Portfolio April 2016

a jewish journal Business guide aPril 2016

Izek Shomof’S downtown vISIon

+ pLus

Menchie’s Main Man everything’s coMing up rosies

portfolio

OUT IN FRONT.

MAINTAINING YOUR POSITION REQUIRES FOCUS, DEDICATION... AND GOOD PARTNERS.

BUSINESS BANKING COMMERCIAL LENDING TREASURY MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT FINANCING1 NOT–FOR–PROFIT BANKING

You’ve been the first one in and the last one out more times than you can remember, and you’ve been uncompromising in the pursuit of your dreams. But you knew you couldn’t do it alone. That’s why you looked to have people around you that you trust to handle the financial details required to succeed. With market knowledge, industry insight and the strength of our organization with $14 billion in assets3, nothing is out of reach— Torrey Pines Bank is where business gets done.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

NEED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? TALK WITH US. | 310.623.8900 KATHLEEN CHAPMAN, SVP/Manager FIVE STAR RATING BY BAUER FINANCIAL2

9355 Wilshire Blvd | Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Direct Line: 310.623.8901 kchapman@torreypinesbank.com

TORREYPINESBANK.COM

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF OFFICE LOCATIONS PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE Equipment financing is provided by Western Alliance Equipment Finance, a subsidiary of Western Alliance Bank and is subject to credit approval. is based on 03/31/2015 financial data. 3 As a division of Western Alliance Bank, asset figure is as of 09/30/2015.

1

2

As a division of Western Alliance Bank, rating

New

The^ Reverse Mortgage Refinanace or Purchase

a jeWIsh journal BusIness guIDe aPrIl 2016

KEN ADLER (Senior Loan Officer)

(310) 873-2660

Contents 6 8

www.kenadler.com kadler@mtgcapital.com

10 12

11150 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

15

Menchie’s mensch Driving the downtown revival

8

Workers in progress Innovation meets incubation Dress for success

6 10 Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under California Residential Mortgage Act NMLS#261698, NMLS #3294

YOU KNOW YOU NEED A LIVING TRUST LIVING TRUSTS FROM $799 Work with an attorney to make your custom, confidential Estate Plan to ensure that your wishes are legally documented.

It is easy, fast and inexpensive.

CaLL Benjamin a. Brin, esq. for a free consultation 213-675-4940 BrinLegalFinancial.com BBrin@BrinLegalFinancial.com

4

|| APRIL APRIL2016 2016 | | PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Rob Eshman

President David Suissa

Editorial Executive Editor Susan Freudenheim associate Editor Ryan E. Smith assistant Editor Anita K. Kantrowitz Copy Editors Melissa Weller, Linda Whitmore, Chris Woldt

adVErtisinG Executive director, advertising Martin Finkelstein senior account Executives Robin Baltic, Shoshana Cohen, Arlyn Isen, Lanna Solnit, Toni Van Ness

ProduCtion art director Lynn Pelkey Graphic designer Paul Takizawa Production assistant Carol Kaufman

traffic manager Sara Budisantoso sales Coordinator Angela Hay

JEWishJournal.Com digital Content manager Jeffrey Hensiek digital strategy manager Moshe Lehrer Blog manager Julie Bien

administration Chief Financial officer Adam Levine director of Community Engagement Julia R. Moss Bookkeeper Andrea Alonso administrative assistant Amanda Epstein

triBE mEdia CorP. 3250 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1250 Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 368-1661

The Jewish Journal does not endorse the goods and services advertised in its pages, and it makes no representation as to the kashrut of the food products and services in such advertising.

Visit the Journal online: jewishjournal.com Annual subscription rate: $69 for home delivery (restricted in certain areas); $148 for mail both in California and out of state; $350 outside of the United States. For all subscription services, visit JewishJournal.com or call (213) 368-1661, ext.129.

Published weekly by TRIBE Media Corp.

All rights reserved. Š 2016

on thE CoVEr: izek shomof Photo by Paul Takizawa

jewishjournal.com

LEADING

LIGHT An AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity Can Lead to Life-Enhancing Light for the World and Lifetime Retirement Income for You.

