Join us for an evening of collaboration, conversation and community connection with some of West Hollywood's business owners and business professionals as we dialogue about West Hollywood's vibrant business economy, and discuss what it takes to be a successful business owner in the City.
Food and drinks will be provided.
Derek Berry is currently an Operating Partner at Saved by The Max in Los Angeles, as well as Dorian's and Beauty Bar in Chicago with responsibility for bookings, marketing programs, and brand management. Berry has a gift for using his creative spirit and drive, to help increase a companies reach and overall success. Berry’s latest endeavor “Saved by The Max”, a Pop Up Diner in Chicago and now Los Angeles, that has gained nationwide recognition and become a true entrepreneurship success story over the past year. Of all his accomplishments, Berry says the most meaningful is being a husband and a father.
"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." - Jim Rohn
Maxine Tatlonghari is the award-winning #FemaleFounder behind the Vanity Girl Hollywood brand. She is also a beauty boss lifestyle blogger and serves as the first Vice Chair of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. She has been featured in Forbes and Huffington Post. She lives, works and plays in West Hollywood and is a regular contributor to VisitWestHollywood.com where she shares her local faves. She is currently planning charity walk to raise money and awareness to fight lung cancer in memory of her mother Virginia.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
Zac previously spearheaded product integrations at some of the world's largest media companies at big data startup Graphiq and then helped build out knowledge architecture at Amazon Alexa. Now as a Co-Founder of Secret Sauce, Zac is dedicated to helping diverse, motivated students find meaningful internships and entry-level jobs at local startups. In his free time, Zac seeks out taco trucks and plays tug-of-war with his girlfriend's dog.
"The only thing you can really control is how you react to things out of your control." - Bassam Tarazi
Jake Stevens is a former Deputy to West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang, staff for U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra and served as a National Surrogate Director on President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. He currently works as Director of Community Engagement for FARING, a proudly West Hollywood-based real estate development firm. He is a Los Angeles City Commissioner on Revenue Generation, sits on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley and the Board of Directors of the Wall Las Memorias Project – a nonprofit community health and wellness organization serving Latino and LGBT populations in Los Angeles.
“After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.” – Governor Ann Richards
