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A lot of people talk about “building community” in Los Angeles. Jerry Neuman has literally helped build the projects, partnerships, and approvals that shape how the city works. Jerry is a veteran land use attorney and lead negotiator on major real estate, infrastructure, green energy, and government procurement efforts, with deep experience navigating CEQA and NEPA. Our conversation goes past the resume and into the behind-the-scenes realities of development, leadership, and civic trust in California.

We start with the story that formed Jerry’s values: his parents’ journey as immigrants and Holocaust survivors, and the civic organizations that helped them rebuild. That foundation leads straight into mentorship and access. Jerry shares the bold “deal” he offered his first boss when he arrived in Los Angeles at 24, and how being put in the room taught him to earn relationships, not just inherit them.

From there, we get practical about how projects move. Jerry explains why entitlement work is equal parts community engagement and strategy, and why he treats each project like a play with a script, a cast, and an arc. You’ll hear memorable examples of creative problem solving, including rethinking air rights to unlock affordable housing, plus lessons from landmark work around Hollywood, major developments, and the evolving world of naming rights and signage agreements.

We also dig into what’s broken: a bureaucracy that rewards regulation over implementation, an ethics culture that can discourage basic relationship-building, and a widening wealth gap that fuels distrust. Jerry makes a case for transparency, real collaboration, and telling philanthropy impact stories so communities can see what’s actually being invested in them.

If you care about Los Angeles development, civic leadership, real estate entitlements, or building a healthier California economy, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a builder in your life, and leave a review so more listeners can find these leadership stories.

📌 ABOUT OUR GUEST
🔹 Name: Jerold B. (Jerry) Neuman
🔹 Title: Partner, DLA Piper Head of Real Estate and Land Use Practice

🔹 Guests Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerryneuman/

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🎙️ Host: Christopher Luna
🌐 Website: https://www.californialeaders.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleadersofficial/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californialeaders/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/caleadersx
📧 Email: cluna@californialeaders.com

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Print isn’t “back” because it’s trendy. It’s back because attention is scarce, trust is fragile, and a great magazine can still create a real relationship between a city and the people who live there. From a grandmother shouting “hire him” at a parade to running an iconic brand from downtown Los Angeles, our guest shares the human story behind modern publishing and what it takes to keep Los Angeles Magazine growing.

We talk about why print media still works in a digital world, how themed issues shape cover decisions, and why archiving old covers and ads is basically preserving LA history. You’ll also hear how community events at Engine No. 28 help turn readers into participants, and how leadership in media is equal parts collaboration, sales discipline, and being honest about the revenue model. We get practical about networking, relationship marketing, and why showing up in person still beats a perfectly written text.

Then we go straight at the tension everyone is feeling: AI in media. We break down the thinking behind an AI-generated political cover that sparked serious buzz, what the team learned from mixed reactions, and where technology can help without replacing the core of the work. We wrap with the habits that keep leaders grounded, from fitness and first impressions to finding nonprofits that align with your values.

If you care about Los Angeles, local journalism, publishing, leadership, or the future of work, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

📌 ABOUT OUR GUEST
🔹 Name: Christopher Gialanella
🔹 Title: President & Publisher, Los Angeles Magazine
🔹 Guests Social: https://www.instagram.com/christophergia/

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🌟 SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Want to sponsor a future episode or provide gifts for our guests?
👉 Email cluna@californialeaders.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH CALIFORNIA LEADERS

🎙️ Host: Christopher Luna
🌐 Website: https://www.californialeaders.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleadersofficial/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californialeaders/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/caleadersx
📧 Email: cluna@californialeaders.com

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Los Angeles is gearing up for the World Cup, the Olympics, and a new global chapter, but the real work happens years before the first whistle. We sit down with Doane, LA’s chief tourism officer, to talk about how tourism actually works as economic development, how conventions drive revenue, and why a convention center expansion can shape jobs, neighborhoods, and the city’s long-term competitiveness.

We trace Doane's unconventional path from Wharton and a banking career into campaigns, City Hall leadership, and senior roles at the Port of Los Angeles. Then we dig into the LA Convention Center expansion process, including why the city tried multiple times, how the pandemic disrupted timing and costs, and how the team made the case that tourism infrastructure can be a budget solution, not just a budget line item. Along the way, we clarify who does what between the city, the convention center operator, and LA Tourism as the destination marketing organization, plus why citywide conventions can book five to ten years out and beyond.

We also zoom out to the big events everyone talks about: World Cup matches, the Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics. Doane explains why the biggest upside is often earned media and reputation building, not just hotel sellouts, and why LA’s event machine is built for scale year after year. Finally, we look ahead at an AI-enabled visitor experience platform that could guide travelers before, during, and after their trip with opt-in personalization and real-time recommendations.

Subscribe for more California leadership stories, share this conversation with someone building in LA, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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🎓 Powered by California Leaders Workshops – advancing leadership through immersive learning experiences.

