Century Group partners with the LA Business Journal to present the 2014 CFO of the Year Awards

Each year the finance community gathers in Downtown Los Angeles to recognize the top CFOs in the greater Los Angeles region for outstanding performance.

This year, Century Group and the Los Angeles Business Journal welcomed 500 guests and 40 outstanding CFOs as finalists for CFO of the Year.

Ron Proul, CEO of Century Group, commented, “We were particularly pleased to see so many of the outstanding CFOs we work with every day nominated. It’s an outstanding group of professionals and an achievement simply to be nominated. Every successful company has a successful CFO at the helm.”

 

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LOS ANGELES’ 2014 CFO OF THE YEAR WINNERS
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RON PROUL, CEO OF CENTURY GROUP SPEAKS TO 500 GUESTS AT THE 2014 CFO OF THE YEAR AWARDS

The 2014 CFO of the Year Awards went to:

  • Large Public Company: Stephen Kadenacy – AECOM
  • Large Private Company: Bill Foltz – Oakwood Worldwide
  • Small Private Company: Brad Kates – Prodege, LLC (Swagbucks.com)
  • Non-Profit: Brenda Zamow – Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles
  • Education: Avedis “Avo” Kechichian – University of La Verne


Gallery from the Awards Luncheon and Ceremony

cfo_la_7CENTURY GROUP CHAIRMAN HARRY BOXER AND CEO RON PROUL WELCOME CFO FINALISTS CENTURY GROUP CEO RON PROUL WITH CFO OF THE YEAR BILL FOLTZ OF OAKWOOD WORLDWIDE
cfo_la_3CENTURY GROUP EXECUTIVE RECRUITERS AARON RUBALOFF, SEAN GILMORE AND DAVE DUTT CENTURY GROUP’S PROJECT/INTERIM SERVICES TEAM LANA SANEI, CHANTEL LEBOFF AND ARIELLE LEBOULCH
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LOS ANGELES’ LEADING CFOS MINGLING AT THE VIP RECEPTION
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BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE FOR CFO OF THE YEAR AWARDS

 

Century Group Brings Unique Perspective to 10th Annual Los Angeles Diversity Mixer

On April 26, the intimate space at the Los Angeles Athletic Club bustled with nearly 250 high-performing professionals — all seeking new job opportunities or a chance to expand their professional networks. The 10th Annual Los Angeles Diversity Mixer was in full swing, with Century Group offering attendees a unique perspective as one of the few staffing and recruiting firms to sponsor the event.

Since 2009, the Los Angeles Diversity Mixer connects motivated candidates with a handful of Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of industries — and the array of guests is just as diverse. The Riordan Programs Alumni Association’s signature event caters to up-and-coming talent of various ethnicities, educational backgrounds and industry experience, helping to make the mixer a special affair year after year.

“We very much look forward to partnering with The Riordan Programs and UCLA Anderson School of Business each year at the Los Angeles Diversity Mixer,” says Phil Bruno, Century Group’s Managing Director. “It’s unusual to get so many talented and in-demand people together in such an intimate setting.”

Sonia Aouriri, an Associate on Century Group’s Executive Search team, represented the firm for a second year, and shared resume advice, interviewing tips and insight on the current market landscape with attendees. “I enjoy meeting professionals and the networking experience,” she explains. “The mixer is a great way to connect with people who are eager to learn more about current job opportunities and how Century Group can be a resource in their job search.”

Century Group’s Associate Director of Recruiting Madison Garshman also participated in this year’s Los Angeles Diversity Mixer, and enjoyed using the firm’s expertise to help candidates find suitable opportunities.

“I think they liked that we came from a consultant background. We’re not trying to sell you on Century Group — we’re trying to sell our clients,” she says. “I also liked that there was a variey of industries and people who were from different walks of life.”

About The Riordan Programs Alumni Association

The UCLA Riordan Programs Alumni Association was established in 2000 to provide Riordan Programs graduates with continued educational, personal and professional leadership support, so they have the resources needed to become future leaders in our community. All proceeds from the LA Diversity Mixer benefited RPAA’s Saturday Business Academy, which presents underserved high school students with individual mentorship and college preparation curriculum.

2014 Riordan Programs – 6th Annual Los Angeles Diversity Mixer

Century Group partnered with the Riordan Programs as one of five hosts for the 6th Annual Los Angeles Diversity Mixer at the Downtown LA Westin Hotel on April 17th.   The event sold out with nearly 500 attendees from 60+ companies.

David Dutt, an Executive Recruiter in Century Group’s professional search practice represented Century Group for the Mixer.  Mr. Dutt noted that “Century Group has participated in the Diversity Mixer with the Riordan Programs for the last two years and decided to sponsor the event this year.  It’s a great event – it’s a showcase opportunity to meet with up-and-coming professionals in a variety of fields including Accounting and Finance.”

