Allison Long Pettine

MANAGING PARTNER/FOUNDER
RIDGE GROUP INVESTMENTS

Allison Long Pettine is a business executive, investor, and entrepreneur who’s passionate about supporting leaders who strive to positively impact society. She is the managing partner and founder of Ridge Group Investments (RGI), a private investment company that’s committed to creating multidimensional wealth with an approach to investing built on respect, collaboration, and partnership. She is also a founding partner of Crescent Ridge Partners, based on the need for more hands-on, early-stage capital in San Diego. Now, with the help of Maria Gonzalez-Blanch, Crescent Ridge focuses on collaborating with founders who are seeking capital to build a lasting legacy in business.

In addition, Long Pettine is a co-founder of Lymber, which sold to MindBody in 2017, as well as a cofounder of Ad Astra Ventures, a fund specifically focused on investing in female founders of high-growth start-ups to address the massive gender imbalances in our society. Alongside her father and partner John Long (who founded the L.A.-based Highridge Partners in 1978), she leads their SoCal-based investment company that partners with visionary founders in the early stages of their businesses. She and her team also provide growth equity for more mature and proven businesses and invest in real estate projects in opportunity zones.

Because she began her career as one of the first employees of a medical device start-up, her perspective on investing goes beyond simply financial risk and return. Long brings over 15 years of venture capital experience to each new venture, taking an active role in her investments. She derives great joy asa mentor for both Praxis and TechStars and in her most important role as wife and mother.

She loves working with all types of founders and has a particular affinity for underestimated founders who don’t fit the typical ‘start-up entrepreneur’ mold given her and her partners’ own personal identities.

FINALISTS ENTREPRENEUR

Sasha Plavsic

Founder/Chief Creative Officer
ILIA BEAUTY

Born in Vancouver and raised in a rural, oceanside setting, Sasha Plavsic has always been close to nature. She found herself in Los Angeles in 2006 and spent several years working as a branding executive within the fashion and beauty industries. Upon examining the ingredient list on her favorite lip balm, Plavsic was shocked to discover many of the ingredients were not safe. The challenge was set – re-create lip balm so that it would be safe, effective and natural. This is how the story of ILIA began.

Serria Rego

Creator of the Black Wealth Series
BLACK WEALTH MATTERS, AN EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Serria Rego chose finance asa major when confronted with the expense of medical school. She considers herself to be lucky to not only havea finance degree, which is rare for women and people of color, but also to have worked for several different firms. Her views were also shaped by her seven years asa domestic and international model. Now, an advocate for Black Lives Matter and justice, Rego realizes that finance is much more than money; it’s safety, hope and protection.

Dorothy Wolpert

Founding Principal
BIRD, MARELLA, BOXER, WOLPERT, NESSIM, DROOKS, LINCENBERG & RHOW, P.C.

Dorothy Wolpert is a founding principal at the distinguished boutique law firm Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks, Lincenberg & Rhow, P.C. Founding the firm in 1981, she is one of the few women named principals of her era still practicing today. Her practice includes trial experience in copyright infringement, legal malpractice (as both plaintiff and defendant), probate matters, post-acquisition disputes, entertainment cases, and several precedential cases related to the construction of the Los Angeles subway.

Renee Hill Young

Co-Chairman
QUIGLEY SIMPSON

Renee Hill Young is the co-founder and owner of Los Angeles-based Quigley-Simpson, the largest WBENC certified female-owned agency in the country. With over $500 million in billings, the agency has also been a shining example of what a diverse and inclusive workforce should look like, and how with DE&I as its North Star, success naturally follows. She uses her experience with Quigley-Simpson’s Diversity & Inclusion characteristics not only to help further DE&I initiatives within the agency, but also her clients, peers and the business community.