Advancing bold public policy that drives economic growth.
The Los Angeles Business Council is one of the most effective and influential business voices in California.
For over 80 years, the LABC has had a major impact on public policy by harnessing the power of business and government to promote progress in the Los Angeles region in the areas of energy, housing, transportation, international trade and economic development.
We are successful at driving progress because we ground our efforts in evidence-based research, build diverse coalitions, and create a path forward for meaningful and measurable progress.
Today our 500+ members represent business and civic leaders from all industry sectors who are focused on innovative public policy that strengthens our economy while improving quality of life for all of us. We work in tandem with our research arm, the LABC Institute, to achieve these ambitious goals.
Through bold, progressive leadership for business, the LABC is trailblazing the way to a stronger, more equitable Los Angeles.
“The Los Angeles Business Council is really one of the leading business organizations probably in the country at recognizing the connection between protecting the environment and enhancing our local economy.”
– LA City Council President Paul Krekorian
Our Team
Under the leadership of Mary Leslie, the LABC has distinguished itself as a different breed of business organization, taking on challenging issues, supporting groundbreaking research, and building coalitions to create cutting-edge policy.

Mary Leslie
President, LABC & LABC Institute
Mary was elected to serve as chair of the Board of Trustees of California Independent System Operator, a nonprofit that is the only independent electricity grid operator in the West, coordinating the distribution of energy resources for 80% of California and part of Nevada. She was also named to Mayor Karen Bass’s transition advisory team.
Ms. Leslie has served as LABC President since 2001, growing the council into one of the most prominent business organizations in the region, working closely with leaders from business, government and the non-profit sectors to enact policies and programs to strengthen Los Angeles’ economic competitiveness and quality of life. Under her leadership, she launched the LABC Institute in 2010 as the 501 (c) 3 research and education arm, attracting local and national funding. Both organizations operate with the core mission, focused on creating cutting edge policy strategies to reduce the region’s housing affordability gap, increase sustainable development, promote international trade, and expand high-paying workforce opportunities.
Ms. Leslie currently serves on the LA Sustainability Leadership Council, LA Cleantech Incubator Board of Directors, Los Angeles Conservation Corporation Board of Directors, UCLA Advisory Committee for the Luskin Center for Innovation, and is a member of the Pacific Council of International Policy. She previously served as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board, Advisory Committees of L.A. Family Housing the California Women’s Law Center and the LA2028 Olympic Bid Committee.
In her previous role as Deputy Mayor for the City of Los Angeles under Mayor Richard Riordan, Ms. Leslie was responsible for the Mayor’s Business Development programs. Prior to joining the Riordan Administration, she was Deputy Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), where she oversaw the Northridge Earthquake relief dollars for Los Angeles as part of her portfolio of lending and education programs for SBA Director Erskine Bowles. She also served as the Executive Director of the California Economic Development Commission, overseeing policy development and trade missions for California business. Ms. Leslie was also President Clinton’s California Finance Director in his successful 1992 race for President.
Ms. Leslie received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Santa Clara, holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and attended the Executive Management Program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Mary Leslie
President, LABC & LABC Institute

Adam Lane
Vice President, Government Affairs & Programs, LABC
Adam Lane is the Vice President, Government Affairs & Programs for the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC). In this role, he oversees the LABC’s government affairs strategy and public policy priorities in the areas of clean energy, economic development environmental sustainability, homelessness, housing, and transportation. He also manages the LABC’s Legislative Affairs, Energy & Environment, and Housing & Transportation Committees.
Adam leads implementation of grant initiatives around increasing solar deployment for building owners and improving economic and environmental equity in disadvantaged communities throughout Los Angeles.
He also plans and manages the annual Mayoral Housing, Transportation & Jobs Summit and the Sustainability Summit, both events drawing over 500 attendees in-person and 1,000 via livestream.
Adam received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Northridge and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Southern California.
Adam Lane
Vice President, Government Affairs & Programs

Rachel Levy
Communications & Event Director, LABC
Rachel Levy is the Communications Director at Los Angeles Business Council. She has been with the LABC for 8 years working her way up to Communications Director. Prior to the LABC, Rachel interned as a Legislative & Research Aide for a Wisconsin State Assemblymember.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Rachel received her Bachelor degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Rachel Levy
Communications & Events Director

David Fink
Sustainability Policy Director
David Fink is the Sustainability Policy Director for the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC). He has almost 20 years of experience in campaigns, organizing, and policy. He began his career working on consumer rights, healthcare reform, and civil rights before leading campaigns for voting reform and raising the minimum wage. For the last 14 years, his work has focused on climate change in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, and resilience as it relates to extreme heat mitigation and preparedness.
David Fink
Sustainability Policy Director

