseadvertising, consumerfraud,trade regulation, advisors, while maintaining asuccessful practice. As to growing and strengthening the F&Morganization is privacy violations,civil rights,and violations of various awealth management advisor,Verzinohas impacted unsurpassed. federal and statestatutesand regulations.Sweeneyhas the livesofhundreds of clients,striving to buildlasting When Farmers&MerchantsBank of Long Beach’sreins also handled anumberofemployment arbitrations and bonds and human connection in aworld of uncertainty. were passed to Walker in 2002, he wasready.And when lawsuits.Herepresents clients primarilyinthe manufac- As aleaderand managing director of Northwestern theGreat Recession crippled the banking industry and turing, retailing, technology,financial services, food and Mutual’sdowntownLos Angeles office, he upholds the theglobal economy, he did notflinch or falter.Herelied beverage,medical device, and entertainment industries. higheststandards of success within the largest district on acentury of tradition and alifetime of experienceto officeinthe country. Sweeneyrecentlyprevailed forthe broker-dealer calmlynavigateF&M throughthe rocks and shoals of subsidiary of aglobal financial institution in aone-year Verzino often partnerswith affluent families,small adisastertosafetyand unprecedented growth. During FINRA arbitration. In that matter, the claimant sought in business owners, entertainment professionals,and 2020 underhis leadership,Farmers&MerchantsBank excess of $7 millionpluspunitive damagesand penalties successful attorneys to help steer them toward financial led the Long Beach area with the highestvolume of pro- in aproceedingthat took morethanone year to finally success.Adheringtothe “powerofnow”philosophy, he cessed loan applications forthe first roundofPPP loans. conclude. The final decision by the arbitration panel was helps his clients plan fortomorrow,sotheycan spend that the claimant should receivenothing on herclaims. theirlifeliving fortoday.

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Jared Matthew Jeffrey Wolff Wrysinski White President Partner and Co-chair Partner &Chief Executive Officer Finance Group Skyview Capital Banc of California, Inc. Alston &Bird Private Equity Commercial Banking Professional Services

founding partner,Jeffrey Whitehas been ac- ared Wolff is President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer atthewWrysinskiisco-leaderofAlston& Atively involved with all M&AeffortsatSkyview Jof Banc of California,Inc., one of the state’sleading MBird’sFinanceGroup,the largesttransactional Capital sinceits inception. Skyviewisaprivately full-servicebusiness banks,with approximately$8 practiceinthe firm, withover100 attorneys. heldinvestment firm headquartered in Los Angeles, billioninassets.Under Wolff’s leadership,Banc of Cali- He also has one of the largest transactional practices, operating aportfolio of acquired companies worldwide. fornia remains one of the largest banks headquartered in representing private equityfunds and their portfolio Skyviewspecializesinthe acquisitionand management the state, providing financial solutions and products to companies,aswell as commercial banks,financecom- of missioncritical enterprises in the areas of technol- entrepreneurs, small businesses and growing companies, panies,and other commercial lenders in various types of ogy, telecommunications,business services and niche with the highestlevel of service. secured and unsecured financings.Wrysinski regularly manufacturing worldwide. One of Skyview’s specialty structures financingonbehalfofhis private equity clients Wolff is aproven, successful banking executive,with focuses that has been extremelysuccessful forthe firm in diverseindustries,such as hospitality, manufacturing, nearly twodecades of experiencefinancingcountless has beenits acquisition of non-corecorporate divestures media, software,shipping, energy,and seafood. companies within the stateacross awide rangeofindus- from large public/private companies worldwide. tries.Hehas agenuine understanding of the California Wrysinski also participates in deals of all sizes,from White helped takeSkyviewCapital from zeroportfolio economyand bankinglandscape. From thetime he joined lowermiddlemarketand middle marketdeals to billion- companies to over 30 acquisitions sinceits inception. in Q1 2019,Banc of California’sperformance—interms dollar transactions.Heleads transactions that include Hisdiverse backgroundencompasses mergers and ac- of improving cost of deposits,loan yield and netinterest asset-based credit facilities,acquisition financings,debtor quisitions,debtfinance, strategic consulting, operations, margin —ranksinthe top10% of majorexchange-traded in possessionfinancings, debtrestructurings and workouts sales and marketing and commercial banking. He also banks nationwide withassets between$3billion and $50 in single and multiple-borrower,single lender,agented bringsdecades of experiencethat encompassprivate billion through Q3 2020. and participated syndication arrangements involving a equity, investment banking and executive management. variety of commercial enterprises.Healso guides clients through bankruptcies and other insolvency proceedings.

Matt Boryana V. Troy Young Zamanoff Zander CEO and Founder Family Wealth Strategist Partner CriticalPoint Partners, LLC BNY Mellon Wealth Management Barnes &ThornburgLLP Investment Banking Asset/Investment Management Professional Services