A Nanotech Leader: Professor Uri Banin founded Qlight on the basis of technology developed in his laboratory at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Watch him explain the work: afhu.org/cga5

When Professor Uri Banin developed a nanocrystal that converted light to other frequencies with minimum loss of energy, he lit the way for the next generation of illuminated flat-panel displays and LED lighting.

AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity Returns Age

65

70

75

80

85

90

Rate 6.0% 6.5% 7.1% 8.0% 9.5% 11.3%

That means unprecedented color quality and better visibility plus extended battery life.

CALL OR EMAIL NOW.

When you create a secure AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity, you obtain a high lifetime fixed rate of return, an income tax charitable deduction and substantial tax-free annuity payments. You also help propel groundbreaking research. Your gift annuity’s high rate of return assures you retirement income for life and provides a brighter future for Israel and the world.

The returns are generous. The cause is priceless.

For information on AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuities, please call AFHU Western Region Executive Director, Sheri L. Kaufer at (310) 843-3100 or email: skaufer@afhu.org.

Rates are based on a single life. Cash contributions produce annuity payments that are substantially tax-free.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem RESEARCH ENGINE FOR THE WORLD. ENGINE OF GROWTH FOR A NATION.

11500 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 512 Los Angeles, CA 90064 (310) 843-3100 afhu.org/cga5

Menchie’s mensch Yogurt chain’s cEo rEvEals thE sEcrEt oF his succEss

by Claudia Boyd-Barrett

P

erhaps it was a Michael J. Fox movie about a plucky corporate mailroom worker in New York City who works his way to the top that put Amit Kleinberger on the road to businessempire success.

Or maybe it was the time he spent honing his leadership skills in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Then again, it could have been Kleinberger’s parents, whose insistence on living by Jewish values and doing good in the world planted in him the seeds of an effective entrepreneur.

Whatever it was that set Kleinberger on his career path, today he has undoubtedly reached a pinnacle. At just 36 years old, he’s the CEO of Encinobased Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, which is among the world’s largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchises, with more than 530 locations around the globe.

His résumé includes building three other companies from scratch: a chain of cellphone accessory stories, a glass distributor and an assisted living facility for seniors. Most recently, Kleinberger embarked on another new business: He’s launching a chain of dine-in pizza restaurants called MidiCi Neapolitan Pizza.

“Ever since I can remember, I found business fascinating,” Kleinberger said in a recent phone interview. “When I was a kid, I remember that even watching movies, business movies, to me were just fascinating. The whole idea of commerce, I just found it very intriguing.”

Born in Jerusalem, Kleinberger spent his childhood in Israel and South Africa, where his parents moved for a time because of job obligations. His father is an engineer, and his mother worked as a teacher and later as principal at a large high school. Kleinberger

6

| APRIL 2016 | PortFolio

said he grew up in the Reform Jewish tradition, but also learned from his parents to respect people of all backgrounds and faiths.

Kleinberger was drawn to the world of business early on. At about age 10, he remembers getting hold of a copy of the 1987 movie “The Secret of My Success.” In it, a young college graduate played by Michael J. Fox works his way up from the mailroom to head of a company. Kleinberger watched the movie endlessly.

After working various part-time jobs through his teenage years, Kleinberger entered the military. He served three years in the IDF, and graduated from commander and sergeant schools.

Along the way, he said he learned invaluable lessons that later would help him in the business world.

“The military is probably the most instrumental piece in my leadership.

There’s three things that I’ve taken from the military: leading by example, appreciating people and humanity, and the discipline and ethic of hard work and perseverance,” he said. “You take those values — things that are well, well instilled in the military — those are probably the things I use the most.”

In his early 20s, Kleinberger moved to the United States to pursue what he thought was his dream — becoming a defense attorney. He enrolled in Santa Monica College, but quickly dropped out after he realized his passion lay elsewhere. With what little money he’d saved, he opened his first business, a cellular equipment store. He built that business into a chain of 26 locations.

