Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!
I lived and worked for various international companies in Germany, Switzerland, and the UK. Throughout my career, I have utilized my interpersonal and organisational skills to provide guidance through decision-making processes with patience and compassion. I work now for a luxury wig manufacturer in Sales and Marketing as the Head of Wholesale.

What’s a fun fact about you?
Fun fact about me: despite my best efforts, I seem to have a hidden talent for scuffing the wheels on our cars. Parallel parking keeps life exciting.

What’s been your most memorable experience with GABA so far?
So many events, meaningful interactions, and lasting memories. It was a pleasure to be part of the OC team and contribute to organizing an event at SAP Hanahaus in Newport Beach, overseeing everything from speaker coordination and logistics to sponsorship and invitations.

What are you passionate about?
One of my key passions is connecting ideas and people to create meaningful impact. I enjoy turning complex challenges into clear, actionable solutions and helping teams work more effectively together. GABA excites me because it brings together diverse professionals who share a drive for growth, collaboration, and innovation—an environment where I feel motivated to contribute, learn, and help build strong, lasting connections.  

Connect with Rike on LinkedIn

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Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!
I’ve spent most of my career as an in-house counsel (company lawyer) at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., where I am Assistant General Counsel. I love being in house because you support and learn from diverse business teams, from Sales and Marketing to IT and Finance. We each have our own pressures, which shape our priorities. That dynamic gets us to the right place.

What’s a fun fact about you?
Long ago, I visited Ireland on my own. I loved the country and experiences, but the highlight was meeting someone from Hamburg who is now a close friend in the rental car line. The lowlight was damaging a wheel on my first day, a hard way to learn that curbs are much higher in Ireland.

What’s been your most memorable experience with GABA so far?
I could write pages about the many amazing events I’ve been to, but the most memorable is still my first, attending a Stammtisch. On top of being nervous about going to an event where I knew no one, I was embarrassed that I didn’t speak German.  I thought people would wonder why I was there. I could not have been more wrong: it was a welcoming crowd where people graciously pivoted to English.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about other cultures, which is why a friend recommended GABA years ago. There’s a reason I have volunteered here for so long: it attracts diverse professionals from virtually all corners of the economy. I am constantly amazed at what people have accomplished, especially those moving here from other countries, and they are generous in sharing their experiences. You make valuable contacts, but more than anything, it’s a great deal of fun.  You don’t have to be from Germany or speak German; just have an interest and show up!  

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Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!
I moved to Los Angeles in 1989 after earning my Diplom-Kauffrau (MBA equivalent) from the University of Cologne. Following a successful career in the fashion industry, where I served as Director of Production and Controlling, I transitioned into the insurance field. In 2008, I founded Solid Health Insurance Services, an independent agency specializing in health coverage for individuals, small businesses, and seniors across California.

What’s a fun fact about you?
I love celebrating Karneval in Cologne, and every year my husband and I travel there to enjoy five days of fun and reconnect with old school and university friends.

In my daily life, I enjoy hiking and staying active. One of my most memorable experiences was hiking the Grand Canyon in a single day. While it was an incredible adventure, next time I plan to camp there to fully take in the beauty of the canyon.

What’s been your most memorable experience with GABA so far?
Over the years, I’ve been part of many wonderful GABA experiences, like attending the annual business outlook with El-Erian, helping the network adapt during Covid, organizing our first white asparagus dinner, and building a close friendship with my Co-Chair, Elke Miller, and the GABA team.

This year, GABA’s support means even more to me, as I lost everything I had built over the past 36 years in the Palisades fire.

What are you passionate about?
I see myself as both a connector and a guide. My insurance profession gives me the privilege of helping clients navigate the often complex health insurance system, ensuring they feel supported and informed in their decisions. Equally important to me is building meaningful connections.

As GABA Women Co-Chair, I’ve had the honor of opening doors for women—introducing them to new ideas, expanding their professional networks, creating business opportunities, and fostering genuine friendships. For me, helping and connecting people is not just part of what I do; it is what inspires me every day

Connect with Barbara on LinkedIn

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This prestigious recognition, issued by German Ambassador Jens Hanefeld in Washington, D.C. and presented by Consul General Andrea Sasse during the Day of German Unity Reception at the Wende Museum in Culver City, celebrates GABA’s dedication to strengthening the bonds between Germany and the United States.

The award honors GABA’s longstanding commitment to fostering transatlantic dialogue, collaboration, and innovation. For over two decades, GABA has built a unique platform where business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers from both sides of the Atlantic come together to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and shape the future.

The award ceremony took place in a truly festive setting. The reception opened with the live singing of the U.S. and German anthems, followed by a heartfelt speech from Consul General Andrea Sasse, and the presentation of the award to GABA.
In the magnificent gardens of the Wende Museum, guests enjoyed a vibrant taste of Germany – from Bratwurst, Brezeln, Döner, and Spaghetti Eis to German wines and beers – accompanied by German music played by a DJ and beautiful lights illuminating the evening.