attYoung is apassionatedealmaker and in oryana Zamanoff works with high-net worth eyond serving as the partner-in-charge of Barnes M2020,has shown tenacityand determination Bmultigenerational families and entrepreneurs B&Thornburg's San Diego office, Troy Zander to keep going and pushthroughthe most as well as their private foundations and family counsels banks and non-regulated lenders,which challenging of circumstances. He is thefounderand CEO offices and provides advicerelated to trustadministra- lendfunds to technology and lifescience companies, of the investment banking firm CriticalPoint Partners tion,wealth transfer, businesssuccession, philanthropic and theventurecapital and privateequityfirmsthat (CPP), headquarteredinManhattan Beach. CriticalPoint planning, family governanceand next generation educa- support them. Zander has closed morethan90finance offers lowerand middle-market companies strategicand tion. While being highlyskilled in technical tax and trusts dealsvalued at morethan $2 billion since2019alone transaction execution adviceacross sell-side and buy-side and estates matters,Zamanoff approaches every client and has also restructured debtinexcessof$2.5 billion mergers and acquisitions, debtand equityfinancings, situationwith eagerness to understand, find practical in federal,stateand out-of-court proceedings.Inthis and special financial advisory situations. solutions and trulyhelpclients protect and grow their work, he representedparticipantsand companies in wealth forgenerations to come. Manyclients lean on her credit facilities aggregating in excess of $50 billion. Youngestablished CriticalPoint Partnersin2012with foradviceinother aspectsoftheir lifeand business,as avision to help owners, entrepreneurs, andstakeholders Asignificant amount of Zander’s work resides in the theyrelyonher judgment and experience. realize their companies’ full growth and value potential. technology and lifesciences/healthcareindustries. He hasover20yearsoffinanceexperience, including Zamanoff lectures to the ABA, Entrepreneurs’ Organiza- Beyond his extensive practiceand leadership of the San holdingprincipal investing and investmentbanking posi- tion, Vistage, UCLA LawSchool, USCBusiness School, Diegooffice, Zander is amember of the firm’sRacial tions at Platinum Equityand Bear Stearns,respectively. Hawaii TaxInstitute, STEP and the AAML. Zamanoff and Social JusticeCommittee, whichisdedicatedto Mattreceivedhis bachelor’sdegreeinManagement from servesonthe BoardofUCLALaw School LEAD.She combatting systemic injusticedue to discrimination the U.S. Air ForceAcademy, and earned an MBAwith a obtained her JD from UCLASchool of Lawand BA in againstpeople of color. concentration in FinancefromUniversityofSouthern Economicsand German from ColgateUniversity. California.

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carefully reviewing loans in the pipeline, tweaking some underwriting requirements (such as loan-to-value ratios and reserve requirements), paying close attention to secondary mortgage market requirements (even if they tend to hold loans in portfolio), and scrutinizing builders’ track records and capacity.Byand large, they voiced confidence that their approaches to underwriting and risk management, along with strong capital and liquidity,put them in agood position to help customers weather the storm.

Construction Lending Experienced a Revival Prior to COVID-19

Total construction spending in the U.S. –abroad measurethat includes both new structures and improvements to existing structures –exceeded $1.3 trillion in 2019, roughly on par with 2018 levels, an upward trend since spending hit atrough of $788 million in 2011, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Just prior to the pandemic, banks indicated an intent to improve their ©Thongkoch Chutpattarachai /Adobe Stock construction lending businesses over the next two years by expanding training, streamlining loan administration, upgrading technology and outsourcing. Participants identified factors that would make them morelikely to expand their construction Rebuilding loan portfolios moreaggressively,including less risky loans (54%), easier compliance (40%) and less time needed to manage loans (28%).

The report also found that banks of all Momentum sizes areinvolved in arange of construction lending activities. Morethan 90% of respondents reported conducting new REPORT EXAMINES CONSTRUCTION LENDING single-family and commercial real estate construction lending. In addition: 81% said they fund builders’ spec, one-off, and pre- BEFORE AND AFTER COVID-19 sold residences; 78% provide consumer renovation loans; 67% offer lines of credit to he outlookfor bank construction lendingwas strong priortothe home builders; and 64% finance fix-and-flip Tonsetofthe COVID-19 pandemic,and bankersremainoptimistic residential loans. despitechallengesresulting from thehealthand economiccrisis, According to the survey,46% of accordingtoareportreleasedbythe American BankersAssociation. respondents cited staffing and 42% cited regulatory and compliance costs as the top More than 90%ofbankrespondents surveyed at theend of 2019 reported drivers of expenses in construction lending. that theirconstructionlending business grew or remained stableover Other expenses, including technology thepasttwo years, andnearlyall,atthattime(95%), expectedcon- expenditures, as well as sales and marketing costs, wereeach cited by 4% of survey structionlending to grow or remain stable in 2020.Whenquestioned participants. againafter thearrivalofthe pandemic,they largelyheldthose views. “While compliance costs areunlikely to diminish, technology has the potential The ABA Construction Lending in 2020 “While the pandemic has created to help banks lower those expenses and report provides asnapshot of construction significant uncertainty,it’sclear that banks moreefficiently deliver on their fiduciary lending in December 2019 as it stood areonsolid footing and arehelping obligations,” said Strand. “Perhaps even beforethe COVID-19 outbreak. In follow- customers weather the storm,” said ABA moreimportant than streamlining costs, up interviews conducted in April and May senior economist Rob Strand. “Construction improved efficiency can boost customer 2020, bankers said that their fundamental lending has enjoyed astrong revival since satisfaction.” view of the market remained unchanged, the Great Recession, and the outlook although they acknowledged that aperiod remains favorable even as banks navigate Learnmoreand download a of transition is inevitable. Bankers identified the potential challenges posed by the complimentary copy of the report at aba.org. strong credit cultures and afocus on COVID-19 crisis.” risk management as keys to thriving in a –Paul Williams challenging COVID-19 environment. In interviews conducted after COVID-19 Brand Publishing Writer reached the U.S., bankers said they were

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