LOS ANGELES – Majority Leader Bass and the 47th Assembly District Small Business Commission hosted a panel to discuss business opportunities with the film and television studios located in the District. More than 70 small business owners had the opportunity to meet the panelists, which included David Beaver, executive director of Corporate Procurement for Sony Pictures ; Jamie Cella, president and CEO of Culver Studios; Jerry Jacobsen, diversity development director for Fox Entertainment and Jeff Haas, owner of Haas Entertainment.

“The number one industry in the 47th AD is the entertainment industry and there are a host of small businesses that have the capability to provide service to it,” states Majority Leader Bass. “One of the major goals of the Commission to be the catalyst that brings both parties together. This panel was just the first step. Our role is to ensure that there is an entry point for small businesses in AD47 to take advantage of the opportunities.”

The Kitchen Store was used as an example of a business in the 47th Assembly District that does business with local Studios. For more than 30 years, it has provided the industry with set construction for kitchen and bath cabinets and other building materials. Other small businesses like Haas Entertainment, Alandales and Snap Productions were on hand to discuss their relationships with the industry.   

The panelists presented information on each company’s overall procurement process including outlining the programs for diversity and small businesses. There was a question and answer period as well as time to mix and mingle with the guest speakers. Majority Leader Bass promised the attendees that she would continue to find opportunities to help small businesses develop relationships with the Studios through future events and activities.

Majority Leader Bass has been a State Assembly Member representing Los Angeles’ 47th District since 2005. Speaker Fabian Núñez selected Bass as the Majority Leader for the California State Assembly during the 2007-2008 legislative session, making her the first African American and the first woman to hold this leadership position. As the Assemblymember for the 47th District, Karen Bass serves the cities and communities of Culver City, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, the Crenshaw District, Little Ethiopia and portions of Korea Town and South Los Angeles.