Alan Spatz Elected President of LAVA
Los Angeles, CA, August 17, 2014—The Board of Directors of The Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA), a non-profit organization which supports the development of start-up and emerging growth companies in Southern California (www.lava.org), has elected new officers for the 2014-2015 term.
Board members Alan Spatz (a Member of the Management Committee at TroyGould PC), Chris Krogh (Principal at Squar Milner), and Shuki Lehavi (serial entrepreneur and former CEO of Gumiyo) have been elected to the positions of President, Treasurer and Secretary, respectively.
Attorney Alan Spatz practices primarily in the areas of corporate and securities laws, with particular emphasis in public and private financings and mergers and acquisitions. He represents businesses in a wide variety of industries, including technology, life sciences, medical devices, health care services, entertainment, natural resources, digital media, financial institutions, mortgage banking, specialty finance and consumer products. He advises these entities from inception through initial and start-up financing, venture capital, bank and/or secondary financings, initial and secondary public offerings, reverse mergers, listing on stock exchanges and the sale of the entity. Mr. Spatz also represents hedge funds and bridge funds in their formation and investments.
“Following two years of fast paced growth to just under 500 members and over 40 events a year, LAVA is well positioned to continue its growth and move to the next level in serving its membership and the entrepreneurial and start-up communities,” said Mr. Spatz. “LAVA has become ‘Startup Central’ for emerging companies at all stages of the growth cycle. Although LAVA doesn’t directly fund companies, it provides educational programs and networking venues where entrepreneurs from diverse industries can meet both the direct funding sources as well as advisors critical to all stages of growth.”
“LAVA continues to vary its program format and use various locations in the Silicon Beach area. Reaching out to startups and entrepreneurs at places and times convenient to their work has helped grow the organization,” he added.
The 2014-2015 program of work reflects commitment to providing new opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with the transaction community. LAVA members can look forward to many organized Strategic Interest Groups, member-only events and expanded membership benefits.
Other organizations have come and gone in the last quarter century, notes Leonard Lanzi, Executive Director, but LAVA has endured, now standing as the oldest of its type in Southern California, this year celebrating its 30th Anniversary.
LAVA’s longevity has been made possible by an impressive line of dedicated volunteers—a Who’s Who of the financial community, who set the foundation for LAVA in 1985 and who continue as stewards today.
In addition to those noted above, LAVA’s Board of Directors consists of the following: Jim Andelman, General Partner,Rincon Venture Partners; Jim Armstrong, Managing Director, March Venture Partners; John Babcock, Partner, Rustic Canyon Partners; David Casares, Principal, Vicente Capital Partners; Matt Crowley, Principal of Crowley Corporate Legal Strategy; John Dmohowski, Director Client Services, PortTechLA; Allan Duboff, Partner, Loeb & Loeb; John C. Finnucan, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP; Jon Funk, Founder, El Camino Capital; Petra S. Griffith, SVP, Director of Startup Banking, Grandpoint Bank; Stephen Hughes, Senior Relationship Manager, Silicon Valley Bank; Sam Jones, CEO, EngineCo; Nanxi Liu, CEO, Enplug; Barry Paulk, Owner, Quest Executive; Victoria Silchenko, CEO & Founding Partner, Metropole Capital Group; Matthew Smith, CEO & Co-Founder, Nevolution; Louis Wharton, Partner, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP; and Emily Yukich, Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP.
For more information on membership, events, programs, and sponsorships please contact Leonard Lanzi, Executive Director at len@lava.org.
About the Los Angeles Venture Association:
Founded in 1985, the Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA) is the most successful and longest running organization of its kind in Southern California dedicated to the development and growth of entrepreneurial ventures. Through its educational programs, strategic interest groups and annual conferences, LAVA provides a forum where entrepreneurs meet and learn from fellow executives, investors, bankers, financial advisors and other professional advisors. For more information, visit www.lava.org.