In the 2024 C-Suite Magazine, we present an exclusive look into the talented CEO of Relativity Space, a revolutionary new company headquartered in Long Beach, known for manufacturing rockets using 3-D printing technology with the aim of reaching Mars in the future.

New research examines employers' workforce management priorities, business practices and benefit offerings.

Nearly half of CFOs will also explore new North American markets but are wary of inflation-driven cost increases.

Chief information security officers (CISOs) who elevate response and recovery to equal status with prevention are generating more value than those who adhere to outdated “zero tolerance for failure” mindsets, according to a new Gartner survey.

Investing in new technology for your business often involves much more than just the financial cost. There are so many factors that must come together in the right place at the right time to see a return on such a substantial investment.

For SoCal Aerospace Company Relativity Space and CEO Tim Ellis, The Future is Rocketing Skyward.

Sixty-two percent of CEOs selected “growth” as their top business priority in 2024.

A commitment to ESG is a priority in C-Suite decision making, despite recent economic conditions.

Company leaders are increasingly looking outside of their businesses for critical functions and solutions.

Traditional financial service providers have expanded beyond the realm of standard tax and audit roles.

L.A. Times B2B Publishing presents the 30 largest accounting and business advisory firms ranked by the number of CPAs in Los Angeles County offices. Overall, the 30 largest firms employ 3,267 CPAs in Los Angeles County and have more than 12,600 total staff.

L.A. Times B2B Publishing presents the 20 largest accounting and business advisory firms ranked by the number of CPAs in Orange County offices. Overall, the 20 largest firms employ 1,340 CPAs in Orange County and have more than 4,700 total staff..

Stacy Nikzad, Jenna Pass, Tyler Mally, Michael Cornforth, Dario Sarmiento, Karrie Saydah.

Brian Hegarty is the managing director of the Los Angeles office for Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). In addition to overseeing the firm’s rapid growth in the Los Angeles market, he specializes in employee benefits programs for mid-size to large companies.

Lyle Honig Mojica grew up in a small town in Kansas and attended Kansas State University, earning his bachelor's degree in business with a concentration in accounting in 1992.

Avendano currently serves as the CFO for Gen.G Esports, which has a global presence across key markets in Seoul, Shanghai and Los Angeles. Since she joined in 2020, the company has tripled in size, and she led the financial due diligence for the company's latest major round of fundraising.

Tim Weerasiri is the CFO of Ninety.io and has been CFO, COO and head of data analytics for multiple companies in the technology, media and telecommunications space.

As chief financial officer and president of Relativity Space, Muhammad "Mo" Shahzad is responsible for corporate strategy and growth, leading all commercial, financial, people, legal and risk efforts at the company.

With a background spanning over two decades in biotechnology and healthcare, Michael Swartzburg brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his current the chief financial officer of Dermavant Sciences.

Evan Masyr has been with Salem Media Group, Inc. for more than 24 years and has served as chief financial officer since July 2007.

Steve Aleman serves as Prime's chief financial officer and is a member of the senior executive team. He has more than 23 years of industry experience in healthcare, both on the payor and provider side.

Mike Cornforth serves as the CFO of NKSFB, with a focus on the implementation of key technology solutions and team struction. He began his career in 1990 with the assurance practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, focusing on health­ care and insurance industries in their Los Angeles and Atlanta offices.

As CFO of CalOptima Health, Nancy Huang has led the implementation of $200 million in provider payments post-COVID-19 supported the CalAIM program with $94 million for homelessness, mental health and food insecurity since 2022. She established value-based reimbursement programs, including a $l53.

Richmond McMurray serves as the CFO at Arosa, where he oversees finance and talent management functions. His leadership has driven strategic initiatives, growth, operational efficiency and risk management. Despite being a first-time CEO and new to the home health industry, McMurray has made a significant impact.

Michael Lynn, CFO and co-founder of Pray.com, drives the app's mission to foster faith and community.

Vidhyashankaran (Vid) Shivaraman, chief financial officer at PIH Health, oversees a $1.7-billion budget for a nonprofit healthcare network serving three million residents across Los Angeles, Orange County and San Gabriel Valley.

Romolo "Ron" Santarosa, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer at Hanmi Financial Corporation and Hanmi Bank, has been pivotal in the bank's growth since 2015. Under leadership, Hanmi's assets increased from $4.2 billion to $7.6 billion by 2023.

Dave Stephenson, newly appointed chief business officer of Airbnb, served as the company's CFO for the past five His tenure was marked by exceptional leadership, navigating Airbnb through the COVID-19 crisis by raising $2 billion in debt and successfully steering the company's record-breaking 2020 IPO.

James Uli, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, oversees financial operations, including accounting, budgeting and revenue cycle management. With over 20 years in healthcare finance, he previously served as CFO at Keck Medicine of USC and other prestigious institutions.

Trever Acers, founder and CEO of Objective, Investment Banking & Valuation, has over 20 years of experience in investment banking, acquisitions and strategic advice. Leading Objective since 2006, he has driven its growth and innovation, establishing the firm as a middle-mar ket leader.

Melissa Beck joined Big County & Inland Empire, ap­ Brothers Big Sisters Orange four-year plying entrepreneurial strategies tripled the nonprofit's size and impact. Her innovative leadership garnered numerous accolades, including Best Entrepreneur of the Year.

Dr. Sunny Bhatia, president, CEO of Prime Healthcare Region I and corporate chief medical officer, is a quadruple board-certified interventional cardiologist. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions.

Alicia Cox, the founder and CEO a trailblazer in beachfront of Prjkt Restaurant Group, is Taindining along California's coastline, earning recognition for her innovative concepts and community engagement.