After selling the stores, Kleinberger started and later sold two other businesses. First came a window products distribution company, then an assisted living facility, for which he said he obtained an administrator license from

Menchie’s CEO Amit Kleinberger Photo courtesy of Menchie’s

jewishjournal.com

the California Department of Social Services.

Then, in 2008, he met Menchie’s co-founders Danna and Adam Caldwell through mutual friends. At the time, the Caldwells had just one store, located in Valley Village. But Kleinberger saw potential in the couple’s emphasis on providing not just good frozen yogurt, but an uplifting and fun experience for the customer. He agreed to form a business partnership with the couple, and the rest is history. (Danna Caldwell remains as president of Menchie’s and her husband is COO.) Kleinberger, who lives in Encino with his wife, Carrie, an Agoura High School teacher, said Menchie’s is successful because it combines quality frozen yogurt (made from hormone-free milk) with good service and ambience, creating a total experience for the customer. The brand, much like Disney, is instantly recognizable when

jewishjournal.com

you encounter it, he said.

Kleinberger also credits the franchisees and the people who work at Menchie’s for the company’s success.

He said he learned to pay more attention to what happens on the frontlines of the business after he starred in two episodes of the television series “Undercover Boss.” On the CBS show, he worked in stores without letting on that he was the chief executive officer, serving yogurt, and cleaning restrooms and machines. He even spent a day at a dairy farm assisting with the birth of a calf.

“It was probably one of the most interesting experiences of my life,” Kleinberger said with a chuckle. “I didn’t see that coming. I was raised in an urban environment, not so much a farming environment. Seeing a calf pop out is probably something I won’t forget.”

Looking back on his wildly varied business career, Kleinberger divides its trajectory into two phases. During the first phase, his focus was trying out new business ideas, which often came to him through coincidence, he said.

Later, with the senior care facility and now Menchie’s and MidiCi — which currently has one location in Sherman Oaks, with plans for more nationwide — he sought something more meaningful: to honor and celebrate people.

The goal at Menchie’s, with its swirly-headed mascot, multiple flavors and wide variety of toppings, is to make people smile, he explained.

MidiCi’s is centered around the idea of bringing together friends through dining. (Its name means “you tell me” in Italian and refers to the customized approach to pizza and the restaurant’s social environment.)

“I’ve decided to dedicate my focus to only businesses that have a purpose, a focus on making the world better. I’m not interested in owning businesses for the sake of just owning them,” he said.

“The financial piece of it is not where I see the value in business. My belief is that, when you do great things, the financial thing comes along, but when you focus only on the financial ... it’s not nearly as fulfilling.” P

PORTFOLIO | APRIL 2016 |

7

Downtown real estate developer Izek Shomof

8

| APRIL 2016 | PORTFOLIO

jewishjournal.com

Driving the downtown revival From restaurants to race cars to real estate, Izek shomoF Is a vIsIonary entrepreneur

by AyAlA Or-El

Photos by Paul Takizawa

W

jewishjournal.com

alk along Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles with Izek Shomof and you’ll likely encounter a couple of passersby waving hello. That’s because the real estate developer has become a bit of a celebrity in the area, buying and rehabilitating a number of historic buildings in the vicinity.

“All of those buildings were old, neglected and vacant for many years,” he said. “I turned each one of them into apartment buildings, and on the ground floor I opened restaurants, coffee shops, etc.”

Shomof, 56, is a longtime entrepreneur and developer who first invested in downtown Los Angeles in the early ’90s. He started by purchasing the building at 639 S. Spring St. (Spring Tower Lofts) for $1 million, even though the area had a bad reputation and he wasn’t sure what to do with the property. Shomof kept the building until 2000, when the city implemented an adaptive reuse ordinance that facilitates the conversion of old commercial buildings into residences. This caused a domino effect, and within a few years, Shomof owned numerous buildings on Spring Street between Eighth and Fifth streets.