We accept this honor with deep appreciation – not only on behalf of GABA as an organization, but in recognition of the dedicated community that makes our mission possible.

To our incredible volunteers, Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and members: this award belongs to you. Your commitment, energy, and passion are the driving force behind everything GABA accomplishes. You are the bridge builders who turn vision into reality.

A heartfelt thank you to Consul General Andrea Sasse and the team at the Consulate General of Germany in Los Angeles for this special recognition, and to Ambassador Jens Hanefeld for honoring GABA with this award.

Together, we will continue to strengthen German American friendship and collaboration across business, technology, innovation, film and culture – building a brighter future across the Atlantic.

(Main featured image by www.maxhaupt.com)

The post GABA Honored with the 2025 German American Friendship Award appeared first on GABA Southern California.

We are delighted to welcome Roland Deiser to the GABA Southern California Advisory Board. Roland is the Chairman of the Center for the Future of Organization at the Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University, where his work focuses on the organizational capabilities required for effective business ecosystem leadership.

With a career that bridges corporate leadership, academia, and strategic advisory, Roland brings exceptional expertise in navigating transformational challenges and the political dynamics of large organizations. He collaborates with senior executives from Fortune 500 companies, government bodies, and emerging enterprises in both the US and Europe, helping them address the complexities of a fast-changing global business environment.

Previously, Roland served as the founding Dean of Daimler’s Corporate University and created the Executive Corporate Learning Forum (ECLF)—a global consortium for peer exchange among corporate leaders. He has also held faculty positions at the University of Southern California, Technical University of Munich, and Vienna University, and authored several influential books and articles on leadership, strategy, and organizational design.

Roland’s visionary perspective, international network, and deep understanding of organizational transformation will be a valuable asset to GABA as we continue to grow our reach and impact within the German American business community. Welcome to the team, Roland!

GABA SoCal Advisory Board

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A global leader in the fields of visual computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, Markus Gross brings an extraordinary record of academic, industry, and entrepreneurial achievement. He serves as head and chairman of several world-renowned research institutions, including Disney Research at The Walt Disney Studios, the Computer Graphics Laboratory at ETH Zurich, the Media Technology Centre, and the Game Technology Centre at ETH.

Professor Gross’s groundbreaking work has earned him two Technical Achievement Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, along with the Eurographics Distinguished Career Award, the IEEE Visualization Career Award, the Konrad-Zuse Medal for Informatics, and the Karl Heinz Beckurts Prize. He is also a distinguished member of multiple prestigious academies.

With over 500 publications, 100+ patents, and more than 300 keynote presentations and public talks, Markus Gross continues to drive innovation at the intersection of science and industry. Beyond academia and research, he is an active investor with a focus on deep tech startups, many of which have achieved successful exits with global industry leaders.

We are honored to have Markus Gross join our Advisory Board and look forward to the inspiration and expertise he will bring to our community!

GABA SoCal Advisory Board

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Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!
My name is Hillary von Thun-Hohenstein, and I manage Individual Members Support at GABA. I have been involved with GABA since 2013 and have held various roles over the years. I’m currently the Director of Marketing at Kaplan Financial – the role has given me opportunities to showcase my creativity and ability to problem solve.

What’s a fun fact about you?
Over the past few years, I have enjoyed practicing hot yoga – I still have a ways to go before I perfect all the poses, but improving every day!

What’s been your most memorable experience with GABA so far?
I was able to bring my sister to GABA’s Year End Holiday Party and we had a blast eating delicious food, engaging in great conversations, and celebrating with everyone.

It was also GABA that landed me my first job – after volunteering for GABA remotely during my college years, I moved back home to L.A. where I volunteered for my first in-person GABA event. It was there I connected with another GABA member who would later put me in contact with the CEO of a German company in need of German speakers!

What are you passionate about?
I’ve loved my role at GABA as I welcome new members and am able to connect with people of all different backgrounds. My conversations with the members that have newly joined are always interesting and I enjoy hearing about everyone’s professional experiences and what made them join GABA in the first place.

Connect with Hillary on LinkedIn

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We are pleased to welcome Dietmar Rieg to the GABA Advisory Board. With a distinguished background in transatlantic business development, Dietmar brings valuable experience in career services, dual education programs, trade show services, international consulting, and the organization of events, symposiums, and business delegations.

He is the founder of the STEP USA program (www.stepusa.io), which welcomed its first cohort to New York in December 2014. Since then, 42 cohorts and approximately 500 companies have participated in the program, helping German startups and SMEs establish a successful foothold in the U.S. market.

We are honored to have Dietmar’s expertise and leadership supporting GABA’s mission to foster strong German American business connections.

GABA SoCal Advisory Board

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We look forward to Martin’s insights and leadership as we continue strengthening German-American business relations and fostering growth within our community!

GABA SoCal Advisory Board

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GABA SoCal Advisory Board

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