Sony Pictures Studios, Calley Park | Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault Creative
During a beautiful Southern California summer afternoon, approximately 300 attendees gathered at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City to network, support and purvey women-owned businesses as they showcased their products and services. This year’s second annual reverse showcase event, the ‘WBE Connect Showcase’, took place on August 2, 2018 and was elegantly organized by WBEC-West’s Los Angeles Forum Leaders, Athena Chiera (Chair), Caron Ng (Senior Vice Chair), and Lindy Huang Werges (Vice Chair).
As a corporation committed to diversity and inclusion, and devoted supporter of diverse businesses, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) generously hosted and sponsored this magnificent event at Sony Pictures Studios’ serene and infamous Calley Park. The event could not have been possible without the dedication, creativity, and heart of SPE’s executives and team members: Ted Svehlik (Vice President, Marketing and SG&A Sourcing), Tim Ruddell (Manager, Supplier Diversity), Pam Byrne (Vice President Studio Services) and their respective teams. This landmark event not only provided the 38 showcasing certified Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) a platform to engage with corporate members and internal stakeholders, it also allowed over 120 WBEs to network and share their products and services as well as their passions as entrepreneurs. In addition to the showcasing WBEs, two community partners who actively participate in, advocate for, and provide resources for women-owned and family-owned businesses were invited to showcase as well: the Drucker School Global Family Business Institute and Mount Saint Mary’s University’s Center for the Advancement of Women.
The festive afternoon began with an array of showcase tables exhibiting a rainbow of colors reflecting the many corporations’ capabilities, past works, and innovative products and services. The wide variety of industry offerings included: translation & interpretation services; 2D/3D animation; graphics, design and illustration; branding, print design & graphics; branded interior design; door locks, lockboxes, IoT-Connected Lockbox; audio/visual systems design & integration; commercial janitorial services; subsurface utility engineering / locating; commercial HVAC & building automation; unique 3-loop tiered yoga / progress straps; bilingual children’s books for language development; and more.
Scabib | Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault Creative
Zen Yoga Strap | Photo Credit Andrew Chenault Creative
Nu-Set Lock | Photo Credit Andrew Chenault Creative
Greenhaus GFX | Photo Credit Andrew Chenault Creative
This year’s event, the largest local event for WBEC-West, was not only heavily attended by Sony Pictures Entertainment’s purchasing team, stakeholders, executives, and employees; it was also greatly supported and attended by corporate members including: Sony Music, NBCUniversal, Amgen, The Walt Disney Company, Hensel Phelps, Toyota North America, SoCalGas, American Honda Motor Co., Golden State Water Company, Hathaway Dinwiddie, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Jaymee Lomax, Regional Vice President for WBEC-West Southern California provided an overview of WBEC-West’s three Forum Leadership groups for Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. Vaughn Farris, Senior Manager, Strategic Programs for WBENC in Washington, D.C., shared key SBA statistics of women owned businesses’ growth rate of “2.5 times the rate of any other firms, which have contributed over $1.4 trillion in sales and nearly $9 million jobs to the economy.” Mr. Farris further shared, “WBENC’s 2017 top corporations spent more than $40 billion with women-owned firms in 2016, a 10% increase from the year prior.”
As the event got underway, SPE executives shared with the attendees the importance and tremendous impact of Women-Owned businesses socioeconomically and why the organization champions not only Women-Owned businesses but diverse businesses collectively.
Lucienne Hassler | Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault Creative
Lucienne Hassler, Senior Vice President, Administrative Services at Sony Pictures Entertainment, provided an overview of Sony Pictures’ rich history dating back to 1918, when two brothers, Harry Cohn & Jack Cohn formed a partnership, which would later become Columbia Pictures in 1924. The infamous Calley Park, where the evening’s event was held, “was named after John Calley, the late and beloved once Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures.” Ms. Hassler rounded off Sony Pictures’ history by highlighting some of the most historically successful movies shot in Studio 15 on the lot including: Wizard of Oz, Men in Black, and Spider Man. In addition, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, two of the most prominent game shows for the past 20-years continue to be shot on the lot to date.
