JVS' 14TH Strictly Business Highlights Vital Need For Job Services

Online, May 2, 2011 (Newswire.com) - As Californians face major government cutbacks, including reductions in federal WorkForce Investment Act funding, JVS' 14th Annual Strictly Business Luncheon will highlight the impact of non-profit JVS' crucial free job programs and honor the leaders in the community who have stepped up to help. California Secretary of Labor Marty Morgenstern will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon, to take place on Thursday, May 19 at The Beverly Hilton.

This year, which also marks the 80th Anniversary of JVS Los Angeles, the agency will honor Larry Miller, President and CEO of Sit 'n Sleep with the Corporate Leadership Award and Carl Terzian, Chairman of Carl Terzian Associates with the Corporate Partnership Award.

"Those we honor at Strictly Business exemplify the creativity, resolve and commitment to the community that have defined JVS from the beginning," said Event Chair Jim Hausberg.

Matt Toledo, Publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, will serve as the Honorary Chair for the luncheon, along with KABC TalkRadio Host Peter Tilden. JVS' Strictly Business L.A. is one of the city's premiere networking events and attracts hundreds of Los Angeles' top business leaders and policymakers.

One of the highlights of each year's Strictly Business program is the presentation of the annual Inspiration Awards to three JVS clients who have overcome substantial barriers to find success in the workplace. The 2011 recipients are Ricardo Amaya, who did not allow his disabilities to slow him down in finding productive employment; Elizabeth Medina, who participated in JVS' Summer Employment program for low income, at-risk youth, and Steven Walker, a U.S. Army veteran who retrained and launched a new career with the help of JVS' Veteran's First program.

Founded as the Federated Employment Bureau in 1931 to fight workplace discrimination and to assist refugees fleeing wartime Europe, JVS faced the highest unemployment rates the country had ever seen. Through the dedication of its early board members and directors, leaders in the business community, JVS helped pave the way for the rights of employees in the workplace, micro-enterprise, networking as a business tool and innovative partnerships with for-profit companies and government. Today the agency serves 30,000 people annually from over 30 sites throughout Greater Los Angeles, offering a comprehensive range of job training, mentoring, education and career counseling programs.

In 1978, Corporate Leadership Awardee Larry Miller and his father Phillip founded Sit 'n Sleep, a small futon mattress store which opened in Culver City. Like many small business owners, Larry struggled to make ends meet. But it was the radio campaign on KABC in 1982 with the famous punch line, "I'll beat any advertised price or your mattress is free!" that launched the store and Larry himself into the popular culture. With the help of the television campaign, the addition of Larry's friend and CPA Irwin "You're killing me, Larry!" and Miller's business savvy, Sit 'n Sleep slowly grew to become the highest grossing, single mattress store in the country.
Now it is one of the top 100 home-furnishing retailers in the entire United States.

Taught the value of philanthropy by his parents, Larry has been passionately involved with the Muscular Dystrophy Association for many years. He also served as past Director of the American Heart Association and is active in many philanthropic ventures, including City of Hope.

For more than 40 years, Carl Terzian, the recipient of JVS' Corporate Partnership Award has provided invaluable public relations to non-profits, corporations, individuals and institutions. Chairman of Carl Terzian Associates, Carl is nationally respected and recognized for his expertise in everything from media, networking, philanthropy, event planning and more. Prior to establishing his own firm in 1969, Carl served as an international goodwill ambassador for President Eisenhower and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.

Carl has served as president of the California Pediatrics Center and the Southern California Youth Leadership Foundation; vice president of the Los Angeles Business Council and Project Concern; regent of California Lutheran University; trustee of Woodbury University; and an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, along with many others. He has been honored for civic and professional leadership by Congress, Her Majesty the Queen of England, California Assembly and Senate, City and County of Los Angeles, USC, and United Way, to name a few.

The JVS' 14th Strictly Business L.A. luncheon will begin at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. For more information contact Randy H. Lapin at (323) 761-8598 or [email protected] or visit www.jvsla.org.

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About JVS
Celebrating its 80th Anniversary since its founding in 1931, JVS has enhanced hundreds of thousands of lives with vital employment and career services. Each year, JVS helps nearly 30,000 people from over 30 sites around the Southland. A non-profit, non-sectarian organization, JVS works with city, state and county agencies to ensure everyone has access to the help they need, including long term unemployed, at-risk students, and people with disabilities. For more information on the full range of JVS programs, please visit www.jvsla.org. You can also find JVS on Facebook at JVS Los Angeles or follow them on twitter @JVSlosangeles.