An increasing number of employers are embracing the idea of at-work wellness programs to encourage healthier behaviors among employees. Successful programs are proving a benefit to both employees and employers.
Kaiser Permanente, The Coca-Cola Company, Yamaha Music & Wellness Institute and the RAND Corporation will analyze wellness programs at the 4th Annual Pepperdine University Healthcare Forum on Thursday, May 30, 2013 from 6 – 9 p.m. at RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, California.
The Dean’s executive and alumni advisory board, the Board of Visitors, awarded its highest honor, the George Award, to an accomplished selection of eleven students, alumni and faculty this April.
Led by Stevan Cavillo, principal at law firm Calvillo & Meyer LLP and son-in-law of school benefactor George L. Graziadio, Jr., the Board annually host a luncheon and recognize the finest members the Graziadio School community who exemplify “integrity, stewardship, courage, and compassion, while enriching the ever-changing business world through their superior skills and entrepreneurial spirit.” The Graziadio family, daughters Mary Lou Area and Alida Calvillo and son G. Louis Graziadio III, personally conferred to each recipient the statuette featuring the likeness of their father.
Mouse over an image below to learn more about the recipient.
Gabriella Soroldoni (MBA ’80), Associate Dean of Administration, of Playa del Rey, CA, was recognized for 37 years of outstanding service to the business school. Ms. Soroldoni leads the admission, financial aid, student accounts, student systems, technology services and finance and budgeting operations for nearly four decades. She holds the distinction of having served every dean of the school.
Dr. Demos Vardiabasis, of Downey, CA, received the George Award in recognition of more than 20 years on faculty and for his outstanding business connections; leveraging his networks and contacts for the benefit of the Graziadio School. He has served as the economic commissioner as well as the chairman of the Entertainment and Tourism Industry Advisory Committee for the State of California and on the board and as consultant to numerous organizations. Over his tenure, he has served as an associate dean and a leading (and much beloved) faculty member in the Executive MBA program and Presidents and Key Executives MBA program.
Dr. Danni Sun (MBA '99) of Corona Del Mar, CA, a Board of Visitors member, was honored with the George Award for outstanding alumni. She has excelled in her support of international students, Orange County alumni outreach and fundraising for the Center for Applied Research. President of LJC Investments, and previously director of business development at Riviera, Modern Luxury, a subsidiary of the second-largest media company in the country, Dr. Sun has started several businesses, ranging from health and wellness to computer software. Notably, she operated the first business to distribute Apple computers in California, and later, China.
Jennifer Westpfahl of Pasadena was acknowledged with the George Award for Outstanding Student (Executive MBA) for seamlessly navigating between the conceptual and the concrete thought processes while demonstrating a superb level of self-awareness through applied learning. Westpfahl is an executive director at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC. Her career and industry perspective have proven to be great assets to her MBA cohort, for whom she has served as both an informal leader and a supportive individual teammate.
Rui "Alice" Wan, of Shantou, Guangdong, China, received George Award for Outstanding Student (Full-time Master of Science in Applied Finance Program). Wan has been an active member of the Graziadio School student body, participating in the VCLL Case Competition and the ACG Cup. In addition, she is the recent winner of the first Values Driven Leadership Scholarship for students enrolled in a full-time master of science degree program.
Crowdfunding is among the entertainment finance topics discussed by industry experts at the Pepperdine Motion Picture Finance Forum
Crowdfunding is a hot topic right now in entertainment finance due to successful fundraising campaigns such as the $4.6 million raised so far for the Veronica Mars movie project on Kickstarter. “Any financial innovation in this industry that solves a persistent problem is likely to be adopted quickly,” stated Bianca Goodloe, expert panelist at the April 4thPepperdine University Motion Picture Finance Forum, and managing partner of Goodloe Law, a prominent Los Angeles entertainment law firm, “In the case of crowdfunding, independent filmmakers may be eager to access this new source of funding, but be unaware of some of the risks involved.”
“Any financial innovation in this industry that solves a persistent problem is likely to be adopted quickly”
Dr. Beverly Kaye, Best-Selling Author and Talent Management Thought Leader, to Deliver Dynamic Keynote Address on Developing and Retaining Key Employees
Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School is bringing together academic experts and acclaimed human resources professionals for a day-long dialogue about best practices in the field of talent management. Speakers will discuss the art of attracting, developing, deploying, and retaining talent to achieve strategic objectives and meet future business needs at the Talent Management Symposium held on April 19, 2013 at Pepperdine University’s West Los Angeles campus. Continue reading →
The Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project is a sponsor of the L.A. Bankers annual “Spring Kickoff” event at Wokcano Restaurant & Lounge in Santa Monica on Thursday, March 21, 2013. This premier reception brings together professionals in transactional fields such as investment banking, commercial banking, private equity and venture capital. With a spacious outdoor patio, three no-host bars and trademark Asian Fusion restaurant, the venue provides the perfect industry environment for networking, connecting with old friends or meeting new ones.
Crowdfunding is a hot topic right now in entertainment finance due to successful fundraising campaigns such as the $4.6 million raised so far for the Veronica Mars movie project on Kickstarter. “Any financial innovation in this industry that solves a persistent problem is likely to be adopted quickly,” stated 
