Providing Comfort & Making a Difference.

Shima 0 comments 30.03.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s WCW title belongs to Lynn Aglipay who believes in sharing blessings and giving back to the community as much as possible.

Lynn was born and raised in the South Bay. She has come to believe that when you’re right where you should be, there’s a certainty to what you do. It’s no surprise she feels compelled to give back and works immensely hard to be able to do so.

​Today, Lynn is involved in many charities, especially causes that help children. She is the founding and current Board of Director for the Asian Real Estate Association of America, South Bay Chapter (AREAA SB). She says the latter focuses on providing sustainable living for Asians in the South Bay. In addition, she is on the Board of Directors of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Association of Realtors (PVPAR) and Chairman of the Fundraising and Scholarship Committee​ supporting the Peninsula Education Foundation.

She also is the former Board of Director for Las Amigas de Las Loma and supporting Ortheapedic Institute for Children which provides orthopedic medical assistance to families who cannot afford care. She says, “Sitting on the board of directors for the Las Amigas de Las Lomas, an annual horse show with proceeds going to the hospital, has been one of the most fulfilling areas of my life.”

You’d imagine that she’d exhaust herself with all the committees and boards she manages, yet she also provides monthly dinners and the annual Christmas breakfast to the Toberman House, a community center in San Pedro that provides an after school program for kids.

Lynn believes she has always "given back." She says from the time she was in elementary school; she remembers being taught to give back. “I never thought what I was doing was anything out of the ordinary,” she says. When asked what inspires her to give back to the community, she simply says, “I really don't know...I just do it because it's fulfilling for me personally

For those seeking opportunity to also give back, Lynn says ​there are many ways to make a difference, whether it is working with philanthropic organizations to playing piano for an elderly neighbor. “It can be a financial contribution or it can be physical contribution, most importantly is that you are making a difference,” she says.

One of the most impactful moments for Lynn when giving back was when she was serving salad at the Toberman House. “When I began serving dinners at Toberman House, most kids didn't like or wouldn't want to eat salad. There was a little boy, who refused to even have it on his plate. I told him to just try it, he refused saying the teachers will make me eat everything on my plate and I don't like salad,” she says.

In hopes of convincing the young boy to eat something nutritious, Lynn told him that if he tried it, she would let the teachers know and he wouldn't have to finish it. She says he agreed to try it and he came back for seconds with a big grin. “That's right, the little boy who initially didn't want to eat salad,” she says.

She also remembers hosting a Christmas breakfast for needy families when Santa came and gave gifts to about 60 children. She says that unlike the rest of the families whose children were so excited to be unwrapping their gifts, she noticed a family of six who sat back and the kids just held onto their gifts. She asked one of the teachers why they weren't opening the gifts we had provided, and the teacher responded saying these were the only gifts the children will have so they’re saving it until Christmas. The moment impacted her greatly and she has never forgotten it.

When Lynn isn’t working or giving back to the community, she enjoys spending time her family and friends. She says that when and if she can get away, they are usually having tons of fun in Mammoth, fishing or skiing or relaxing in Palm Springs.​

​She loves to South Bay mostly for the lifestyle it allows. She appreciates being surrounded by beaches, views and tranquility. ​She feels it is important to give back to others because there are so many people in need and we need more compassion for one another.

Thank you, Lynn, for providing efforts to making our community a greater place.

“Giving back to community has been some of the most rewarding work I have ever done, and I look forward to further expand my contributions in the near future. As long as I can contribute and provide comfort for people, I know I am making a difference.”

– Lynn Aglipay

Changing the Game.

Shima 0 comments 29.03.2016

Every Monday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place. Today’s #MCM title belongs to Bobby Hubert who manages a nicotine research lab at the Veterans’ Hospital in Long Beach and spending any free time developing games for cellular devices.

 Bobby, 31, was born and raised in the South Bay. Growing up, he spent a lot of time at the strip down by the beach as his dad owned a black & white photo lab on Ave I and he would spend a lot of time there. “I loved the South Bay as a kid, always felt safe skateboarding around everywhere,” he says.

Several years later, they moved around the South Bay and Palos Verdes until he at Peninsula high, graduating in 2002. Having absolutely no idea what he wanted to do in life, he decided to go to El Camino college in Torrance where he enrolled in many classes. He says, “I wanted to see what was out there.”