The native Israeli was careful to restore and preserve the historic buildings — most in the area were built between 1900 and 1930. For example, when he purchased Premiere Towers, the 120-unit building at 621 S. Spring St., he restored its Art Deco facade and retrofitted its elevators. Other projects he’s been involved with include the King Edward Hotel and the Alexandria Hotel.

Even though he helped give the area a new life, the streets outside were problematic. On the corner of Spring and Sixth sat the Hayward Hotel, a 525-unit, low-income hotel with a liquor store on the ground floor. To help change the image of the area, Shomof purchased the hotel in 2002 and started making changes. First to go was the liquor store, which was replaced by a music store.

Ken Bernstein, manager at the Office of Historic Resources and principal city planner for the Department of City Planning, said Shomof was one of the first developers to believe in downtown’s great potential.

“Initially, in 1990, it was difficult to convince investors to buy into this vision. Izek was truly among the first to see the potential of downtown’s remarkable historic buildings and saw the potential to attract new residents

into the heart of the city. So he actually took over two buildings in the Spring Street National Register Historic District, which had failed financially after being rehabilitated as condominiums with the support of the Community Redevelopment Agency in the 1980s.

Izek stepped in and was among the very first to successfully convert historic buildings into adaptive reuse projects.

Within a decade, more than 70 projects of adapted reuse were completed, representing 9,000 new housing units. Those housing conversions created the basis of downtown renaissance.”

According to Shomof, the change in the area has been dramatic since then.

“It turned [into] one of the most popular entertainment areas in L.A.,” he said. “Back in the days, downtown was a business place. People used to come to work and go back home at 5 p.m. It was completely dead during the evening hours. Today it’s full of life, with many young people and professionals who live here or come for entertainment.”

Shomof was born in Tel Aviv, where his family owned a bar. He moved to Los Angeles with his family in the summer of 1973, when he was 14. He attended high school in Van Nuys, but dropped out when he was 16 to pursue

See revival on page 17

POrTFOlIO | APRIL 2016 |

9

ROSIES Foundation founder Lee Chernotsky

Workers in progress EmployEEs with dEvElopmEntal disabilitiEs roll up thEir slEEvEs

by Evan HEnERsOn

10

| APRIL 2016 | PORTFOLIO

jewishjournal.com

B

ags of potato chips have been hung on hooks, sodas are on ice, the tip jar is at the ready. Customer satisfaction surveys are in place, and there’s a beanbag-toss game on the sidewalk — an added touch designed to get patrons to linger and get acquainted.

It’s Wednesday morning, and — hot diggity dog! — the employees at the Removing Obstacles, Supporting Innovation, Empowerment and Sustainability (ROSIES) Foundation can hardly wait for the lunch rush at their hot dog stand on Washington Boulevard in the heart of the Culver City arts district.

The employees, who range in age from 20 to 36, have a range of developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorders and Down syndrome.

As far as ROSIES is concerned, however, they have “diverse abilities,” not disabilities, and they are trained, enthusiastic and ready to work.

The day’s job responsibilities have been clearly defined, although many of the 12 ROSIES employees can alternate shifts. Brett Viker and Naayin Akyempon team up to work the food. William Sachs is the greeter, taking orders and

handling cash and credit cards. Joey Schwartzman, the team’s all-purpose fixit man, oversees the overall cart management and assists customers with surveys.

Nick Miller is on the setup and cleanup crew. Adam Michel helps guests hone their beanbag aim. Inside the foundation’s nearby office, Ezra Fields-Meyer and Miya Senzaki are at their computers working on a children’s book and Web content designed to help communicate ROSIES’ story and mission.

Plans for the new ROSIES hot dog cart include lunchtime appearances on the Culver City corner four days a week before moving to a spot near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and La Jolla Avenue. In May, the nonprofit expects to launch an ice cream truck housed in a specially converted school bus that will be available for parties.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the national unemployment rate for adults with disabilities may hover around 80 percent. But Lee Chernotsky, ROSIES’ founder and chief empowerment officer, takes a more optimistic view of his crew’s employment prospects, and he runs his nonprofit accordingly.

