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 the most forward-looking business organization in Los Angeles. And one of the best in the country.”
– Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
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.

Ralica Mladenova
Communications & Events Associate
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
Joseph Avila
Sempra Energy Utilities
April Blackadder
Haworth
Kevin Blackburn
Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
Tyler Bonstead
STV Incorporated
Kasey Burke
Meta Housing Corporation
Tom Buttgenbach
Avantus
Brad Cox
Trammell Crow Company
Brant H. Dveirin
Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP
Kip Field, P.E.
HDR
Thomas Flintoft
Kindel Gagan
Beth Foley
Southern California Edison
Garrett Gin
Bank of America
Bob Graziano
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Ron Griffith
Century Housing
Kwaku Gyabaah
Clark Construction
Gene Hale
G & C Equipment Corporation
Scott Hunter
HKS
David Hart
Steinberg Hart
Paul Jennings
PCS Energy
Deborah Kallick
Cedars-Sinai Health System
Jan Karl
Morley Builders
Maureen Kindel
Kindel Gagan
Janet Lamkin
United Airlines
Brooke Lauter
Lauter Communications LLC
Mary Leslie
Los Angeles Business Council
Mia Lehrer
Studio-MLA
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.
Reid McMains
Turner Construction
George J. Mihlsten
Latham & Watkins
Wendy Mitchell
WM Consulting
Claudette A. Moody
WSP USA
David Nahai
David Nahai Companies
Jamal Nasserdeen
Unisource Solutions
Hilary Norton
Fixing Angelenos Stuck in Traffic
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
Pacific Reach Partners
Gregg Sherkin
Wells Fargo
Patti Shwayder
AIR Communities
Sarah Shaw
JMB Realty Corporation
Alan Skobin
Galpin Motors, Inc.
Lori Tierney
Tierney Management LLC
Jon Vein
Los Angeles Convention Center and Tourism Development Commission
Jimar Wilson
Enterprise Community Partners
Tom Warren
Holland Partner Group
Nadine Watt
Watt Companies
Richard Ziman
Rexford Industrial Realty
THE LABC INSTITUTE
The LABC Institute is the research and educational arm of the LA Business Council. The LABCi produces cutting-edge research to strengthen the sustainable economy of the Los Angeles region. Since its founding in 2010, the LABCi has partnered with leading academic institutions throughout L.A. to help develop research-driven, policy solutions.
LABCi 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
LABCi 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
Statement from Los Angeles Business Council on State of Emergency on Homelessness
The Los Angeles Business Council today issued the following statement: The Los Angeles Business Council applauds Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for issuing a state of emergency declaration for homelessness that will give her the executive power to reduce barriers to the...
California’s epic heat wave is over. Here’s what we learned
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MAYOR GARCETTI AND LABC LAUNCH RAMP, AN INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Repost of Press Release from LA Mayor Eric Garcetti