MEET THE MEMBER
This month’s Meet The Member Podcast features Adam McArthur who shares his thoughts on the benefits of Echelon membership: “Echelon offers members great, out-facing branding and marketing resources across social media platforms, including YouTube, podcasts, blogs, and their Echelon Professional Magazine. So they aren’t just a traditional business networking group, they are more of a beneficial alliance by which individual members and their companies can build their presence across platforms.”
Listen to Adam’s story here:
MEET THE MEMBER
Meet our member Heath Goldman, whose knowledge of many different financial disciplines is what makes him so valuable to his clients. In this episode, Heath discusses his experience and how he helps coordinate his client’s professionals who assist with estate planning, succession, asset protection, investment management, property, and insurance.
Listen to Heath’s story here:
HOW SHE GOT HER START
Our How She Got Her Start podcast for August features E1 member Jennifer Felten, Esq., the Principal Owner and Attorney of RELAW, APC, of Westlake Village. In this podcast, Jennifer explains, “I’ve had an unusual career trajectory – I got pregnant at 18 and dropped out of college. Later, I started working in real estate at 19, and ever since then, I’ve worked my way up from entry level real estate work to now running my own company as a real estate attorney. I very diligently took my career path step-by-step, to keep growing, learning and taking on new challenges.”
“Finally, in 2015, I was able to launch my company – our focus is businesses working across every conceivable area of the real estate space – brokers, title companies, developers, etc. My firm acts as their conduit to the legal system – we serve them as outside council for general legal stuff. Most of our clients don’t need full-time attorneys, but when things come up, we can handle for them a wide array of matters including formation, licensing, regularity, and litigation. In addition to our corporate clients, we also regularly handle a variety of real estate disputes for consumers, including breach of contract, title issues, neighbor disputes, partition (co-owned property) actions, etc.”
And Echelon? “I’m definitely glad I’m a member. I’m a group leader, co-lead for the Westlake Agoura group with Davis Blaine. I think Echelon is a great incubator for those people who really want to take their business to the next level, biz dev. That’s what we talk about in our group meetings as owners and leaders – how can we take ourselves and our companies to the next level? A lot of the people I’ve met within Echelon have been new to me, and being a member has definitely expanded my sphere of influence and resource base. Having new referral sources for me is important, and the caliber of people within the spheres of my fellow Echelon members makes me very comfortable with them and in my referring people to them.”
In her spare time, Jennifer volunteers for Habitat for Humanity in Ventura County, where she sits on their Advisory Committee. “This is the type of charity that teaches people how to make their lives better, by building homes and selling them, so they can live the American dream. It’s not about just giving things away — it’s about giving others a step-up in their lives. I truly believe in that mindset.”
Listen to Jennifer’s story here:
TAX MATTERS
Our August Tax Matters Podcast features E1 Calabasas Member Susana Barajas, who became a Partner with the Woodland Hills-based Allegent Group at the top of 2023. Susana is adept in tax preparation for a broad range of clients, including partnerships, C and S corporations, trusts, exempt organizations, and individuals. In addition, she performs audits, reviews, and compilations. Her specialties include working with closely-held entities and high-net-worth individuals with concentrations in diverse professions, such as real estate, entertainment, medical practices and consulting. She is especially proud of the quality and timely service she provides to her clients.
Susana initially joined Echelon in 2019 and discovered that Echelon helps guide and encourage its members to potentially become owners/entrepreneurs. “There are great benefits in belonging to Echelon. Their members are savvy business owners who have a lot of knowledge and experience, and are willing to help and support you as you grow … Echelon provides a solid way of incorporating social media and the technology behind the ways people communicate with each other these days. They know how to promote you, your brand and your business.”
Listen to Susana’s story here:
Tune in to our Echelon Podcast each month for new episodes
The cover story, entitled “Networking Master,” of this quarter’s Echelon Professional Magazine features an interview with Brian Rabinovitz, Business Development Executive with Citrin Cooperman. Brian, truly a force of nature, has a strong reputation for connecting professionals. Readers of this article will quickly discover that in addition to Brian’s expertise in biz dev for Citrin, his accounting intelligence, ability to give, and devotion to his family are readily apparent.
“A lot of people only look at me now as Head of Business Development for the West Coast division of Citrin,” Brian says. “But, that’s only been for the last year and a half. For over 30 years, I was behind the desk doing the work. Before being acquired by Citrin Cooperman, I was head of accounting and audit for a 70-person firm and reviewed files and financial statements before they went out. So that has long been my first and foremost ability. People should know that my reputation within the world of ‘biz dev’ is not all about myself or just Citrin Cooperman. One has to give to get. And that is a very important aspect of growth within the business world.”
In the story, Brian also discusses hist most valuable assets: “My family, my kids, are everything. And I find the people I get along with the most are those who have a tremendous relationship with their family, kids, and spouses. I want to be around those people, because they have the morals that I greatly admire and respect.”
Other features in the magazine this quarter include: A bio feature on Danielle Gotcher from Global Immigration Partners; and these member-written features: (1) Beyond Entrepreneur by Randy Miller (advice on how to go from a solo entrepreneur and set up a larger company for growth); (2) The Three Biggest Mistakes in Estate Planning by David Schneider; and (3) Google Analytics for Businesses by De Ivett.
Attorney and E1 member David Schneider is featured on this month’s Echelon Blog, in a piece entitled “Co-Trustees vs. A Single Trustee.” David is committed to delivering exceptional personal and client-oriented services to his clients. With a major emphasis on the practice of Estate Planning and Probate work, David enjoys giving his clients the personal attention each one needs and deserves.
This month’s Echelon YouTube channel features E1 member Zach Winner, a Founding Partner of Prosperity, CRE. In his position, Zach focuses on providing his clients with passive investment opportunities that deliver ongoing cash flow and create long-term wealth.
