Every organization striving to compete in today’s world economy must continually reexamine itself and improve the service it offers its customers. LA Headquarters Association is no different. Over the past year our Board has worked to define how we can better serve our members. We began by re-focusing our mission statement. Our commitment to “partnering with government and the community leaders to promote and create healthy economic growth,while enhancing quality of life in Greater Los Angeles” has driven us in new and exciting directions.*

This mission is being fulfilled in many ways. Over the past year our general membership meetings have addressed various aspects of our economy. For example:

• Jeff Lee and others discussed the challenges in developing apartments and condominiums in downtown LA;

• Dan Rosenfeld (Principal, Urban Partners LLC) and Katherine Perez (Executive Director, Southern California Transportation & Land Use Coalition) spoke of the tightening relationship between mass transit and housing;

• Representatives of Catellus, Urban Partners and Robert Charles Lesser & Company reviewed their projects and opportunities for public/private partnerships;

• Senior Managers of Trammel Crow and Lennar Partners addressed the new demands of financing large development projects; and

• Jack Keyser (Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation) delivered his annual market forecast.

More and more, business needs to partner with government. While there are many issues confronting our community, LAHq began this year to affect reform of the City’s Planning and Zoning Code. We formed an Ad Hoc Committee that is meeting on a regular basis with various leaders in the public sector to determine how we can streamline the complex permitting process.

LAHq’s mission extends beyond economic issues. We are committed to helping our youth achieve their dreams. Our Education Committee, in addition to all of their regular activities, held a highly successful Career Day for Utah Street School children in East Los Angeles.

An organization is only as good as its members. And we have terrific members. This year, however, special thanks go to Alice Wilson and John Stern (Programs), Jan Karl and Brad Cox (EDC), Bob Mosier and Parker Jones (Education), Liz Cera and Bob Taylor (Awards Lunch), Deborah Brown (Newsletter), and Sue Reeves (LAHq Executive Director).

Exciting and challenging times lie ahead of us. I urge each of you to join LAHq and become more active on our committees.