“Every single minute of every day,

our work is trying to revise and combat that statistic,” Chernotsky said. “Not just by sitting in a classroom, but by creating on-the-job experience and work opportunities where people are getting paid.

Everyone’s getting a paycheck for being here today.”

Chernotsky spent more than 16 years working in the special needs community, including stints in the Tikvah program at Camp Ramah. At the end of 2014, after doing some early work to help The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles launch the Los Angeles Jewish Abilities Center, Chernotsky left to start his own nonprofit.

With an MBA in nonprofit management from American Jewish University and experience as an entrepreneurial fellow through Federation’s PresenTenseLA initiative, he developed ROSIES. The nonprofit’s name and inspiration was Chernotsky’s grandmother, known as Bubba Rose, who continuously reminded young Lee that his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be viewed as a strength rather than an impediment.

“I’ve always found it very empowering to be in a mentoring position,”

Chernotsky said. “Growing up with ADHD and finally coming to terms with [the realization that], ‘All right, I can’t do everything myself. I need to ask for help sometimes,’ was very humbling. These are the cards that [we have] been dealt and we’re trying to figure out how to play poker with them the best way we can.”

Last year was ROSIES’ first year of operation, and it focused largely on fundraising and training, setting up an intensive, eight-month program to provide vocational training and work readiness skills for its enlistees. The nonprofit graduated two classes of its Collaborative, Respected, Empowered Workers (CREW) college. Now, with social enterprise initiatives such as the food ventures ramping up, Chernotsky said the foundation’s emphasis has shifted to providing employees paid, on-the-job experience.

“We’re giving people a job opportunity with what we call a reasonable learning curve,” Chernotsky said. “The idea was if we give people work and they try it out for 30 to 90 days like any other job, we really kind of level the playing field.”

Longtime friends, local businesses

See ROSIES on page 16

Above left: Naayin Akyempon, a ROSIES employee, prepares a hot dog for a hungry customer. Above right: ROSIES employee William Sachs works as a greeter at the hot dog stand. Photos by Paul Takizawa

jewishjournal.com

PORTFOLIO | | APRIL APRIL2016 2016 | | PORTFOLIO

11

Innovation meets incubation AnyA EldAn hElps govErnmEnt boost IsrAElI hIgh-tEch stArtups through rElAtIonshIps wIth EstAblIshEd compAnIEs

by Jacob WIrtschafter

12

| APRIL 2016 | PortfoLIo

agenda. The Jewish Journal spoke with Eldan to discuss her choice to move from a top executive role in the private sector to coordinating the government’s effort to support early-stage entrepreneurs and innovators. Here is an edited version of that conversation:

Anya Eldan

Photo by Noa Zeni

E

arlier this year, the grant-making agency supporting technological research and development in Israel, known as the Office of the Chief Scientist, rebranded itself as the Israel Innovation Authority.

The purpose of the renamed and restructured agency — an arm of the Ministry of Economy — is to improve traditional industrial sectors by engaging them with cutting-edge research and development practices and continuing to maintain the country’s high-tech leadership.

Encouraging companies to compete for funds and expertise available through Israel’s network of specialized business incubators for early-stage entrepreneurs not only has driven the expansion of the nation’s economy, it also builds on the state’s market-oriented public investment in private enterprise as the formula to seed growth in the startup nation.

On March 17, the Authority announced winners of the fifth annual incubator competition, with more global companies and investors wanting to gain from running an idea lab for new or enhanced technology products in Israel. The winners will enjoy an eight-year license during which projects they support can receive government funding of 85 percent of the budget approved for each startup company. Companies that win contracts to run the incubators receive a share of profits earned by the successful startups.

Anya Eldan, a seasoned high-tech executive and one of the leading women in Israel’s innovation ecosystem, was chosen by Israeli Chief Scientist Avi Hasson 15 months ago to manage the earlystage and incubator programs that have become a world-class model for 21stcentury idea labs.