Elaina Houser
Director of Housing, Homelessness, and Economic Development
Elaina Houser serves as the Director of Housing, Homelessness, and Economic Development for LABC. She has more than a decade of experience working for federal and local elected officials, with a focus on economic policy. Prior to joining LABC, she served as Legislative Director to LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin, where she collaborated with state and local officials to develop policy primarily around housing and homelessness issues. She previously served as Legislative Director to Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she specialized in tax and trade policy, including leading his work overseeing the Subcommittee on Trade and authoring several key pieces of tax legislation; previously, she worked on economic policy issues for Senator Sherrod Brown, Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; and she began her Congressional career in the Office of Senator Al Franken. She also led GOTV efforts in north-central Ohio for the 2012 Obama presidential campaign and has volunteered for numerous political campaigns, including the Biden-Harris 2020 policy team. An Ohio native, Elaina attended American University in Washington, DC.
Elaina Houser
Director of Housing and Economic Development

Arielle Lopez
Policy & Programs Associate, Sustainability
Los Angeles Business Council Institute
Arielle Lopez is the Sustainability Policy and Programs Associate at LABC. She assists with policy initiatives, coalition building, grant implementation, outreach, event planning and program development in the areas of sustainability and clean energy. She also works as an independent consultant for The Hispanic Access Foundation and is helping write the RFP for Congressional Conservation Toolkit 2021; explaining the health, economic, public opinion, and cultural implications of various conservation policies to the Latino community. Prior to LABC, she worked at The River Project, helping retrofit underserved communities to become climate resilient and better prepared for a changing climate. Other sustainability experience has been gained from her work at Clean Initiative solar company and by continuing to run a sustainable farm with her father in her home country of Guatemala. Arielle graduated from Humboldt State University and received her Bachelor of Science in environmental science ecological restoration.
Arielle Lopez
Policy & Programs Associate, Sustainability

Ralica Mladenova
Communications & Events Associate
Rali is the Communications and Events Associate for the Los Angeles Business Council. She assists in the communications, outreach, organizing, planning, and execution of all events. She also creates and designs marketing pieces, as well as collaborates on various social media platforms and campaigns. Born and raised in Bulgaria, Rali has been an artist since the age of 7, attending schools throughout Bulgaria that focused primarily on Art and Design. In 2005, she moved to Los Angeles to study Graphic Design. Rali has over 10 years of experience in Graphic Design, Marketing, and Social Media. Rali gives back to the Los Angeles community as an Art Mentor. She helps to empower youth and young adults who have suffered from abuse and trauma. As an Art Mentor, she provides healing, as well as builds confidence and self-esteem for our youth and young adults. Rali received her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from California State University, Northridge.
Ralica Mladenova
Communications & Events Associate

