On May 1st, 2013, the 2nd Annual West Coast Manufacturing Conference took place in downtown Los Angeles at the Biltmore Hotel and brought together business owners, industry leaders and educators to discuss the manufacturing sector in apparel, consumer products, the future of the manufacturing workforce and aerospace & defense. The event drew Southern California’s private and public companies along with the investment community to share experiences, discuss challenges and opportunities and brainstorm ideas for continued growth in the sector.

The morning commenced with an hour-long breakfast which provided abundant networking opportunities along with an exhibit area that hosted several city organizations and business sponsors. Simultaneously, NACD along with Acacia Wealth Advisors also held their annual pre-conference Corporate Governance Roundtable during the networking session. The viewing of the Sundance Film Festival trailer for “Detropia” led way into Mina Trujillo’s welcoming remarks and official conference introduction. The featured keynote speakers this year included Jim Glassman with J.P. Morgan Chase who gave a presentation on the most current economic outlook in California for the manufacturing sector. Vice Admiral Lou Crenshaw with Grant Thornton presented thoughts on Washington’s sequestration and Vu Pham, Ph.D. with Spectrum Knowledge shared insights on leadership and persuasion.

At 10:30am, attendees had the option to attend expert-led panels in Consumer Products/ Retail or Training the Present & Futures Manufacturing Workforce. In the Consumer Products/ Retail breakout panel, industry executives from thinkThin, Northgate Supermarkets, Chef LaLa Homemade and Intrepid Investment Bankers came together to discuss current trends and the retail landscape. The Workforce panel led by the Centers for Applied Competitive Technologies, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Space X and Project Lead the Way discussed the direction of the current workforce and the necessary recruitment and training we must act upon to secure America’s future in competitive manufacturing.

The final two breakout sessions focused on Fashion/Apparel and Aerospace and Defense industries.
Panelists from Tokidoki, Charlotte Tarantola, and CFA came together to address the current state of apparel manufacturing in the US. The Aerospace and Defense breakout session were led by representatives from Boeing Defense, Duccommun, Frontier Associates, The Aerospace Corporation and Janes Capital.

The West Coast Manufacturing Conference once again served as a catalyst for a movement which will bring both national and local attention into the economic impact of this vital industry. The conference was produced and presented by Chraft PR, a local public relations, brand marketing and conference production agency.

Click here to enjoy a conference recap featured in Apparel News

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Facing unprecedented global economic volatility, the remnants of a sub-prime mortgage crisis, falling home prices and tighter credit, the United States is having to create new avenues for business.

In the spirit of this time of re-creation and re-dedication, hundreds of executives, CEOs, leaders from the public sector, and members of the business elite convened this September to meet in Los Angeles and focus on corporate finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, and financing.

The ACG Los Angeles Business Conference is a two-day conference that took place on September 11^th and 12^th at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.  Now in its 15^th year, the ACG L.A. Business Conference continues to serve as a premier conference for deal-making plans.  The event continues to provide abundant networking opportunities between decision-makers from across the country and internationally.  These individuals remain focused on corporate finance, growth strategies, and the most recent trends in M&A for middle-market companies and economies. 

The conference hosted more than 100 private equity funds, hedge funds and other capital sources, featured breakout sessions such as the Women’s Forum (a gathering of women from the corporate world, the investment community and the professions) and Deal Source (a by-invitation-only event).

ABOUT ACG LOS ANGELES

For over 40 years, ACG LA has been a hub for the city’s business community.  A place for executives of all types to learn new practices, challenge conventional thinking and broaden and strengthen their relationships throughout the region.  ACG LA’s members represent companies and industries that are as varied as the neighborhoods of Los Angeles – corporate executives, commercial and investment bankers, private equity investors as well as legal, accounting and finance professionals, many of whom specialize in mergers and acquisitions or corporate development.  The diversity of professions and industries is one of ACG LA’s greatest strengths, along with the Chapter’s commitment to hosting events that bring members together, as well as help them share information and stay apprised of the business environment. ACG LA is more than a networking group—it’s an organization of individuals pursuing the shared goal of corporate growth.

Located on the 54th floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Downtown Los Angeles, the City Club provides breathtaking views of the dramatic cityscape and beyond.  It was in this spectacular venue that Women 6.0 presented Agapi Satssinopoulos and her new book Unbinding the Heart, a guide book for inner exploration and connecting with one’s authentic self.

After welcoming the crowd, Agapi dove into a warm and engaging presentation about her book and the journey that inspired it.  Born in Greece and raised in a family that included sister Arianna Huffington, her anecdotes and “lessons learned” derive from a rich history based in hard work, failure, success, and the unyielding love and support of her mother, Ellie.  Ellie’s influence is evident throughout the book and through Agapi’s description of her; it is easy to understand why.  Ellie was a woman both powerful in mind and in spirit.  She rose above innumerable levels of diversity to eventually impart upon her daughters the philosophies of, “Don’t miss the moment”, “There’s always a solution”, and “Always ask for what you want”

It was an inspirational gathering attended by a number of Los Angeles’ prominent business women and men. 

You can read more about the evening on The Huffington Post.

Women 6.0 is a network and series of events produced by Chraft PR.  The series serves to bring together and enrich professional women through connections, collaborations, and continuous development.

On April 11, 2012 a number of Los Angeles’ notable business men and women gathered for the 2012 West Coast Manufacturing Conference. Leaders from private and public companies, the Investment and Lending Community, and Professional Advisors with clients in the manufacturing industry all came to participate in a morning of networking, panels and keynote discussions.

The morning commenced with an hour-long continental breakfast and networking meet-up that was held simultaneously with a pre-conference Corporate Governance Roundtable held by NACD-LA. At 9am attendees then had the option to attend any of the three expert-led panels on Fashion and Retail, Aerospace, or Consumer Products.

In the Fashion/Retail breakout company leaders from Forever 21, the California Fashion Association , Karen Kane and Big Strike came together to discuss the current state of the industry, today’s retail landscape, and the manufacturing supply chain for fashion merchandise. Panelists also provided insight into business development trends, licensing opportunities, and partnerships for both emerging and mature brands. The panelists further discussed the retail landscape and the current mood of the industry.

In addition to the Fashion and Retail panel, representatives from Boeing, Avante Mezzanine Partners, Janes Capital Partners, Frontier Associates, and The Aerospace Corporation came together to address a number of issues currently affecting the Aerospace and Defense industry. These included how middle market and smaller companies are maintaining a competitive edge in a shrinking marketplace, the current state of supply chain partnerships and financing trends, and how consolidation in the aerospace industry and supplier network continues on an upward trend.

The third panel dealt exclusively with Consumer Products and the bleak years this market has recently faced.

Panelists from Kids Line, CR&A Custom, Greenberg & Glusker, Duff & Phelps, and Employers Group discussed how less demand and excess inventory is being handled along with dramatic drops in consumer consumption and delayed expansion plans. Speakers also offered up their strategies for returning to profitability and mitigating risk.

After the dynamic panel sessions, attendees reconvened in the Grand Ballroom to hear opening remarks by Conference Producer Mina Trujillo and L.A. City Deputy Mayor Matt Karatz. Keynote speeches by Grant Thorton’s Water Grunes on “Five Factors for Growth in the Manufacturing Industry” and JP Morgan Chase’s Jim Glassman’s “Economic Update” concluded a lively and informative day. It was proof positive that the City of Los Angeles is teeming with individuals who are committed to keeping America’s manufacturing base strong.

The conference was produced and presented by Chraft PR, a local public relations, brand marketing and conference production agency.