Open innovation and enhanced international partnerships are at the top of her

JEWISH JOURNAL: You worked in biomedical research, software and venture capital, and served as a consultant to the government’s incubator program before joining the Office of the Chief Scientist. Tell us about your journey.

ANYA ELDAN: I studied math and computer science. I was in software and telecommunications for 10 years, working for a large software house. Then I worked for the RAD Group, which is a large communications group here in Israel. After working in marketing business development, I was asked by Israel Aircraft Industries to manage their investment fund. The idea was to commercialize defense technology. And what we see today, which is very funny, is that the trend is the other way around. Now, the defense technologies are looking to commercial markets for innovation that they incorporate into their products.

When I left venture capital, I wanted to manage companies. I felt that I needed to experience being a CEO. I ended up managing a company called WideMed. This company developed products for diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. We developed sleep products that got [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] approval. I took it public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2006 and worked to foster their growth for about seven years.

JJ: How did you make the transition from the private sector, representing in-

jewishjournal.com

dustry on panels evaluating startup projects, to managing the public venture side of things?

AE: In Israel, you can’t be in hightech and not work with the chief scientist, because the chief scientist’s office supports such a wide array of innovation projects. Over the last several years — and this comes from the work I did around sleep research — I became increasingly interested in brain technology. One of the things that I found so compelling was that in medicine, the brain is like an unexplored continent. It seemed to me that the basic science is becoming more effective with significant gains in knowledge about the brain. And I thought that Israel could become a center for brain technology.

I organized our first two brain technology conferences, and that’s when I met the chief scientist, Avi Hasson. Avi convinced me that since I’m already doing this work — looking at how to build up our technological industries — I might as well come and join him at the chief scientist’s office.

He offered me, effectively, to come and establish the early-stage segment of their activities. That was very compelling because I thought that’s an opportunity to be able to look at the whole early-stage sector as one and improve some of the existing programs, but also generate some new programs that would not just help us keep the innovation here but also to create the conditions for scaling up. As of January, we became the Israel Innovation Authority, which is still a government agency, but it’s more independent in its structure, and that gives us more flexibility to address the needs of the high-tech sector.

JJ: It seems the idea is to innovate the process and structure of how the government contributes to innovation in Israeli industry.

AE: Yes, and that change has received publicity, but the other thing is — and this is the one that attracted me to come and join the government — that, until last year, the chief scientist’s office was composed of 40 different programs, each one addressing different parts of the market.

Some of the programs had the managers [guiding the programs on-site], some programs didn’t have [comprehensive] management. It was really a very programoriented approach.

The change we are making is that instead of looking at developing clusters of programs, we pivot to basing the incubators on market segments [such as health

jewishjournal.com jewishjournal.com

technologies, software and communications, digital life technologies]. It’s a more coherent approach with market segment executives not only responsible for management of all of the programs in that segment, but also in charge of identifying what’s missing in our infrastructure and what policies need to be changed if we are going to be the key players in those industries.

JJ: What’s on the horizon for the Israel Innovation Authority?

AE: We are looking at how to help startups. Not just give them money, but also how to bring partners that can bring added value to the startup companies. This week, the fifth round of competition was concluded in the technological incubators program in which licensees were selected to establish and run the incubators. It’s an interesting question on who are the best partners. I can tell you out of 19 tenders that we did, we have a whole mix. In some cases, it’s a large Israeli business. So Jerusalem Venture Partners is being joined by Motorola Solutions, Reliance Industries and Yissum, the research [and] development company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to focus on investments in software and communications.

In some cases, it’s Israeli industries.

Elbit has an incubator, as does Strauss, a large food-tech company here that has an incubator. In other cases, it’s the multinationals. We gave a contract to Medex, owned by Boston Scientific, to establish and run a technological incubator in Or Yehuda with Tel HasShomer Hospital’s commercialization company. They will invest in the fields of medical devices, combined medicine and digital health.

Philips and Teva are doing medical devices. We have an incubator that won the tender in the summer, in digital health, owned by IBM; Medtronic, the largest medical device company in the world today; and Vitango, who’s the [venture capital] here, and the Rambam Hospital.