 He started off studying music composition, but ended up deciding to go into psychology.

“I still get to dabble in music every so often but my curiosity about people and health got the better of me and so after a few years I transferred to UCLA where I earned my degree in psych,” he says.

 Bobby says that he’d definitely recommend community college for young students who might not know what they want to do yet or just to get some exposure and explore different subjects before taking the plunge.

He says that if you ask his friends, they'd probably all say that he’s never not working. Bobby says it’s true, however, he enjoys it. During his “off” time, he runs a small indie game dev. studio out of his apartment with his brother and some friends. So he spends most of his waking hours, and probably a few sleeping ones, working on developing games and other software.

 His brother and him grew up on video games. Jokingly he says, “I think our parents must of had some sort of joint custody agreement with Nintendo because we definitely spent a lot of time with those games and so naturally we have a fond appreciation for the classics and I think a big part of what drives us in making games now is trying to capture that same feeling we got from those simple games of the 80's and 90's and bring them into a modern medium,” he says.

Outside of his hobby of developing games, Bobby’s full-time position is managing a nicotine research lab at the Veterans’ Hospital. There, his team does research with the veterans geared towards understanding more about smoking, addiction, and how nicotine, caffeine, and marijuana can affect the brain and how different substances may change the way addiction operates. In addition, they run smoking cessation classes alongside a research program geared towards discovering how to better help veterans with schizophrenia quit smoking.

Bobby says that the most gratifying part of his career thus far is running into a veteran who was in one of their studies months or even years later and having them say they are still cigarette free and how much better they feel. “It's amazing to see someone's life really change for the better and having even a small roll in that is a great reminder of why we do what we do,” he says.

One can learn more about Bobby’s games at www.agog.net or go the AppStore for Agog. Bobby says, “We can't be held responsible if you smash your phone in frustration, just like those old Nintendo games, some of our games are difficult.”

Bobby enjoys paying it forward whenever possible. He says, “I feel like with every little interaction we have with others every day a small part of that should be spent trying to make a person’s day better. Whether that's covering someone who's short on cash, giving someone a ride, or simply saying hi and smiling at the store when checking out, it only takes a second and it's an opportunity to make someone's day just a bit better and hopefully it spreads. So look up from your phone once in a while and smile! It's contagious.”

Bobby can’t imagine living anywhere other than the South Bay He says, “I'm sure it's written somewhere but we probably have the best weather in the world and it's a good thing too because the South Bay is full of things to do and we are so close to all of it; the beach, farmers markets and street fairs, great shopping, quiet parks, beautiful hiking trails and nature, and endless great food. But all that wouldn't even matter without all the awesome people; this area is home to some of the nicest people around and even though it's a pretty big place we make it feel cozy, it's not uncommon to run into friends and neighbors on a daily basis when you are out and about.”

 When Bobby isn’t developing games or aiding our veterans, he enjoys working on his truck, a 66 Chevy. He says, “It will probably never be finished but it's a fun way to spend time and not have to think about all the other work I should probably be doing. The last bit of work I did on it was to the bumper, I discovered about 8 layers of paint under the primer and decided to let a little bit of that history show by sanding through the different layers and I'm really happy with the result.”

 Thank you, Bobby, for inspiring the community by following your passions of developing games all while attaining a full-time position serving our veterans. You are an asset to the South Bay community.

“Just a note to anyone out there trying to follow a passion or wanting to create something new - It's worth it, don't stop.”

– Bobby

Photo credit: Bobby Hubert

Searching for more than just eggs this Easter?

Shima 0 comments 25.03.2016

We’re not even half way done with the first quarter of the new year and it seems as though all the good homes are tricky to find just like the most rewarding eggs!

Experts predicted early on that the housing market in 2016 would be a seller’s market. Fast-forward to March and it is evident that home prices are increasing, inventory is low, and there are many buyers looking for the same things.

What should you know?

In a seller’s market, there are more buyers than sellers. This tends to cause discouragement in buyers as they find themselves competing amongst others for the home of their dreams.