Pamela Zane
Executive Assistant to President Mary Leslie, & Office Manager
Pamela is the Executive Assistant to President Mary Leslie, and the Office Manager at the LABC.
Pamela began her career on the east coast where she successfully owned and operated two businesses, one in which she built from the ground up. In addition to being an entrepreneur, she has over 10 years of experience in both office management and property management, having managed residential and commercial properties throughout Los Angeles.
Pamela is an enthusiastic volunteer, helping to provide Los Angeles housing assistance to organ transplant patients. She also volunteers on a national level, providing support to the elderly and disabled. During the devastating Surfside Condo collapse and the Mayfield Kentucky tornadoes, Pamela personally organized three programs in which the families and the first responders received emotional first aid.
Pamela graduated from Rider University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Pamela Zane
Executive Assistant to President Mary Leslie, & Office Manager
Board Leadership
Our forward-thinking and progressive leadership has been instrumental in the LABC’s success in delivering on our bold vision for the future.
LABC Executive Officers
David Nahai, Chair
David Nahai Companies
Nadine Watt, Immediate Past Chair
Watt Companies
Mary Leslie, President
LABC
Thomas Flintoft, Vice Chair
Kindel Gagan
Antonio Manning, Vice Chair
Affordable Living for the Aging
Deborah Kallick, Vice Chair
Cedars-Sinai Health System
Richard Ziman, Founding & Vice Chair,
Rexford Industrial Realty
Lori Tierney, Secretary
Tierney Management LLC
David Sears, Treasurer
Pacific Reach Partners
LABC Board of Directors
Pouria Abbassi
UCLA
Martin Adams
LA Department of Water and Power
John Adams
Gensler
Jason Barrett
GAF Energy
April Blackadder
Haworth
Kevin Blackburn
Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
Tyler Bonstead
STV Incorporated
Kasey Burke
Meta Housing Corporation
Tom Buttgenbach
Avantus
Johnny Casana
Pattern Energy Group
Steve Churm
Churm 360 LLC
Brad Cox
Trammell Crow Company
Brant H. Dveirin
Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP
Kip Field, P.E.
HDR
Thomas Flintoft
Kindel Gagan
Justina Garcia
Southern California Edison
Sam Garrison
USC
Garrett Gin
Bank of America
Bob Graziano
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Gene Hale
G & C Equipment Corporation
David Hart
Steinberg Hart
Lew Horne
CBRE
Scott Hunter
HKS
Paul Jennings
PCS Energy
Rob Jernigan
Clayco, Inc.
Deborah Kallick
Cedars-Sinai Health System
Jan Karl
Morley Builders
Maureen Kindel
Kindel Gagan
Joanne Kozberg
California Strategies
Beulah Ku
Century Housing
Janet Lamkin
United Airlines
Brooke Lauter
Lauter Communications LLC
Mia Lehrer
Studio-MLA
Mary Leslie
Los Angeles Business Council
Jacob Lipa
Micropolitan | Psomas
Michael Mahdesian
Servicon Systems, Inc.
Antonio Manning
Affordable Living for the Aging
Dan Margolis
FTI Consulting
Michelle Martini
Suffolk Construction Co.
Scott McClure
Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co.
Jennifer McElyea
Ethos Real Estate
Reed McMains
Turner Construction
Gregory McWilliams
FivePoint, LLC.
George J. Mihlsten
Latham & Watkins
Wendy Mitchell
WM Consulting
Claudette A. Moody
WSP
David Nahai
David Nahai Companies
Hilary Norton
FASTLinkDTLA
Marco Perez
UCLA
Jonathan Port
PermaCity Solar
Jerry Porter
CresaPartners
Saundra Price
W.E. O’Neil Construction
Phil Recht
Mayer Brown
Kirk Rose, AIA, DBIA
HMC Architects
Michael Rosenfeld
Next Century Partners, LLC
Alan Rothenberg
1st Century Bank
Martha Saucedo
AEG
David Sears
Grace Companies
Carmel Sella
Wells Fargo
Gene Seroka
Port of Los Angeles
Sarah Shaw
JMB Realty Corporation
Gregg Sherkin
Wells Fargo
Patti Shwayder
AIR Communities
Alan Skobin
Galpin Motors, Inc.
Lori Tierney
Tierney Management LLC
Joss Tillard-Gates
Clark Construction Group
Jon Vein
Los Angeles Convention Center and Tourism Development Commission
Todd Wager
TRC
Nadine Watt
Watt Companies
Jimar Wilson
Enterprise Community Partners
Lillian Yan
HNTB
Richard Ziman
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
THE LABC INSTITUTE
Since its founding in 2010, the LABCi has partnered with leading academic institutions throughout L.A. to help develop research-driven, policy solutions.
LABCi Reports
Housing & Homelessness
2021
LA Business Council Institute Homelessness Survey
in cooperating with the LA Times and Hart Research
2018
The Affordable Housing Crisis in Los Angeles: Impacts to LA’s Fastest Growing Industries
in partnership with USC
2017
Housing Pays: Capturing the Economic and Fiscal Benefits of Increased Housing Production in LA
in partnership with UCLA
2017
Housing Pays: The Affordable Housing Crisis in Los Angeles: An Employer Perspective
in partnership with USC
Sustainability (Transportation, Clean Energy)
2014
Sharing Solar’s Promise: Harnessing LA’s FiT to Create Jobs and Build Social Equity
in partnership with UCLA and USC
2011
Making a Market: Multifamily Rooftop Solar and Social Equity in Los Angeles”
in partnership with UCLA and USC
Economic Development
Executive Officers
Richard Ziman, Founding Chair
Chairman, Rexford Industrial Realty
Brad Cox, Chair
Senior Managing Director, Trammell Crow Company
Mary Leslie, President
President, Los Angeles Business Council
Antonio Manning, Vice Chairman
Affordable Living for the Aging
David Sears, Treasurer
Pacific Reach Partners
Lori Tierney
Tierney Management
Board of Directors
Henry Cisneros
CityView
Kendra Doyel
Ralphs Grocery Company
Lew Horne
CBRE
Joanne Kozberg
California Strategies
Jacob Lipa
Micropolitan/Psomas
David Nahai
David Nahai Companies
Dan Rosenfeld
Indivest
Gene Seroka
Port of Los Angeles
Kecia Washington
LADWP
News from the labc

Editorial: DWP makes it expensive and time-consuming to build new housing. These new policies could help

The Real Deal: Bill Witte: LA’s Uncertain Approval Process Hurts Development

Findings of LABC-Commissioned Study on Boosting Affordable Housing Supply Presented Today at Request of L.A. City Homelessness and Housing Committee
For Media Inquiries Please Contact:
Rachel Levy
Communications Director
(310) 226-7839
Email Rachel
Sugerman Communications Group
(310) 974-6680