This consortium is going to be investing in digital health.

So we’re now at a place where about one-third of our incubators have major international partners. It’s a great example ... of a win-win. The large company comes here and finds Israeli innovation, but Israeli startups get significant added value from working with the market leader who can bring them to the market by helping them understand the segment in global terms. P

PORTFOLIO | APRIL 2016 |

13 13

14

| APRIL 2016 | PORTFOLIO

jewishjournal.com

Dress for success

by JULIE BIEN

Y

ou applied for your dream job and scored an interview. Congrats! Now it’s time to show your future employer that you mean business. While it may be tempting to wear something quirky or unique, keep it professional with these vestments and accessories by Jewish designers and let your personality shine instead. Now go get ’em!

The hand-silkscreened microfiber LOOSE SCREW TIE ($40) from UncommonGoods, a company founded by David Bolotsky, pulls together your look and elevates it with a subtle yet playful design. Tip: The end of your tie should hit the top of your belt. uncommongoods.com Wear this striking DKNY goldtone TOMPKINS SQUARE WATCH WITH MESH BAND ($85) for women by Donna Karan to show you care about being prompt but aren’t glued to your smartphone’s clock. Tip: If you do carry a smartphone, turn it off during your interview. dkny.com

The menswear-inspired silk CARY TOP ($198)

by Rebecca Minkoff is conservative enough for an interview without being dowdy. Tip: When buying a blouse, make sure it doesn’t gap at the bust and the buttons don’t pull. Be mindful of anything that exposes more than your collarbone. rebeccaminkoff.com

The navy-blue cotton PLEATED RIBS SKIRT ($275) with ruffle detail by Marc Jacobs hits the sweet spot of style and function.

Tip: Pencil skirts (and similar styles) should hit the knee or 1 to 2 inches above. marcjacobs.com

The Calvin Klein CLASSIC FIT BLACK TIC SUIT ($175-$425) shows that you’re confident and ready to impress future clients.

Tip: When buying dress pants, make sure the pant legs break at the top of your shoes. calvinklein.com The white poplin STANDARD ISSUE SHIRT ($175) from Rag and Bone by designers Nathan Bogle and Marcus Wainwright is the workhorse of any man’s wardrobe. Tip: Make sure it’s ironed — details matter when an interviewer has to make quick judgments. rag-bone.com

jewishjournal.com

PORTFOLIO | APRIL 2016 |

15

ROSIES Continued from page 11 and community members have jumped in to help ROSIES find its footing.

They’ve donated supplies, office space, professional expertise and, at times, an extra hand.

Jeff Rohatiner, owner of Jeff’s Gourmet Sausage Factory, is leasing the hot dog cart to ROSIES for $1 per month.

Gerard Jiron, purchasing manager at the New School of Cooking, met weekly with ROSIES employees, giving them jobs around the school and helping them prepare for their ServSafe food-handling certification tests. Neighboring businesses on Washington Boulevard have helped with advice on graphics and providing meeting space. ROSIES received key funding from its founding board chairman, Silicon Valley philanthropist Jeffrey Sobrato.

At the March soft launch of the hot dog cart, many of these friends dropped in to grab a wiener, toss a beanbag and share the good will. Whether arranging blooms for Valentine’s Day or gathering

16 | | APRIL APRIL2016 2016 | | PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO

for karaoke, ROSIES events tend to inspire community building, said Vee Ravana, who operates the Studio by Dark artisanal gallery next door to the nonprofit.

“They come in to work, and they never lose their enthusiasm, which is

who runs down the price list ($4 for a hot dog, $6 for a combo including chips and a drink) while informing customers that condiments and surveys can be found nearby. Of all the jobs on the cart, Sachs considers himself a natural

Sachs said. “I like to write, so I’d like to hopefully be a writer or have some kind of creative job. Hopefully I can pursue my dreams and do some kind of career goal.”

When lunch came to an end, the employees brought all the supplies indoors and convened at the ROSIES conference table to debrief, review the customer satisfaction surveys, and consider which part of the work day went well and what could be improved in the future.

