Statewide publication and August 10 launch at BMO Stadium spotlight the leaders advancing tourism, aviation, sports, business, innovation, and economic development across California.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / August 7, 2026 / California Leaders today announced the release of its Summer 2026 issue, themed “California on the World Stage,” featuring 17 influential leaders whose work is helping shape California’s future through tourism, travel, aviation, sports, entertainment, business, law, innovation, and economic development.
The issue will be officially unveiled during the California Leaders Summer Issue Magazine Launch, Presented by BMO, on Monday, August 10, 2026, at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where more than 200 leaders from business, government, education, nonprofit organizations, and community organizations are expected to gather to celebrate leadership, collaboration, and California’s continued global impact.
Following the successful FIFA World Cup 2026™, California is preparing to host Super Bowl LXI and the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games, creating unprecedented opportunities for tourism, workforce development, investment, innovation, and economic growth. The Summer 2026 issue highlights the leaders helping position California for this historic decade on the world stage.
“California’s greatest strength has always been its people,” said Christopher Luna, Publisher & CEO of California Leaders. “Our mission is to tell the stories of the leaders shaping California’s future while creating opportunities for leaders across business, government, education, nonprofit, and community organizations to build relationships, share ideas, and work together. This issue celebrates the people whose leadership is strengthening California’s economy, communities, and global competitiveness.”
“Sharing this cover with Adam Burke is a genuine pleasure. Los Angeles and San Francisco are two front doors to the same state, and visitors who arrive in one city often find themselves exploring the other,” said Anna Marie Presutti, President & CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association. “California is experiencing a once-in-a-generation run of global events-from this year’s Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup matches in the Bay Area to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s an opportunity we’re better off celebrating together. The world isn’t about to start watching California-it never stopped.”
Presutti shares this issue’s cover with Adam Burke, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, symbolizing the collaboration between California’s two largest visitor destinations as the state prepares to welcome millions of visitors for the next generation of global sporting and cultural events.
Summer 2026 Cover Leaders
The Summer 2026 issue features:
Adam Burke
President & CEO
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Anna Marie Presutti
President & CEO
San Francisco Travel Association
Additional Magazine Featured Leaders
The issue also profiles leaders representing organizations that collectively welcome millions of visitors annually, host many of the world’s premier sporting and entertainment events, connect California to global markets, strengthen communities, and contribute to one of the world’s largest economies.
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Cassandra Costello – CEO & Executive Director, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
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Christopher Gialanella – President & Publisher, Los Angeles Magazine
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Christy Castillo Butcher – Senior Vice President of Booking & Events, SoFi Stadium & Hollywood Park
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Dana Debel – Managing Director, State & Local Government Affairs, Delta Air Lines
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Doane Liu – Chief Tourism Officer, City of Los Angeles
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Erick Weiss – President & CEO, Transnational Space Alliance Summit (TSAS)
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Halé Behzadi – Vice Chair, BMO
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Jerry Neuman – Partner, DLA Piper
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LeRoid David – Official Bay Area Host City Poster Artist, FIFA World Cup 2026™
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Papia Gambelin – Managing Director, State & Local Government Affairs, United Airlines
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Samona Caldwell, APR – Director, Business Connect, Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC)
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Stephen Revetria – President, Giants Enterprises
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Tammy Dickerson, CMP – CEO, The Baker Group
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Teresa Guy, MBA – Vice President of Booking & Partnerships, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
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Todd Johnson – President & CEO, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce
Many of the featured leaders will participate in the magazine launch program, which will include keynote conversations, executive interviews, and discussions exploring California’s future in tourism, sports, entertainment, workforce development, and economic competitiveness.
The evening’s featured program includes:
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Venue Host Remarks from John Thorrington, Co-President & General Manager, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC)
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Opening Remarks by Rachel Freeman, Deputy Mayor of Business & Economic Development, City of Los Angeles
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Keynote Address by Doane Liu, Chief Tourism Officer, City of Los Angeles
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Featured Fireside Conversation with Halé Behzadi, Vice Chair of BMO, and Stephen Revetria, President of Giants Enterprises
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Women in Sports & Entertainment, moderated by Dr. Dayle M. Smith, Dean of the College of Business Administration at Loyola Marymount University, featuring Christy Castillo Butcher, Teresa Guy, Samona Caldwell, and Ginny Sze
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Cover Leaders Conversation featuring Adam Burke and Anna Marie Presutti
The evening will conclude with the official unveiling of the Summer 2026 issue of California Leaders Magazine, followed by a networking reception bringing together leaders from across California to strengthen relationships and foster collaboration across sectors.
Sponsors
The California Leaders Summer Issue Magazine Launch is made possible through the generous support of organizations committed to strengthening California’s economy and investing in future leaders.
Presenting Sponsor
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BMO
Gold Sponsors
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Alaska Airlines
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Delta Air Lines
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Gateway Los Angeles Airport Business District
Silver Sponsors
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City Club Los Angeles
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United Airlines
Bronze Sponsors
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Adventist Health White Memorial
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Balloonique Designs
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Gravitas Beverly Hills
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Gusdorf Marketing Group
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Latinos Media Group
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My HR Specialist
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PaperGarden XOXO
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PBS Engineers
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Port of Long Beach
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Rancho Foundation
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SNJ Strategic Solutions
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Wellnest
Event Details
California Leaders Summer Issue Magazine Launch
Presented by BMO
Monday, August 10, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
BMO Stadium
Los Angeles, California
About California Leaders
California Leaders is a statewide leadership platform dedicated to advancing California’s economic development, workforce development, and global competitiveness. Through its quarterly magazine, executive interviews, leadership experiences, and community events, California Leaders tells the stories of the individuals and organizations shaping California’s future while convening leaders across business, government, education, nonprofit, and community organizations to foster collaboration, strengthen relationships, and inspire action that creates lasting impact.
Media Contact
Trevor Loduem-Jackson
Content & Communications Coordinator
California Leaders, LLC.
marketing@californialeaders.com
(310) 692-1147
Media interviews, photography, and b-roll opportunities will be available before and after the program. Advance media credential requests are encouraged.
SOURCE: California Leaders
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
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