🌐 Learn more at: https://www.californialeaders.com/ca-workshops
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🌟 SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Want to sponsor a future episode or provide gifts for our guests?
👉 Email cluna@californialeaders.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH CALIFORNIA LEADERS

🎙️ Host: Christopher Luna
🌐 Website: https://www.californialeaders.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleadersofficial/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californialeaders/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/caleadersx
📧 Email: cluna@californialeaders.com

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Los Angeles runs on stories, but it also runs on systems and Adam Burke knows both. We sit down with the CEO of Los Angeles Tourism to follow the real pipeline from visitors to paychecks, from hotel stays to tax revenue, and from global marketing to neighborhood impact. Adam shares how his immigrant family background shaped his love of travel and his belief that exploring new places can reduce prejudice and widen empathy. With LA home to residents from 140+ countries and 220+ languages, we talk about what it means to promote a destination authentically and why arts and culture create a “safe space” for hard conversations.

We get practical on the economics of travel and tourism in Los Angeles: 535,000 tourism-related jobs, $43 billion in annual visitor spending, and how hotel-generated taxes support city services. Adam breaks down the transient occupancy tax (TOT), where funding flows, and why LA Tourism’s model is built to generate community benefits without relying on local tax dollars. We also discuss how reserve funding helps LA pursue conventions, major industry events, and mega sporting events while staying resilient during catastrophic disruptions.

Then we zoom in on leadership and workforce development. Adam lays out his approach to servant leadership, building culture on purpose, training managers (not just promoting top performers), and using CliftonStrengths to create engagement and growth. We connect that to succession planning, mentorship, and the long game mindset that shows up again as LA prepares for World Cup 2026 and the Olympics 2028, with a focus on equitable, sustainable tourism. If you care about Los Angeles tourism, destination marketing, hospitality careers, and modern leadership, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with a friend who leads a team, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

📌 ABOUT OUR GUEST:
🔹 Name: Adam Burke
🔹 Title: President & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
🔹 Guests Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamburkeprofile/

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🎧 New episodes every Month. (Dark in July & December)

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Let’s build a city of leaders — one story at a time.

🌟 SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Want to sponsor a future episode or provide gifts for our guests?
👉 Email cluna@californialeaders.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH CALIFORNIA LEADERS

🎙️ Host: Christopher Luna
🌐 Website: https://www.californialeaders.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleadersofficial/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californialeaders/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/caleadersx
📧 Email: cluna@californialeaders.com

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San Francisco has been called everything from a cautionary tale to a comeback story, but the truth is more practical and more interesting: you have to get people back into the city so they can judge it with their own eyes. We talk with Anna Marie Presutti, President and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association and the first woman to lead the organization in its long history, about how tourism recovery really happens and what leadership looks like when you’re balancing business goals, civic expectations, public pressure, and nonstop headlines.

Anna Marie shares the origin of her leadership style through an unexpected start at Walt Disney World, where she learned that culture is built in the details and trust is earned through consistency. We dig into “surprise and delight” as a real hospitality strategy, the discipline of delivering great guest experiences even on hard days, and career advice for anyone trying to grow in hospitality, tourism, sales, or city leadership.

We also get specific about the post-pandemic shifts that still ripple through downtowns: remote work, community loss, and why being present matters for mentorship and decision-making. From major events that put San Francisco back in living rooms worldwide to partnerships that bring convention planners in for site inspections, the episode breaks down destination marketing organization tactics, convention booking realities, and the economics behind hotel occupancy tax and city recovery. We close with clear leadership principles, including when to listen, when to stop talking, and how to lead without fear of being wrong.

If you care about San Francisco travel, tourism strategy, hospitality leadership, and how great cities reinvent themselves, hit follow, share this conversation with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

📌 ABOUT OUR GUEST:
🔹 Name: Anna Marie Presutti
🔹 Title: President & CEO, San Francisco Travel Association
🔹 Guests Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-marie-presutti-261b1a7/

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🎧 New episodes every Month. (Dark in July & December)

🎓 Powered by California Leaders Workshops – advancing leadership through immersive learning experiences.

🌐 Learn more at: https://www.californialeaders.com/workshops
Let’s build a city of leaders — one story at a time.

🌟 SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Want to sponsor a future episode or provide gifts for our guests?
👉 Email cluna@californialeaders.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH CALIFORNIA LEADERS

🎙️ Host: Christopher Luna
🌐 Website: https://www.californialeaders.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleadersofficial/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californialeaders/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/caleadersx
📧 Email: cluna@californialeaders.com

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The Port of Los Angeles is one of those places most of us only notice when something goes wrong, yet it quietly touches nearly everything we buy, build, or ship. I sat down with Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, to get past the headlines and into the real work of leadership inside the busiest container port in North America, where global trade, local community impact, and public accountability collide every day.

Gene shares the personal story behind his leadership style, from growing up in New Orleans with working-class and union roots to spending years overseas in shipping and global logistics. We talk about what surprised him when he took the port job, how he navigates stakeholders across city government, state and federal partners, and neighborhood voices, and why he values a team that will challenge him instead of a “yes factory.”