The attendees of the Diversity Mixer are high caliber ambitious professionals working to better their professional networks and to expand their opportunities. Attendees have the opportunity to meet professionals from a wide range of fields including: accounting, finance, marketing, information technology and real estate.

Ron Proul, CEO of Century Group encouraged young professionals from diverse backgrounds to take advantage of these specialized networking events that serve a greater purpose – “Attending this event not only helps your career – it helps others – the proceeds from the event benefit the Saturday Business Academy, a program that helps nearly 100 underserved Los Angeles high school students each year to pursue higher education.   It’s a great event.”

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Meet Century Group Representatives at the Annual RPAA Diversity Mixer

Century Group is proud to be an executive sponsor for the Riordan Programs Alumni Association’s 8th Annual Los Angeles Diversity Mixer on Wednesday, April 6 in Downtown Los Angeles.

Century Group representatives will be on hand to speak to attendees about career opportunities and the current employment landscape.

Proceeds from the event benefit the RPAA’s Saturday Business Academy, a monthly enrichment program designed to prepare underserved Los Angeles High School students with the skills and academic guidance to pursue higher education and become future business leaders.

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Event Details:

Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Los Angeles Athletic Club
431 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Parking is available at 646 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014


Attendee Registration:

  • $30 through March 25
  • $35 after March 25

Click here for additional information
Click here to register as an attendee

Build Your Network: Connect with Century Group Representatives at the 10th Annual Los Angeles Diversity Mixer

Meet Century Group team members at The Riordan Programs Alumni Association’s 10th Annual Los Angeles Diversity Mixer on April 26 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The leading financial staffing and recruitment firm is proud to sponsor one of RPAA’s signature events, which brings together recruiters from Fortune 500 companies and more than 250 young professionals in the Los Angeles area seeking new career opportunities.

Attendees have a chance to connect with individuals from a diverse range of industries and expand their professional networks. All proceeds benefit the Saturday Business Academy — a college preparatory program designed to equip underserved high school students with the skills and academic guidance needed for future success.

EVENT DETAILS:

Thursday, April 26, 2018
6:00 – 9:30 PM

Los Angeles Athletic Club
431 West 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Registration: $40
Click here to register as an attendee

Century Group is Stepping Up for NextStep

PJ Canterbury, an Associate Director of Client Services in Century Group’s Glendale Office, is representing Century Group at StepUp for NextStep – Conquer the Rose Bowl, a charity event on Saturday, April 22 that encourages participants to “move for others” and support those fighting for mobility every day.

The first of its kind event at the Rose Bowl benefits NextStep, an internationally-recognized non-profit organization helping those living with paralysis. Everyone is welcome to participate in the charity stair-climb – there are options for all fitness levels, from beginner to advanced athletes, as well as a family-fun circuit, kids’ circuit and wheelchair racing. Participants and spectators are also invited to enjoy the beer garden and food trucks that day.

PJ learned about the event through his involvement with AthletesTouch, an organization that provides networking opportunities to former college and professional athletes.

“I’m proud to take part in this inaugural event supporting such a worthy cause,” he said. “It’s also a great opportunity for anyone who has ever wanted to be on the field at the Rose Bowl!”

NextStep was launched in Los Angeles in 2008 with the belief that all people living with disabilities deserve to live long and healthy lives. The organization’s mission centers around making life-changing rehab accessible and affordable to those living with paralysis and physical disabilities. This includes establishing recovery centers across the country to ensure an improved quality of life and a continuum of care for this underserved population. NextStep is a proud member of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network® (NRN), a network of rehabilitation centers that develop and provide therapy to promote functional recovery and improve the health of people living with paralysis.

For more information about StepUp for NextStep – Conquer the Rose Bowl or to make a donation, visit racemill.com/stepup4nextstep. For more information about NextStep, visit www.nextstepfitness.org.

StepUp for NextStep 2017 Flyer - Front StepUp for NextStep 2017 Flyer - Back

8 CFOs Honored at the Annual San Fernando Valley Awards

Members of the San Fernando Valley finance community gathered to celebrate the annual CFO of the Year Awards on Wednesday, June 15. Century Group was proud to partner with the San Fernando Valley Business Journal as a presenting sponsor at this year’s event, honoring the important work of CFOs as financial stewards in public, private, nonprofit, government and public sector companies and organizations throughout the San Fernando Valley.

The 2016 awards went to Lawrence Balingit, CFO of Aware Products, LLC; Lori Cardle, CFO of Valley Presbyterian Hospital; Karen Davis, Vice President of Administration and Finance at California Lutheran University; Tom Emery, CFO of DineEquity, Inc.; Gary Johnson, CFO of BNK Petroleum Inc.; Mitula Patel, CFO of Momentous Insurance Brokerage Inc.; Gerry Schauer, CFO of Hydra Electric Company; and Jerome Taieb, CFO of MS Aerospace.