Kelly Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Finance Transformation, shared the importance of diversity & inclusion as one of the organization’s cornerstone values and a key priority for Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Ms. Hamilton further shared the importance of “diverse views and diverse perspectives… not only in theatricals and television programs, but also behind the scenes. Being able to work with and partner with a diverse group of suppliers who bring new insights, new innovations, new thoughts, new value to Sony Pictures is incredibly important to us.”
Dr. John Kamauff, Ph.D. | Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault Creative
Dr. John Kamauff, Ph.D., Chief Procurement Officer, praised Mr. Svehlik for developing the organization’s supplier diversity program to where it is today and for envisioning this synergistic event. Dr. Kamauff further applauded Mr. Ruddell for assuming the torch from Mr. Svehlik in pushing this initiative to its next chapter. Dr. Kamauff highlighted a 2017 study by the Hackett Group, “99% of diverse suppliers meet or exceed expectations, and they outperform their peers. Inclusion is important. Diversity is important. It’s part of who we are. It’s part of what we do. It’s the right thing to do and it makes good business sense.”
Jaymee Lomax, Caron Ng, Lucienne Hassler, Kelly Hamilton, Athena Chiera, Lindy Huang Werges, Dr. John Kamauff, Arnice Lamb | Photo Credit: Andrew Chenault Creative
The short program closed with an award of appreciation for Ms. Chiera. In addition to her immense responsibilities as the VP of Business Development at Athena Engineering, Ms. Chiera graciously served the WBEC-West community for three years on the WBEC-West Los Angeles Forum and will be rolling off as Chair in September 2018. As a token of appreciation for her dedication and service, Arnice Lamb of The Walt Disney Company and Dr. John Kamauff presented Ms. Chiera with the beautiful award and card signed by the many corporate members in attendance.
Wolfgang Puck provided the delicious array of food and colorful cocktails throughout the evening. To top off the beautiful afternoon, Red Music artist and sultry singer songwriter Cairo Gold performed her recent releases including newly released single “Torture.” The evening closed out with many attendees winning raffle items generously donated by the showcasing WBEs.
Cairo Gold | Photo Credit Andrew Chenault Creative
Aura McCracken Byrd, Caron Ng | | Photo Credit Andrew Chenault Creative
Mad Systems | Photo Credit Andrew Chenault Creative
Event Info:
- List of Showcasing WBEs at the WBE Connect Showcase: Digital Lookbook at http://bit.ly/wbetowbe
- Event Photos available here: http://bit.ly/2DjdUdu
- Event Video Reel: http://bit.ly/2Dnlfsv
#buywomenowned!
WBEC-West is one of 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs) for Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest certifying body of women-owned businesses, recognized by Fortune 500 companies and federal government agencies.
About WBEC-West Los Angeles Forum Leaders:
Athena Chiera, Chair for WBEC-West’s Los Angeles Forum, is the Vice President of Business Development of Athena Engineering, Inc., a second-generation general construction, mechanical HVAC, and Building Automation services company. Athena, who served from 2015-2018 on the Los Angeles Forum, will be terming out in September 2018; she will be sorely missed.
Caron Ng has served WBEC-West’s Los Angeles Forum for two years and will be the incoming Chair in September 2018. Caron is the CEO & Founder of Nu-Set Lock, a third-generation women-owned business established 45+ years ago, specialized lock and security hardware manufacturer.
Lindy Huang Werges is the incoming Senior Vice-Chair for WBEC-West’s Los Angeles Forum. She is the Principal & Founder of Integritas Resources, Inc., a specialized finance & accounting executive search & staffing firm. Lindy is also the Co-founder of Zen Yoga Strap, a unique 3-loop progress | yoga strap for increased flexibility and deeper stretches.
Photo + Video: Andrew Chenault Creative