Certainly, buyers must keep an open mind and stay prepared to move quickly. If one should find the home of their dreams- they should act now as statistics show that 85% of buyers who say they plan to buy a home in the next year, say they will wait until late spring or early summer. Luckily for buyers who begin their house hunt early on, face less competitors with just as many homes for sale.

When choosing a mortgage, it is helpful for buyers to shop around and meet with several lenders. By speaking to different parties, you will find you have multiple options to choose from and are not putting all your eggs in one basket.

As for sellers, prime home buying season usually begins in April and reaches a peak in June. When choosing to list your home during the prime months, as a seller, you are benefitting from a larger population of buyers and potential bidding wars. Surely, this brings in higher prices and quicker closings.

Frankly, by pricing a home to sell accurately, based on comparable sales, buyers will naturally be attracted to the home. It is therefore essential to price a home adequately for the market.

Undoubtedly, it is important to get the right help when buying or selling.

Remember, you surely don’t have to house ‘hunt’ alone… I’m only a ‘hop’ away from helping you and those you know during such a monumental time.

I wish you a happy Easter and spring!

Making women feel beautiful again.

Shima 0 comments 23.03.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s ‪WCW title belongs to entrepreneur Mari who began designing clothing with stretchy material in hopes of helping women feel more comfortable in their skin.

Mari, 28, grew up in Southern California. In 2012, Mari began creating dresses after feeling frustrated with the limited amount of styles for her comfort. “I grew tired of shopping at the mall, trying to fit my body type in a Forever 21 dress, so I literally told myself, today, I’m going to make a dress with no pattern, all free hand, and I did,” she says.

Early on, her father and mother inspired her to begin creating dresses.  “Every time we had a social gathering, which was almost every Friday and Saturday, my Mother would pick out the fabric and design the outfit, while my Father would make the outfit. It was like having my own personal designer, i am grateful for my parents. they have inspired me to express myself how i wanted to be portrayed which she says is unheard of in the Afghan community.

Initially, Mari only created custom orders, however, is currently transitioning into costume designs for the film industry and stage performance costume.

Mari feels most relaxed when she is able to create pieces and finds that she is in her element then.  “It’s my meditation time, a time to recollect my thoughts and keep my mind focus. It’s very therapeutic for me,” she says. Mari’s dress designs are inspired by Bollywood. “I love everything about it, especially Hindi films, colors, colors, colors!”

One of Mari’s greatest passions and ways of paying it forward to the community is as a humanist. She says, “I am prolife. If you are hungry, I will offer you food. If you are thirsty, I will offer you water. I believe every living thing/being on this earth deserves privilege and equality, after all we are all visitors. So who are we as human being to ignore the suffering of others?”

Outside of offering a lending hand to those in need, Mari is very vocal on her social media accounts supporting the latest movement,“Black lives matter.” She became very passionate about the cause after her husband, Daylyt was harassed by the police several times. She says, “Remind you, we don’t drink, we don’t smoke, he is not on parole, he is not a criminal. But even if I’m driving, as soon as they see him, we get pulled over and they take him out of the car, out of camera view, call for backup , and an hour later, let us go. After they don’t have any reason in the first place to pull us over.”

She feels it is important that society educates and acknowledges the fact that racism exists and we it’s practiced daily within the police force and justice system.

When Mari is not creating and designing dresses for her clients, she enjoys living a simple life as a vegan, seamstress, and photographer. She also assists her husband, Daylyt and is a full-time mother to her son, Sunlyt whom she also homeschools.

She enjoys hiking outdoors, swimming, belly dancing, going to the beach, making music, singing, battle rapping, and reading.

Mari has found some ways to a successful life. She says that first, a happy home begins with a happy woman in the household, whether it is the mother, wife, or girlfriend. She also believes in adding color in one’s wardrobe affects their mood tremendously. “The average person’s go to color is black. I think we should break out of that corporate America look and incorporate vibrant colors in our wardrobes once in a while,” she says.

She hopes that others will think outside of the box and speak into existence. She simply says, “YES, you can do whatever you put your mind to!”

Thank you, Mari for a being a wonderful member of the South Bay and offering women an alternative way to feel sexy and advocating human-rights for all.

To contact Mari for custom pieces, please visit her website at i2ahadi.com or visit her instagram page at @MARI2AHADI

“After all, fashion expresses a person’s personality without having to speak! Thanks, mom & dad.”

