The Network, our Federation’s alumni leadership community, is excited to invite you to our in-person In the Chair with the Chair gathering on Tuesday, August 24th, at 7:00 PM in the backyard of a private home in Beverly Hills! In partnership with our Finance & Business Professionals Network, this year’s annual event boasts an exclusive conversation with power couple Antony “Tony” Ressler and Jami Gertz focusing on the intersection of leadership, philanthropy, and impact in the Jewish community. The conversation will be led by Julie Platt, current JFNA National Campaign Chair and past Chair of the Board of our Federation.
If you have any questions regarding how to join this event, please contact Bryan Turkel at BTurkel@JewishLA.org or (323) 761-8430.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is committed to ensuring a safe workplace and guidelines where our community gatherings may be held. We have continually cited the safety of our staff as our guiding principle in our reopening plans at 6505 Wilshire and have required proof of vaccination from our employees. For the safety of both our employees and the community, we wish to ensure all who gather for meetings and functions are fully vaccinated. By responding, you are attesting to the fact you have been fully vaccinated. Thank you for your consideration to our safety protocols.
About our speakers:
Antony Ressler is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Ares Management Corporation, a publicly traded, leading global alternative asset management firm. With approximately $196 billion in AUM as of December 31, 2020, Ares operates three investment groups that invest in credit, private equity, and real estate. Ares has approximately 1,445 employees with over 25 offices across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Mr. Ressler has served on several boards of directors of companies owned or controlled by Ares investment funds.
In the not-for-profit sector, Mr. Ressler serves as Co-Chair of the Board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and one of the founders and former member of the board of the Painted Turtle Camp (affiliated with Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Association), which serves children dealing with chronic and life-threatening illnesses by providing old-fashioned camping experiences.
In the public education sector, Mr. Ressler is a Founder and former Chairman of the Alliance for College Ready Public Schools. Since 2004, the Alliance has grown to 28 free, public middle and high schools serving approximately 13,000 students from L.A.’s poorest communities with historically underperforming schools. Four Alliance schools have been named California Distinguished Schools, and three are ranked in the top 10 of all Los Angeles Unified School District schools. More than 90% of Alliance graduates have gone on to college.
In June 2015, Mr. Ressler led the acquisition of the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club and serves as its Principal Owner and Chairman of its Board of Advisors. Mr. Ressler also serves as a Senior Advisor to the Hawks Foundation, a not-for-profit organization focused on building bridges with the metro Atlanta community through basketball.
Mr. Ressler received his B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and received his MBA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business.
Jami Gertz has crafted a distinguished reputation in film, television, and theater. Gertz most recently appeared in the NBC hit drama “This is Us.” She also starred in the ABC series “The Neighbors,” and in the Jeff Garlan feature “Dealin’ with Idiots.” Gertz appeared on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning comedy “Modern Family” and the hit cable series “Entourage,” opposite Jeremy Piven. She starred with Piven again in Scott Marshall’s “Keeping Up With the Steins,” as well as Gary Marshall, Darryl Hannah and Doris Roberts.
For four seasons, Gertz starred on the hit comedy “Still Standing,” opposite Mark Addy. In addition, she portrayed the title role on ABC’s “Gilda Radner: It’s Always Something,” based on Radner’s autobiography.
In 2002, Gertz received an Emmy nomination for her role on the critically acclaimed television series “Ally McBeal,” where she guest starred in a four-episode arc. She is also widely recognized for her role as a sex therapist in “Twister” opposite Bill Paxton and for her roles with Dylan McDermott in the romantic comedy “Jersey Girl,” in “Less Than Zero” (based on the best-selling novel by Bret Easton Ellis) with James Spader and Robert Downey, Jr., and in “The Lost Boys” with Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Patric.
Gertz was discovered at age 16 in a nationwide talent search for the sitcom “Square Pegs” with Sarah Jessica Parker. Since then, she has appeared on a number of hit television shows, including “Seinfeld,” “ER,” and “Dream On.”
On stage, she appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Garry Marshall’s “Wrong Turn at Lung Fish” with the late George C. Scott and Tony Danza. She also starred in “Come Back Little Sheba” with Tyne Daly and “Out of Gas on Lover’s Leap” with Jason Patric.
In 2007, Gertz formed Lime Orchard Productions, a television and film production company. The company produced “A Better Life” in 2011, directed by Chris Weitz and starring Demian Bichir, which earned him a Best Actor Academy Award nomination.
Jami is married to Tony Ressler, and they have three sons — Oliver, Nicholas, and Theo. They are also owners of the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Team.
Julie Platt is the National Campaign Chair of The Jewish Federations of North America. She is also the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and serves as Chair of the Foundation for Jewish Camp.
Prior to serving as Board Chair at The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Ms. Platt served as the General Campaign Chair for the Los Angeles Federation, Chair of their Ensuring the Jewish Future Strategic Initiative, and Chair of the Federation’s Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy.
She was honored with the Ruby Award for her commitment to leadership and community service, presented by Women’s Philanthropy.
Ms. Platt’s lifelong connection with the Jewish community began at Camp Ramah in Ojai, and today she is a driving force behind shining a bright light on the transformative impact of a Jewish camp experience and raising funds for the field.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Platt serves on the Board of Trustees as well as Penn Hillel's National Board of Governors.
She and her husband Marc have five children and five grandchildren.
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