We also dig into the future of the supply chain: cleaner fuels, the push toward zero-emission cargo handling equipment and trucks, and how sustainability ties directly to public health near the harbor. Gene lays out an ambitious workforce development vision too, including plans for a first-of-its-kind training campus that looks like a real port terminal so people can learn safely and build careers in goods movement, technology, and equipment maintenance.

If you care about California jobs, trade policy, the future of shipping, or simply becoming a better leader, you’ll walk away with practical lessons, including Gene’s straightforward framework: be visible, be mobile, and be durable. Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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🎧 New episodes every Month. (Dark in July & December)

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🌟 SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Want to sponsor a future episode or provide gifts for our guests?
👉 Email cluna@californialeaders.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH CALIFORNIA LEADERS

🎙️ Host: Christopher Luna
🌐 Website: https://www.californialeaders.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleadersofficial/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californialeaders/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/caleadersx
📧 Email: cluna@californialeaders.com

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We wanted to capture the kind of leadership talk that usually disappears the moment the check comes. So we tried a new After Hours format, poured a Negroni, and got honest about how careers actually get built: through small roles done well, relationships that last, and the daily choice to make people feel seen.

Nick takes us from showing up in Los Angeles with $100 to learning the real meaning of an elevator pitch while working the “secret elevator” for major talent. From there, the story moves through live events, the Greek Theatre, Disney confidence, The Grove, the Santa House, experiential marketing, and eventually leadership in real estate tech at Compass. The through line is hospitality as a professional advantage: being intentional, reading the room, raising your hand for the overlooked work, and creating exceptional experiences that people remember.

We also talk marathon mindset, work-life integration, and why emerging leaders face a tougher challenge in a 30-second content world. Then we bridge into marketing strategy, brand consistency, and why print media still matters when it’s part of a true omnichannel ecosystem that matches the lived experience. If you care about leadership, networking, mentorship, customer service, and authentic human connection, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe, follow, and share California Leaders After Hours with someone building their next chapter, and if something hits home, leave a review and tell us what “small moment” changed your career.

📌 ABOUT Nick Belardo
🔹 Title: Director of Operations, Compass
🔹 Guests Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-belardo-69264666/

🔹Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickybelardo/

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🎧 New episodes every Month. (Dark in July & December)

🎓 Powered by California Leaders Workshops – advancing leadership through immersive learning experiences.

🌐 Learn more at: https://www.californialeaders.com/workshops
Let’s build a city of leaders — one story at a time.

🌟 SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Want to sponsor a future episode or provide gifts for our guests?
👉 Email cluna@californialeaders.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH CALIFORNIA LEADERS

🎙️ Host: Christopher Luna
🌐 Website: https://www.californialeaders.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleadersofficial/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californialeaders/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/caleadersx
📧 Email: cluna@californialeaders.com

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A single moment of bad luck can become the best break of your career. Dr. Noel Hacegaba, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, tells the story of how his assigned seat at a major event was taken, how he ended up next to the Port’s HR director, and how that one conversation helped launch a journey that now places him at the center of global trade, goods movement, and supply chain leadership.

We go deeper than job titles to talk about what leadership really looks like day to day. Noel connects his immigrant roots, a Spanish-speaking blue-collar upbringing, and a life shaped by faith to a servant-leadership style built on trust, respect, and compassion. He shares practical lessons from early jobs, managing people who knew more than he did, and learning that real influence comes from advocating for others and helping teams succeed.

From there we zoom out to the big picture: the Port of Long Beach as a major economic engine, the public’s new awareness of ports after COVID-era supply chain disruption, and what it takes to lead through uncertainty when there is no playbook. Noel explains his bold vision to double container throughput by 2050, why building a “championship culture” matters, and how global conversations like Davos shape the future of supply chain resilience and sustainable trade.

If you care about leadership, workforce development, logistics, or the future of California’s economy, this conversation delivers both inspiration and concrete takeaways. Subscribe, share this with a future leader, and leave a review with your biggest lesson from Noel’s story.

📌 ABOUT OUR GUEST:
🔹 Name: Dr. Noel Hacegaba
🔹 Title: Chief Executive Officer, Port of Long Beach
🔹 Guests Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-noel-hacegaba-60b7894/

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🎧 New episodes every Month. (Dark in July & December)

🎓 Powered by California Leaders Workshops – advancing leadership through immersive learning experiences.

🌐 Learn more at: https://www.californialeaders.com/workshops
Let’s build a city of leaders — one story at a time.

🌟 SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Want to sponsor a future episode or provide gifts for our guests?
👉 Email cluna@californialeaders.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH CALIFORNIA LEADERS

🎙️ Host: Christopher Luna
🌐 Website: https://www.californialeaders.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleadersofficial/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californialeaders/
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/caleadersx
📧 Email: cluna@californialeaders.com

🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories from leaders shaping California and beyond.

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