Great Video From Financial Outlook Event GABA SoCal 2012
If you missed Financial Outlook 2012 on February 2nd at Deutsch Bank in Century City you can enjoy this great, short video of the event. Video was shot and edited by Blue Tree Productions. Financial Outlook 2013 is already in the works. If you are not already a GABA member please sign up here or click here to sign up for our event notifications and newsletter .
Board of Directors - GABA Southern California Chapter
Wolfram Doelker, Chairman
CEO of WD Enterprises in Los Angeles, CA, founded in 1998
His consulting practice focuses on practical management aspects of taking small and medium sized, family-owned businesses global, and in particular to the United States. A native of Germany Mr. Doelker is a Saarbruecken graduate in Business Economics and earned his MBA from UC University in Schenectady, New York.
He started his career in Banking and Finance in Stuttgart, Germany and Chicago, IL and a New York based Management Consulting firm. For 8 years based out of Europe and 7 years based out of the US, he then managed the successful globalization of a European based company from an $80 Mio business in 4 countries to a $400 Mio business in 19 countries. He negotiated and successfully integrated over 20 acquisitions, started businesses from scratch, negotiated joint ventures, developed licensing and franchise programs and managed business units in Europe, Asia and North America.
He served and serves on a number of corporate Boards of US subsidiaries, as Chairman of an Industry Association of Plastic Manufacturers in Germany, the Board of German American Schools, the International Advisory Council of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation and the German American Business Association of Southern California.
Michael Metzger, Vice-Chair
Principal at Covert & Co.
Covert & Co. (www.covertandco.com) is a premium specialty investment bank providing M&A and financing services to Internet, media and technology companies. Michael has over 15 years of investment banking and operating experience in the digital media, Internet, mobile and technology sectors. Previously, Michael was a Vice President at New Century Capital Partners and advised Yahoo’s Mobile Marketing and Advertising group. Michael has also held senior management and engineering positions at AT&T, IBM and Mindspeed.
He holds 5 patents in the field of Communications, and he also serves as a Board Director of the German American Business Association (GABA) and as a Vice-Chair of the Southern California Chapter.
Michael was raised in Stuttgart, Germany and received an MSEE from University of Ulm, Germany and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Anderson School of Management.
Chief Financial Officer of BI Nutraceuticals, Inc.
BI Nutraceuticals, Inc. in Long Beach, California, a subsidiary of the Zuellig Group, headquartered in Hong Kong. BI Nutraceuticals, Inc. is a manufacturer of botanical powders and extracts for dietary supplements and nutritional ingredients. Christoph manages the financial and administrative functions across locations in North America and China and serves as a Director and Officer of BI Nutraceuticals, Inc. and several affiliated companies.
Previously, Christoph was involved in developing the cosmetics business for the Henkel Group, a Fortune 500 company based in Duesseldorf, Germany. As the Controller of Hans Schwarzkopf GmbH, he participated in the company’s sale and integration into Henkel KGaA, he managed mergers and acquisitions of cosmetic businesses in Russia, Latin America, Greece and the United States, he developed joint ventures and export businesses in Eastern Europe, and he managed the portfolio of affiliated companies. Additionally, he served as a Financial Executive of companies in Germany, France, Greece and in the United States.
Christoph holds a Ph.D. and an MBA from University of Hamburg, Germany. As Assistant Professor of Business, he taught Accounting and Finance at the University of Southern Indiana. He is fluent in German, English and French.
Michael Boehmis COO at Haig Barrett, a management consulting firm, and Partner in HB/Sustain, Haig Barrett’s sustainability practice.
With over two decades of international business experience as a technology entrepreneur, Michael understands the real pressures organizations and their decision makers face on a daily basis. He has co-designed the Haig BarrettSustainovation sustainability strategic framework to create growth opportunities, build business, and find new streams of profitability.
Educated at Northwestern and Stanford Graduate School of Business, Michael combines an understanding of the behavior of organizations and the individuals who make them up and the technical systems they use to deliver service and value.
Michael is LEED AP and also certified in The Natural Step. Previous work experience included CEO of Solar start up SEDI, CTO ofcarsdirect.com, and work on Sempra’s smart grid while VP at Proximetry.
Michael teaches classes in the Global Sustainability Certificate programs at the University of California (UCLA) and is a Co-Founder of the Advanced Sustainability Institute in Santa Monica. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and is both a student and lecturer on Taoist philosophy. He serves as the Clean Tech Chair for the German American Business Association in Southern California.