San Fernando Valley CFO Awards 2016

The awards committee chose to honor eight finance executives this year, rather than selecting one from each of the six categories. “The CFO Awards once again highlighted the amazing talent in finance and accounting throughout the San Fernando Valley,” said Phil Bruno, Managing Director of Century Group’s San Fernando Valley offices and a member of the awards committee.

“The selection process was an indication of the high number of deserving finance leaders who have led their organizations through a variety of challenges presented by the economic environment in the Valley over the past year. As a result, we wanted to present awards to the most deserving professionals, regardless of category. We were thrilled to honor the eight winners this year, as well as all the nominees.”

Each winner said they were honored to be recognized for their work, and they shared the awards with those who supported them, as well as their fellow nominees. Karen Davis of California Lutheran University said, “It’s easy to do a great job when you have a great team behind you,” while Tom Emery of Dine Equity said, “I am grateful to my team – they’re the ones who deserve this.”

The awards committee selected this year’s winners from 33 finalists, all nominated by colleagues in the profession. The committee looked at a number of criteria for each person who was nominated, including the length of time they had been with their organization, the overall body of work in their career, the impact they made within their organization; the impact they made compared to their peer group, the financial success and stability of their company, and their involvement in both industry groups and the community. More details and photos from the event, as well as a profile on each honoree, can be found in the June 27 issue of the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.

San Fernando Valley CFO Awards 2016
Members of the Century Group team

San Fernando Valley CFO Awards 2016
Steven Raby and Brad Horton with honoree Gary Johnson

San Fernando Valley CFO Awards 2016
Phil Bruno with honoree Karen Davis and the Business Journal’s Eric Brunelli

San Fernando Valley CFO Awards 2016
Phil Bruno presented the award to Karen Davis

San Fernando Valley CFO Awards 2016
Anna Coumans, Jake Barbee and Kwasi Dwomoh with an event guest

San Fernando Valley CFO Awards 2016
Phil Bruno with event guests
San Fernando Valley CFO Awards 2016

2018 Orange County CFO Awards Nominations Now Open

Orange County CFO Awards Nominations Now Open Nominations are now open for the Orange County Business Journal’s 2018 CFO of the Year Awards. Century Group is proud to once again sponsor the event, which honors area financial professionals who have shown the highest level of talent and commitment as corporate stewards for their respective companies in the preceding fiscal year.

 

Click here for the Nomination Form

Nomination Deadline: November 10, 2017 

AWARD CATEGORIES

  • Public Company
  • Private Company
  • Not-for-Profit Organization
  • Rising Star
  • Lifetime Achievement 

The Dinner and Awards Program will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the Hotel Irvine. Click here for details.

For more information or to nominate a CFO, contact Tim Calley at [email protected] or (714) 708-5100.

Meet Century Group Representatives at the 2017 RPAA Diversity Mixer

Century Group is proud to once again sponsor the Riordan Programs Alumni Association’s 9th Annual Los Angeles Diversity Mixer on Thursday, April 27 in Downtown Los Angeles. Representatives will be on hand to speak to attendees about career opportunities and the current employment landscape.

Proceeds from the event benefit the RPAA’s Saturday Business Academy, a monthly enrichment program designed to prepare underserved Los Angeles High School students with the skills and academic guidance to pursue higher education and become future business leaders.

Event Details:

Thursday, April 27, 2017
6:00 – 9:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Athletic Club
431 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Parking is available at 646 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Registration: $40

Click here to register as an attendee

Giving Back by Partying for a Cure

Century Group’s COO, Ron Blair, is currently serving on the committee for the National Pancreas Foundation’s Party for a Cure Los Angeles, which will be held on Friday, October 21 at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Brentwood. “For a Cure” events take place across the country, each one honoring individuals for their contributions to the cause and benefiting the foundation’s efforts. A similar event was held in New York earlier this month, and another event will be held in Washington, D.C. in early November.

Ron joined the committee at the invitation of two long-time friends and colleagues – Eric W. Golden, Managing Director of Armory Securities, who serves as the chair of the event committee and a member of the National Pancreas Foundation’s Board of Directors, and Barry Gribbon, Founder and President of Homerun Entertainment. He has a personal connection to pancreatic cancer through his best friend from childhood, who lost his mother to the disease.

LA Party for a Cure 2016

Founded in 1997, the National Pancreatic Foundation is the only foundation dedicated to patients who suffer from all forms of pancreatic disease. The funds raised to date have been awarded to groundbreaking research projects geared toward scientific advancements in the field of pancreatic disease, as well as continued advocacy efforts, support for patients and caregivers, and education for health care professionals.

For more information on Party for a Cure Los Angeles or to make a donation, visit http://partyforacure.kintera.org/la2016. For more information on the National Pancreas Foundation, visit www.pancreasfoundation.org.