-Mari

Helping our Troops out on the field.

Shima 0 comments 21.03.2016

Every Monday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s MCM title belongs to Vaneh Hartouni who although commutes from the San Fernando Valley to his job in El Segundo, has provided exceptional expertise in technology to South Bay’s well-known company, Raytheon.

Vaneh has lived in Los Angeles for the majority of his life and is currently a Project Lead at Raytheon in El Segundo, CA. He hopes to move closer to the South Bay in the future so that he is closer to his work.

In 2010, Vaneh received his Bachelor of Science from Cal Poly Pomona and received his Master of Science degree from UCLA in 2013. Both of his degrees are in Electrical Engineering focusing on digital systems.

Vaneh has been in the aerospace industry for several years. His experience includes working for multiple aerospace companies such as Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. Prior to that, he was an intern for 2.5 years at another aerospace company while attending school full-time.

Some of duties with his technical background include designing various electronics for different platforms such as navigations systems, electronic warfare and radars. In addition, he has led projects by managing people, schedule and budget. Vaneh has an entrepreneurial spirit and through his passion, he has worked on a side project related to portable fingerprint sensors. Currently, he has a provisional pending patent for his portable lock application.

He finds the most inspiring part of his job is the ability to use unique and exciting technology to build electronics for military to help our troops out in the field.

Vaneh says that Raytheon is known as an aerospace company providing products for military platforms. In addition, Raytheon has commercial and internationals customers. “Matter fact, over last a few years, the international customers generate significant amount of revenue for Raytheon,” he says.

Raytheon gives back to the community by providing a STEM program to help high school students to gain interest in the science field by providing college scholarships.

Vaneh hopes in five years to be a functional or program manager at Raytheon.

He enjoys the South Bay for the beaches and has found that the people are nice, friendly and polite. When he is not working, he enjoys being outdoors, sailing, cycling, basketball, snowboarding and going to the gym.

Thank you, Vaneh for being a wonderful member of South Bay’s respected and admired company, Raytheon and providing extensive help to its continuing growth.

Makeovers for Everyone.

Shima 0 comments 16.03.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s WCW title belongs to Larisa who followed her passions for makeup as a child and pursued a career as a makeup artist.

Larisa, resident of the South Bay has been a makeup artist for over 10 years. She pursued makeup after realizing that it was something she was always drawn to from an early age and passionate about. Today, Larisa is working as freelance makeup artist and is self-employed.

She says, “When I was a little girl, there were no doll houses, cookie and tea parties in my room. If you came to play, you were getting a makeover.” Years later, she enrolled in makeup school and took it very seriously. “It was very important for me to have the proper education,” she says.

 

Upon graduating from makeup school, her career took off. She worked for several makeup companies as a traveling artist and trainer. “I would say for anyone who starts, that’s always a good way to get your hands in the field. It definitely opens many doors for you aside from the fun and experience, but never give up on your dreams and your main goal,” she says.

She has had the opportunity to work on very exciting sets throughout her career. “I was so excited when I was working on a set for KTLA news on live TV for their Valentine’s Day lingerie show,” she says. She enjoys meeting other artist and enjoys the fun she gets to have on set.

Larisa enjoys doing makeup mostly for the reactions she gets from her clients. She loves seeing people happy and in a good mood while getting their makeup done. “I like listening to them. I always hear the most interesting stories,” she says.

When she is not working, Larissa enjoys spending time at the beach or traveling. Those two things always help her recharge. She also loves to cook and going into what she calls, “Chef mode.” She says that if she weren’t a makeup artist, she would be a chef and a really good one.

She loves the South Bay mostly because it is the only place in the world that has always felt like home and it is home for her. “I love everything about the South Bay, the beaches, the views, the weather, the people, the feel,” she says. She feels as though she is walking in a postcard or painting whenever near the water and calls it “heaven on earth.”

To schedule an appointment with Larisa, please contact her directly at [email protected]

Instagram: @larisalovesmakeup

Thank you, Larisa for offering your passions and love for makeup to the residents of the South Bay community.

“Get out there and challenge yourself and never reject any gigs.”