Sven Hackmann is Vice President, US Cities Initiative at Siemens One, a Division of Siemens Corporation. Sven is currently responsible for the roll out and ongoing success of the Siemens Cities Initiative for the United States.
Siemens Corporation has 405,000 employees at 1,640 locations around the globe, including 176 R&D facilities. By leveraging the breadth of Siemens portfolio of innovations and technologies, the Siemens One team provides customers in the private and public sector with tailored solutions that improve their performance and bolster their competitive position in the marketplace.
Since joining Siemens in 2001, and Sven has served as Regional Vice President for Southern California and Nevada in the Healthcare Sector, and previously as Business Development Manager for Siemens Business Solutions focused on development of long-term strategic partnerships with medical organizations.
He is a board member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and he serves on the Board of Adviser at the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy, Center for Sustainable Cities. Sven is an alumni of the University of California, Los Angles (UCLA).
Dan Hoover is Founder and President of Estey-Hoover Inc., an Advertising and PR Agency that provides domestic and international strategic planning, media buying, creative ads, brochures, web design, email campaigns and other marketing services targeted at consumer and business to business customers in a wide variety of industries. Estey-Hoover is a longtime member of the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agency (AAAA). Prior to founding Estey-Hoover in 1975, Mr. Hoover was the Executive Vice President of Hoover Communications Group and President of Innovative Medical Marketing Systems.
Dan Hoover has received hundreds of creative and marketing awards over his long career. He has served on a number of corporate and non-profit Boards and been a marketing communications volunteer for numerous organizations, including the Partnership For A Drug Free America, Office of Protocol (Economic Development Council), Governmental Affairs Forum (Executive Council of Orange County), Association for Corporate Growth, United Way, Red Cross, American Cancer Society & others. He has received honored recognitions from the Governor of California, and is listed in Who’s Who in California, the West and in Advertising.
Dan Hoover is a native of California, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University Northridge, is married (nearly 40 years) to his wife, Joan, and has one son, Tim.
Anita Katzenbach is dedicated to help companies become more profitable, sustainable and innovative. She is a Senior Program Manager at Haig Barrett, Inc. and a Senior Sustainability Consultant for the HB/Sustain practice. Prior to joining Haig Barrett, Anita had her own management consulting firm, ASK Business Consulting Group with focus on American and European firms including Green / Clean Tech companies.
Anita's background includes more than 15 years of international working experience. She has held consulting and project leadership positions in various for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including Global Fortune 500 companies. Anita specializes in connecting corporate planning to organizational strategies, global sustainability & innovation. She has extensive experience in performance improvement, large-scale organizational change, strategic planning, communications & marketing.
As a Sustainability Business Advisor at the Small Business Development Center in Santa Monica, Anita has helped small business owners to start or grow their business. She teaches classes in the Global Sustainability Certificate programs at the University of California (UCLA) and is a Sustainability Consultant at the Advanced Sustainability Institute in Santa Monica.
Anita earned her Master's degree in Organizational Psychology from the RWTH Aachen Technical University in Germany. She serves on the Board of the Institute of Management Consultants as the Chair of the International Consulting SIG. She is also a Board member and Clean Tech Co-Chair of the German American Business Association in Southern California. Anita is fluent in English, German, and Hungarian.
Bernd inspires his clients to move from uncertainty to peace of mind by consolidating, coordinating, and simplifying their financial affairs. His clients achieve balance in their lives as they define and prioritize their financial goals.
Bernd’s team takes an individual and comprehensive look at your current financial situation, and then implements a proactive approach to secure your future financial goals. He aims to help you build financial freedom. The process begins with recognizing that he is here to help you attain your goals and dreams and guide you through life's uncertainties. He delivers his service with careful preparation and choose the best portfolio of financial tools to help you along the way.
Bernd is a member of King of Glory Lutheran Church and chairs the church’s Endowment Committee and is active in the UCLA Anderson Alumni Association, Orange County. After spending 18 years in the corporate world of the technology industry, Bernd chose to change his career and began his financial planning practice in 2006 and achieved his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in 2010. A graduate of the Fachhochschule Ulm in Germany and an Executive Management Certificate holder from UCLA Anderson, he is also a member of prestigious organizations such as the Financial Planning Association.
Bernd grew up in Germany, has been married since 1992 and has 3 children. He enjoys spending time with my family, going skiing, jogging, biking, traveling, and practicing Yoga.
