Longtime Valley business advocate Stuart Waldman officially began his tenure Monday as president and CEO of the Los Angeles County Business Federation after nearly 19 years leading the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, broadening his advocacy from the San Fernando Valley to businesses across Los Angeles County.
Waldman, who officially succeeded BizFed founding CEO Tracy Hernandez, said the opportunity was one he felt he had to pursue, even though leaving VICA was an emotional decision.
“There’s never a right time,” Waldman told the Southern California News Group on Monday. “That job came open, and those types of jobs don’t come open often.”
BizFed represents nearly 400 member organizations and more than 420,000 employers across Los Angeles County, advocating for issues including economic growth, housing, infrastructure investment, public safety and workplace development.
For Waldman, however, leaving VICA after nearly two decades was not easy.
“After almost 19 years, these aren’t just colleagues,” he said. “These are our family, they’re friends. They’re people that I spend my free time with… so to leave them behind is definitely something that’s emotional.”
During nearly 19 years at VICA, Waldman helped expand the organization’s influence on transportation, economic development, land use and regional policy. Among its advocacy efforts were supporting the Sepulveda Transit Corridor, the East San Fernando Valley light-rail project along Van Nuys Boulevard, helping secure multiple Olympic events in the Valley for the 2028 Games and advocating for redistricting maps aimed at strengthening Valley representation.
Jim Theiring, chair of the VICA Board of Directors and CEO of Mission Community Hospital, credited Waldman with transforming the organization into a stronger voice for businesses well beyond the Valley.
“Stuart has really shaped VICA into what it is today,” Theiring said. “His experience coming out of the Legislature has been valuable to VICA, really impacted our advocacy efforts over the years, and has made us a force in Sacramento today. And also in the City Council and even in Washington, D.C.”
Theiring said VICA has formed a search committee made up of executive board members and is gathering candidates for a “diligent search” for Waldman’s successor.
“It’s always difficult to replace someone who’s been there 20 years,” Theiring said. The goal, he added, is to find someone who can “fill the shoes of Stuart” and lead VICA into its next two decades.
In the meantime, VICA’s Chief Operating Officer Jessica Yasukochi will oversee much of the organization’s day-to-day administrative responsibilities while the search continues, Theiring said.
In a statement provided to the SCNG Monday, BizFed Board Chair Trini Jimenez said Waldman’s collaborative leadership made him the right choice to lead the countywide business coalition into its next phase.
“BizFed’s greatest strength lies in the fact that we are a coalition of coalitions united by a shared commitment to strengthening the voice of business and creating a more prosperous future for the region,” Jimenez said. “Stuart’s proven ability to build consensus and lead through collaboration makes him the ideal person to guide BizFed into its next chapter.”
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who represents much of the western San Fernando Valley, praised Waldman’s leadership, calling him “a stalwart advocate for the San Fernando Valley business community.”
“Stuart has been a stalwart advocate for the San Fernando Valley business community and I am confident his deep Valley roots will continue to guide his work at BizFed,” Blumenfield said in a statement provided to the SCNG Monday. “He will be a strong voice for our region, helping create new opportunities for local businesses in the years ahead.”
While VICA focuses primarily on the San Fernando Valley, Waldman said BizFed’s countywide scope presents a different challenge.
“Going from representing roughly five cities and a portion of the City of Los Angeles to 88 cities is going to be a big change,” he said.
Even so, he said the two organizations have long worked together.
“VICA was one of the founding members of BizFed,” Waldman said. “BizFed started the same year I started at VICA. We’ve always had a working relationship.”
He said the organizations have remained close partners on business advocacy issues for years.
Looking ahead, Waldman said his immediate priority is strengthening business advocacy throughout Los Angeles County.
“We’ve got to get back to basics. The role of business advocacy,” he said. “Business needs to be well represented in this county. We need to make sure that we keep business in L.A., that we fight proposals that are going to push business out.”
He cited rising business costs, permitting requirements and other economic pressures among the biggest challenges facing employers today.
Although his responsibilities now extend countywide, Waldman said he doesn’t plan to leave the Valley behind.
“I’m still going to represent the Valley as well as the rest of L.A. County,” he said. “The business community is pretty well represented in L.A. and we have a lot of overlap and we work well together. So I expect that to continue.”