– Larisa

Cooking up a storm

Shima 0 comments 14.03.2016

Every Monday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s MCM title belongs to Parhom Niaki who is the head chef for a sorority at USC and is in charge of creating nutritious meals five days a week for the 142 sorority sisters.

Parhom,32, is California born and raised. Growing up, Parhom didn’t know he wanted to be a chef. He did however know he had a love for food and creating dishes since he was a child. “As a kid, I used to make pasta and pizza but I loved making the sauces. I always did it by myself,” he says. Therefore, he decided to pursue culinary arts as a career.

Although his parents are his role models, he says his grandfather was behind his inspiration to cook. “My grandpa was my inspiration because he loved to cook in order to bring the family together. He did it for love of family,” he says.

Parhom a two-year program where he was trained in all basic skills from cutting, making sauces, cooking meats, breakfast cookery, basic baking, charcuterie and meat fabrication cooking. His classes consisted of four hours a day, four times a week.

Similar to other courses, there were many tests involved. In order to graduate from the school, you’re required to prepare a dish with a protein starch, veggie, and sauce in under an hour. “If you are going into this field, all I can tell you is don’t be stagnant, go to different chefs and restaurants to up your game,” Parhom says.

Today, Parhom is the head chef for the prestigious California based university, USC. Parhom says that the USC job just fell into his lap, after an old classmate contacted him about the position and he felt he was the best fit. His schedule consists of working 53 hours a week, Monday through Friday. He begins daily at 8 and ends at 7 p.m. “I serve them lunch and dinner, made fresh every day. My sous chef makes them breakfast in the morning and I have one prep/ dishwasher that has no cooking experience till now,” he says.

As an executive chef, Parhom creates the menu, orders the products, makes an inventory of products, maintains the budget, cooks the sauces and proteins, and also is responsible for making the foods for girls with dietary restrictions. Such as, being aware of any allergies the girls may have. “We have girls with gluten, soy, salt, pepper, nut, etc. allergies. I usually just find ways to make them meals based on those allergies so there is no real way of making it, I just having to adjust it,” he says.

Parhom says, “The best part of the job is getting the gratitude from the girls, it’s not something that happens often in the restaurant industry.”

When Parhom is not cooking up dishes for the girls at USC, he lives a simple life. “I go to the gym, I play with my dogs, see my friends and watch movies,” he says. Parhom’s goal is to start his own food truck business, creating a new genre of food and eventually turning it into a standing restaurant. “With a food truck, it’s a good way to get your name out there without needing a lot of capital,” he says.

Thank you, Parhom, for providing the young girls at USC  and our future leaders, nutritious meals to keep them focused during their busy academic days.

 “Being a chef isn’t the glamorous career people see on TV. It’s hard work, long hours, and lots of dedication but you have to love the art, not just do it.” – Pahom Niaki

Inspiring the children of our future by making math fun again

Shima 0 comments 09.03.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s WCW title belongs to Sara Aloteibi who gives back to the community by touching the lives of her student’s and helping them find their strengths in math like she once did.

Sara, 28, grew up in Torrance, CA and never left! When she was an 8^th grader, she failed Algebra 1 and had to retake it over the Summer. “My summer school teacher saw my potential in math and recommended I take the honors route,” she says.

When she began her freshman year at North High School, she began taking both Geometry Honors and Algebra 2 Honors with an inspirational math teacher who made math meaningful, enjoyable, and understandable. “She completely shifted my view of mathematics and her love for the subject was demonstrated in her teaching and eventually transferred onto her students,” she says.

However, when Sara reached Calculus as a senior, she had a horrible teacher who gave a test on the first day of school and said, “If you fail this test then you will fail the class.” He proceeded to administer the test and when she received her results the following day, she had failed along with many others.

Sara says, “I let him succeed in scaring me out of the class as I ended up dropping out of Calculus immediately after. From that moment, I realized the difference an educator can make in the success of a student.” She found that if you set a student up for failure, they will fail. However, if you provide them with inspiration and the tools for success then the sky is the limit.

Today, Sara is using the lessons she’s learned growing up to teach Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus at South High School to 9th – 12th graders. “Math is just one of those incredible subjects where ends actually do meet. Where you are given a situation with many different approaches that always lead to one clear answer,” she says.