Gloria Dioum, founder and CEO of EmpowHer Profits, is a resilient and insightful entrepreneur who embarked transformative journey in 2020 amid a global pandemic.

At the helm of AltaMed Health ident and CEO Castulo de Services Corporation, pres­ overseela Rocha has transformed it from single storefront clinic into California's largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and a top-five national leader.

Dr. Apollo Emeka, executive leadership coach and founder of Apollo Strategy Group, envisions a world where everyone achieves their full potential. His Pasadena-based startup has transformed leadership and business strategies since 2017, generating over $500 million in value for 100+ leaders and businesses across various industries.

Tim Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Relativity Space, is a visionary leader driving innovation in aerospace. Under his guidance, Relativity made history by launching the world's first 3-D-printed rocket into space and securing $1.8 billion in launch service agreements.

Lorenzo Esparza, CEO of Manhattan West, founded the firm with an investor-centric approach, providing a wide range of financial services and alternative investments. Raised by Mexican immigrants, his journey instilled in him the value of hard work and financial planning.

Marissa Goldberg, CEO of the nonprofit Doheny Eye Institute, has been instrumental officer in advancing vision care in Los Angeles. With over 30 years at Doheny, she has held various roles before becoming UCLA's Stein Eye Institute.

Pamela Hirsch, co-founder of Baby Quest Foundation, has a vast amount of leadership experience. For nearly 20 years she owned The Princeton Review, Peninsula in Northern California, which earned a place on the Inc 500 list of the country's fastest-growing private companies.

Les Hiscoe's career in construction management has been marked by a remarkable ascent from project manager to CEO, driving Shawmut's revenue growth from $558 million to $1.6 billion.

Kathy Jumper, CEO & founder of FarmHouse Rescue, is a seasoned professional recognized for her expertise and leadership. Recently honored as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions by American Banker, she brings a wealth of experience to her role as CEO and president of Orange County’s Credit Union.

Sloane Keane, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Orange County & The Inland Empire, has been instrumental in driving significant growth and impact in youth mentorship over the past 11 years. She quadrupled annual revenue to over $11.4 million, enabling program expansion and volunteer recruitment efforts.

Nathan Kowarsky, CEO and founder of Clear Mortgage Capital, has demonstrated exceptional leadership and resilience in navigating one of the most challenging mortgage markets in recent history.

Andrew Kim's journey at WaBa Grill has been marked by transformative leadership and a commitment to innovation and growth. Under his leadership, WaBa Grill achieved record-breaking samestore and total system sales with a remarkable 25% increase since 2020.

Perkins Miller, CEO of Fandom, has steered the tech platform through a transformative period, leveraging over 30 years of experience in digital, sports and entertainment sectors. Under his leadership, Fandom has experienced unprecedented growth, expanding to over 350 million monthly unique visitors across 250,000 fan-powered communities.

Jim Metevier, CEO of Mountain Mike’s Pizza since 2023, has leveraged over 30 years of restaurant industry experience to propel the brand from regional prominence to national success. Under his leadership, Mountain Mike’s has achieved significant growth, with nearly 300 locations across 11 states and a robust development pipeline.

Anne Nguyen Oliver is the founder and CEO of House of M Beauty, the Vietnamese-owned skincare brand available at Nordstrom, celebrated for its repeated sell-out success since its launch. Her journey with House of M Beauty is deeply personal, rooted in her battle with postpartum depression following the birth of her first child.

Pardis Nasseri is the founder of Palm Tree, a leading modern M&A advisor that integrates investment banking and financial consulting services for private equity sponsors, business owners and management teams.

Michael Plaksin, currently serving as president and CEO of Alchera X, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the forefront of AI SaaS innovation. Under his direction, Alchera X has redefined wildfire detection and mitigation solutions, leveraging groundbreaking FireScout AI technology.

Angie Rowe is a seasoned nonprofit leader renowned for her strategic acumen in enhancing organizational performance, community engagement and fundraising. Currently serving as president and executive director of Beyond Blindness for 26 years, she has spearheaded initiatives that significantly boosted revenue and expanded the donor base.

Sona Shah founded My Private Professor (MPP) to democratize access to academic resources, leveraging her expertise in business litigation and passion for education. MPP offers top-tier tutoring from university tutors nationwide, aiming to uplift underserved communities by providing equal-quality education to all students, regardless of background.

Prashant Samant leads Akido Labs with a passion for social enterprise, transforming healthcare globally. Under his guidance, Akido has evolved from a SaaS startup to a health AI and care delivery company with 700+ employees and a network of 240 doctors.

Tim Vanderhook is a visionary entrepreneur and the driving force behind Viant Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: DSP), a leading advertising technology company he co-founded with his brother Chris. His entrepreneurial journey began nearly 25 years ago and has since transformed Viant into a public company with 11 offices nationwide and over 350 employees.

Jamie Viramontes, founder & CEO of Konnect, brings over 25 years of HR consulting experience to clients and the local business community. With a background in nonprofit and Fortune 500 organizations, he equips leaders to navigate today's evolving economy.

Mark Whitley, president and CEO of Easterseals Southern California (ESSC), has led the organization's remarkable growth from a $1.5-million nonprofit to over $500 million, the largest of Easterseals’ 70 affiliates. His vision aims to make Southern California the most inclusive environment for people with disabilities.

EVmode, founded by Min Yoo, addresses the reliability issues plaguing electric vehicle (EV) chargers with innovative solutions. Inspired by personal frustrations during a road trip where multiple chargers failed, he identified a critical need for dependable charging infrastructure.