Contact:
MetLife
5 Park Plaza – Suite 1800, Irvine, CA 92614
Tel: 949.471.5827 | Fax: 949.851.6323
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.berndsteinebrunner.metlife.com
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MLIC), 1095 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10036.Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered by MetLife Securities, Inc. (MSI), a broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC) and a Registered Investment Adviser. MLICand MSI are MetLife, Inc. companies. L0112232679[exp0113][CA]
Robert A. Wittenburg is managing director of Business Communications Strategies (www.bcs-international.net), an international marketing consulting firm, based in Irvine, California, that specializes in corporate and marketing communications. BCS works closely with CEO’s and executive management of all size companies to ensure the company and its business strategies are known and understood by all of its stakeholders.
Fortune 500 Global Companies that have benefited from Robert's expertise and leadership in advertising, public relations, corporate communications, and community relations include Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte, (Bosch, Siemens, Thermador, Gaggenau brands), Toshiba, NEC, Suzuki, and Japan Tobacco, along with Air China, CoreLogic, Sprint, Georg Fischer, Oracle, Cox Communications, Ketchum Public Relations, Packard Bell, Dentsu, Litton Industries, Bell and Howell, Ashton-Tate, Moore Financial Group and First Charter Financial Corporation.
Robert holds a MBA in Business Management from California State University, Dominguez Hills, California and BA degree in Philosophy from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. He has authored and taught communications management courses for the University of California, Irvine Extension and California State University, Fullerton, and belongs to a variety of professional and community service organizations.
Industry Group Chairs - GABA Southern California Chapter
Clean-Tech and Sustainability
Michael Boehmis COO at Haig Barrett, a management consulting firm, and Partner in HB/Sustain, Haig Barrett’s sustainability practice.
With over two decades of international business experience as a technology entrepreneur, Michael understands the real pressures organizations and their decision makers face on a daily basis. He has co-designed the Haig Barrett Sustainovation sustainability strategic framework to create growth opportunities, build business, and find new streams of profitability.
Educated at Northwestern and Stanford Graduate School of Business, Michael combines an understanding of the behavior of organizations and the individuals who make them up and the technical systems they use to deliver service and value.
Michael is LEED AP and also certified in The Natural Step. Previous work experience included CEO of Solar start up SEDI, CTO of carsdirect.com, and work on Sempra’s smart grid while VP at Proximetry.
Michael teaches classes in the Global Sustainability Certificate programs at the University of California (UCLA) and is a Co-Founder of the Advanced Sustainability Institute in Santa Monica. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and is both a student and lecturer on Taoist philosophy. He serves as the Clean Tech Chair for the German American Business Association in Southern California.
Petra Korn is an attorney admitted to practice both in Germany and in California. In the past ten years Petra has gained experience in media and entertainment law and transactions in Cologne and Berlin, Germany, and also in domestic and international corporate law and litigation through working for a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles. Petra enjoys having her own practice since November 2009 (www.germanamericanlawyer.com).
Petra advises domestic and international clients on transactional matters mainly in the fields of International Law, German Law, Corporate and Business Law, and Intellectual Property Law. Petra has the unique ability to advise clients on German and California law. Being able to explain the legal procedures either under German law or California law to the client in the native language is a big comforting factor to many of Petra's clients.
Petra's background and education has focused on Media Law, International Business Cartels, Unfair Competition, and Copyright Law. Petra furthered her studies in Media and European Law at the Administrative College in Speyer.
To best serve the needs of her clients, Petra maintains close relationships with, and associates with, a network of other attorneys and other professionals, like immigration lawyers and accountants.
Kathrin Turner has been Co-Owner, Art Director and the creative force behind a global gourmet food company, a global Omega 3 distributing multi level marketing company and an upscale Southern California restaurant since 1997.
With her experience in event management, international trade show events, private upscale dinner events, menu planning, marketing and design, she has now joined GABA as Event Manager for Southern California. Her diversified creative and managerial skills have their source in Fashion & Costume Design.
A native of Germany, she graduated as a professional tailor and earned her Masters of Fashion Design from the University of the Arts in Bremen, Germany.
His consulting practice focuses on practical management aspects of taking small and medium sized, family-owned businesses global, and in particular to the United States. A native of Germany Mr. Doelker is a Saarbruecken graduate in Business Economics and earned his MBA from UC University in Schenectady, New York.
Covert & Co. (
Michael Boehm