Sara loves math because it’s all around us and has shaped society. “It is actually connected to our real world and present in many different fields than most truly know,” she says. One way she likes to make class fun for her students is to see these connections in our real world and different career fields.

Sara shares some of the ways her class learns: “For example, I show short video clips and pictures from time to time to open up a lesson. We do a cooling cookie lab when we get into exponential and logarithmic functions and relate the cookies cooling to how our world is cooling exponential. We throw tennis balls and determine the height the ball was thrown through mathematics. We design polynomial roller coasters and sine and cosine Tsunami waves. I try to create as many student-centered lessons as possible so that they are able to discover the concepts rather than being told the concepts.”

She is most intrigued when she sees the light bulbs turn on for her kids, especially with students who have always struggled with math all their lives. She wants others to know that life is definitely not about being perfect, rather about doing your very best and putting in as much effort as possible. “And if you fail then learn from your mistakes…you can only do better from that point on,” she says.

In the next five years, she hopes to treat herself and her family as much as possible. She says that her husband and her have worked extremely hard to get to where they are at and definitely have a long way to go, but finds that it’s okay to take a break every now and then to treat themselves as a family.

They hope to take at least two trips a year to travel and enjoy the beautiful world. She also hopes to pursue a doctorate in Education sometime in the near future if God is willing. When she is not teaching and being a mom, she enjoys it on the couch with a bag of chips in her hand watching a movie or a TV show with her husband.

She finds that there isn’t a single thing not to love about living in the South Bay. “The weather is great, the beach is right there when you need it, there is now an in N out in practically every corner, hundreds of great places to eat at, the malls, freeways, diversity, and convenience of really never having to travel far since you can practically find almost every store you can think of in just one city,” she says.

Thank you, Sara for positively influencing the children of our future to accomplish their mathematical struggles!

“Having had both kinds of teachers and both experiences of failing and succeeding made me realize the importance of an educator and their effect on a learner which is why I decided to pursue a career in teaching. I want to spread knowledge, education, and the beauty of math so that I can hopefully inspire young minds to be great.” -Sara Aloteibi

Am I Qualified to Qualify?

Shima 0 comments 08.03.2016

Often times I am asked,

“Shima, how do I get qualified? What are the requirements? Is it easy?” 

In order to better assist all my friends & clients, I’ve asked lender, Pooyan Fard to share below the basics.

Hope you find it helpful and if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to send me an email and I will gladly answer any questions you may further have.

What are the basic requirements?

 When it comes to loan applications, it really matters to know what is going to make a difference. As most of other things in this blessed country there is no limitation for who can apply for a loan but to actually get the loan it really helps to know what is needed as the basic requirements. Gone are those days that one could get a mortgage for X amount without the lender verifying his/her ability to repay and in order to make sure the are no more malpractices in mortgage lending, very strict rules and regulations are in place. Here I briefly explain the 4 basic requirements that lenders are supposed to verify when granting a loan and the term we use in mortgage industry is the 4 Cs. It stands for; Character, Credit, Capital, and Collateral. In the next section I will briefly explain the 4 Cs.

 What are the 4 Cs?

        The first C, Character refers to the character of the individual borrowing the money and it will be a very important factor in determining whether the person is going to repay the loan as the payments will fall due. The lenders will use their due diligence to make sure they are going to lend money to the borrowers who are responsible and reliable.

The second C refers to the borrower’s credit. Theoretically, according to FHA guidelines one can get a loan with a credit score as low as 500 but practically the minimum required score is generally 620.

The third C refers to capital which is the amount of liquid asset the borrower has to prove the borrower has some fair amount of savings that can be used for different purposes such as down payment, reserves or impounds and also the cost involved for the transaction. Therefore the liquid assets like the money that borrowers have in their bank accounts or stock or investment accounts play an important role in the decision made by the lenders.

The last but not least C refers to collateral. For residential loans always a collateral is required and it would be the property for which the borrowers are getting the loan. That is why there is always an appraisal needed for the residential loans. The appraisal helps the lender to verify that the property is at least worth as much as sales asked price and then according to the value the loans will be granted. This way in case the borrower defaults on the loan the lender is confident they can get the money they have invested in the property back by taking over the property.

For further questions, please contact Pooyan Fard. 

Finding a way without the bullshit excuses

Shima 0 comments 06.03.2016

Every Monday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s MCM title belongs Benjamin Artz who has surpassed possibly all of life’s obstacles and has followed a simple life motto to bring light and health to other’s lives.

Artz, 38, was born in Melbourne, Australia. Since 2005, Artz has been a personal trainer and even had his own business working through a gym in Melbourne. Today, he is currently residing in Torrance and helping other’s reach their fitness goals.

During his time in Australia, he also worked with GNC Livewell and after six years with the company, he was able to purchase a GNC Franchise Store and had one store in Melbourne and one store in Sydney and worked in both from time to time.

Growing up, Artz played sports as a child including football, cricket and basketball. “I was blessed with talent and was able to play at elite levels for my age in all sports,” he says.

Furthermore, he explains he was always a gym person and loved being fit.  At one time, he was an electrician apprenticeship and could not wait to finish work so he could get to the gym each day. He says, “I even started early and worked through my lunch to leave early to go workout out, yeah I was nuts.”

One day his boss came up to him and said, “You’re always working out, why don`t you become a personal trainer?” The next day, Artz resigned and says the rest is history. “It was as simple as that,” he says.

 Although he does not have a particular fitness inspiration, he is always researching the latest science and finds it intriguing. “I am a nerd, if you will, and crave knowledge and I love to teach and spread the knowledge I learn,” he says.

He is infatuated with the human body internally more so than the external so he prides himself on his ability to help get his clients healthy mentally as well. He seeks to help them become a better human through health and fitness.

Artz has several mottos he lives by, but his clients know him most for, “Find a way,” and “No Bullshit excuses.” He says that the sayings mean that no matter how hard things are, “to never give up and just dig deep and find a way to get through a tough workout or exercise.”

He enjoys fitness because he has realized that when he is fit, healthy and training, he feels frees. “I can handle life’s stresses better and feel much more content with life and self,” he says. He also values that he can be a small part of what helps change his client’s lives in a positive way. “Be it through training or nutrition, advice or just being a support base and an ear to listen to and maybe offer advice. That`s what makes me truly tick to change others’ lives in a positive way,” he says.

Artz wants others to know that, “Fitness is not all about ego driven bathroom selfies and all about my ab`s or how many times can one person take a picture of themselves half naked each day.” He believes that fitness is health care and health care prevention and no one ever got well by looking at a fitness ego person posting pictures or their ab`s each day.

He believes that training is like life, you will be challenged and you will grow from it and evolve as a person as an individual. He also thinks that healthy eating is a lifestyle and that results come from consistent effort from doing the right things.

In the next five years, Artz hopes to open his first ARTZFIT health & wellness center where he can focus on health & wellness in many aspects of the human body. “I want it to be a place that you come to not just to train but to get well to create a better a life for yourself,” he says.

Artz has great knowledge in nutrition, naturalistic medicine, sport supplementation, along with his fitness and training knowledge so he hopes to create a 1 stop shop for others.

When he is not working, he loves spending time with his wife who he says is his best friend. He also enjoys playing with his two cats and dog who he calls his “fur babies.” “They’re everything to me. It’s my true happy place,” he says.

Artz’s greatest passion outside of fitness is to make the world a better place through love and happiness. He says that he came from a tough road, was raised by a single mother with five children and both parents were alcoholics. In addition, he lost his business due to a deceitful business partner and lost everything at the age of 35.

He moved to CA with the last few dollars he had with hopes of starting a new life. “None of it has made me bitter, if anything all my life`s experiences has made me more understanding and love as an individual,” he says. He supposes that’s why he follows the motto of finding a way and making no excuses.

Today, Artz is training out of Systems Training Center in Hawthorne. He teaches a group fitness boot camp style of training on Wednesday 7 pm & Sunday 9:30 am. He is also available for one on one training by appointment only and can be contacted through the following:

E: [email protected]

FB : ARTZFIT

IG : Benjamin Artz

Thank you, Benjamin for being a wonderful contribution to the South Bay community by not only helping locals reach their fitness dreams but offering a lending ear to all.

“I don`t aspire to be anything else than a better me- mind, body, soul.” –Benjamin Artz