Sachs felt as if he developed a strong rhythm with customers as the shift progressed. Michel enjoyed the beanbag toss, but decided he might be willing to take a turn on the cart next time. Viker worried that, while simultaneously cooking and handling food, he took on too many greeter duties.

“I might come off as too much of an attention grabber,” he said. “I am the kind of guy who likes recognition and power. It’s a line I have to walk.”

Chernotsky noted that Viker and Akyempon were splendidly in sync handling the hot dog orders.

“I feel like we knocked that one out of the park,” Viker agreed. P

Driving the downtown revival From tobyrace toof real estate, The ROSIESrestaurants Foundation hot dog cart is run employeescars with a range developmental disabilities.

Izek a RavIsIonary entrepreneur hard to doshomoF when you have Is a job,” fit for the greeter position because he vana said of the ROSIES employees.

“They’re so warm and welcoming.

They’re family, basically.”

Especially enthusiastic is Sachs,

socializes well with customers. Sachs said he hopes someday to work in movies or with children.

“I’m working on backup plans,”

jewishjournal.com

revival Continued from page 9 business opportunities.

“My brother Jacob opened a restaurant, and my parents started working with him. I started working in the restaurant during summer vacations. When I was 16, I saved enough money and, with a little help from my father, opened my own restaurant.” The downtown eatery he created was called Maxim.

His parents, Sara and Hanan, couldn’t say anything to dissuade the determined young man. By the time he

units. The Sears store, which takes up about 250,000 square feet of the 1.8 million-square-foot building, will be joined by another 99,000 square feet of additional retail space. Another 250,000 square feet will be converted into creative office space.

Shomof, who has five children with his wife, Aline, bought the property in late 2013 but had to wait for plans to be approved by the city. “We hope to start construction in the next six months,” he said.

Shomof has dabbled a bit in Hollywood as well, producing a 2012 movie based on his life story called “For the Love of Money.” It stars James Caan,

The Alexandria Hotel, with its elegant ballroom, is one project with which Shomof has been involved.

turned 18, Shomof had already opened and sold three restaurants. With the profits, he purchased an auto shop, Star Auto Body, on Pico Boulevard.

“Cars had also been my passion in life,” he said.

These days, on the ground floor of his Beverly Hills home, Shomof keeps a car collection that includes a Ferrari 360, Shelby Cobra, Chevrolet Corvette C1 and NASCAR race cars.

But the founder of Pacific Investments found his true calling in the real estate market.

“I purchased my first real estate in 1977 for $90,000,” Shomof said. “I was always passionate about cars and wanted to open my own body shop. The old Jewish man who owned the place said to me, ‘I’ll give you the best advice ever: If you can, always buy, don’t lease. I’ll give you a good price for it.’ And so, at 18, I purchased the place.”

Today, this self-made millionaire is working on a new big project, the transformation of the historic Sears complex in Boyle Heights into 1,030 live/work

jewishjournal.com

Paul Sorvino, Steven Bauer and Jeffrey Tambor, with Israeli actor Yehuda Levi playing the part of Shomof.

The narrative begins in Tel Aviv, where an illegal casino set up behind the Shomof family bar attracts criminals. The family relocates to L.A., where Shomof pursues his ambitions, but trouble finds them again when a local gangster (Caan) isn’t happy with the work at Izek’s auto shop.

“I offered him to bring the car back to the shop and that we’ll fix whatever needed to be fixed, but he refused and started threatening me,” Shomof said.

“The movie tells the story of people who are driven by the love of money.

When people are turning greedy and try to make money illegally, they either end up in jail or dead. It happened to some people I knew.

“I also had many opportunities to make money not honestly, but I was never tempted,” Shomof said. “What’s important is the path you take. The message of my film is you can still fulfill the American dream and do it honestly.” P

www.jewishjournal.com/dr_emranis_mystic_healing

PORTFOLIO || APRIL APRIL 2016 2016 || PORTFOLIO

17

MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES