James Berk, 1981 B.A. Music
James is chief executive officer of Participant Productions. In 2005, the company’s first full year in business, Participant Productions was honored with a remarkable eleven Academy Award nominations for the dramas, “Good Night and Good Luck,” “Syriana,” and “North Country,” and the feature documentary, “Murderball.”  This year Participant garnered two Academy Awards for “An Inconvenient Truth,” capping off a remarkable year in which one film has sparked global conversation and actions around global warming. 

Berk’s appointment to his current position at Participant was a reflection of the company’s growth and success since it’s founding in January, 2004. Currently, Berk is responsible for the day-to-day executive leadership and management of Participant, as well as for the operation of the company’s related divisions. He is also actively involved in the company’s successful expansion into other forms of media and has solidified the organization’s brand identity in the current marketplace.

 

Berk is an accomplished entrepreneur and executive in the fields of entertainment and media with a rich and varied background in business, and public service. Berk was Chairman and CEO of Gryphon Colleges Corporation, a private equity company operating for-profit post secondary education schools, and as President and CEO of Fairfield Communities, Inc., a NYSE public company which was the largest independent vacation ownership company in the world.

 

As President and CEO of Hard Rock Café International, he was responsible for the restaurant and retail chain’s worldwide operations in 29 countries. Berk led the company’s expansion into live concerts through the creation of Hard Rock Productions, and the broadcast television series Hard Rock Live on VH1. He also helped launch Hard Rock Records and was instrumental in the growth of Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos. Berk led the Save the Planet Foundation, Hard Rock’s humanitarian arm which raised millions of dollars in donations and encouraged significant volunteerism among its employees. 

 As the founding Executive Director of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) Foundation, he led the creation of Grammy Records, Grammy Showcase, Grammy National Concert Series for Children and specialized professional development programs for Academy members including the Grammy Professional Forum Series. 

A native of Los Angeles, Berk began his illustrious career as a high school music teacher in South Los Angeles and went on to found the Academy of Music, which grew into one of the city’s largest public school magnets. In 1990, he became the youngest principal in the history of the Los Angeles Unified School District, assuming the helm of Hamilton High School. At Hamilton, Berk was responsible for streamlining operating systems and initiating an aggressive approach to government funding, private grants and corporate sponsorships.

He currently serves as co-chairman of the Hamilton Academy of Music Advisory Board, is a member of the Diversity Circle at Film Independent and on the board of the Broad Institute of Urban Superintendents. (Updated 05/07)

 

 

Brad A. Bowlus, 1978 B.S. Accounting
Brad is president and chief executive officer at PacifiCare Health Plan Division. Recently, PacifiCare was acquired by United HealthCare. PacifiCare Health Systems serves more than 3 million health plan members and approximately 10 million specialty plan members nationwide.

 

Bowlus joined PacifiCare in 1994 when the company was $1 billion in annual revenue and has helped grow the company to more than $15 billion in annual revenue. As president and CEO of the health plan, he oversees all aspects of health plan performance in 37 states including health services, network contracting, sales and marketing and underwriting for both commercial and senior business. Bowlus received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Cal State Northridge in 1978 and holds a master of business administration degree from Pepperdine.

 

During his tenure with PacifiCare, Bowlus served as president and CEO of PacifiCare of California, president and CEO of PacifiCare Washington and president and CEO of PacifiCare Dental and Vision. Prior to joining PacifiCare in 1994, Bowlus spent 14 years with WellPoint Health Networks, Inc., the managed care subsidiary of Blue Cross of California, where he performed a variety of financial, contracting and operational roles overseeing Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties. In the healthcare industry, he has been responsible for the design and implementation of provider payment mechanisms, including capitation and preferred provider organization programs. As a result of the recent acquisition of PacifiCare, Bowlus will be leaving the healthcare arena to form Bowlus Development with operations in California and Utah. 

 

Excellence at swimming and water sports is a Bowlus family tradition. In 1975, Bowlus was a member of Cal State Northridge’s NCAA Division II title-winning swim and dive team finishing second in the 50-meter freestyle and setting an NCAA record in the 400-freestyle relay. At Northridge, he developed a passion for water polo and participated in the first campus “club” team. He met his wife, Leslie, also a Northridge alum and member of the swim team, at the university pool. They have two children, both of whom have played water polo for UCLA. Bowlus is active on the board of USA Water Polo, Inc., a non-profit corporation organized for the purpose of serving as the national governing body for the sport under the auspices of the U.S. Olympic Committee. 

 

Bowlus is a board member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Orange County and the West Coast HealthCare Executive Roundtable and has been continually involved in the YPO- Young Presidents Organization. Brad has remained close to his alma mater through the College of Business and Economics and to the San Fernando Valley where his family had distinguished themselves as pioneers in the region’s development as a center for aviation and aeronautics. Beginning in 1911, “the big barn” on the Bowlus Ranch in San Fernando was the site where Brad’s ancestors earned the reputation as some of the foremost designers and builders of gliders, sailplanes and aircraft. His family predecessors would certainly be proud to note that their legacy of achievement has continued in Brad. (Updated 05/07)

 

Michael Klausman, 1974 B.A. Biology
Hollywood legend contains numerous stories of individuals who started as pages or ushers in a film or TV studio and worked their way to the top. Michael Klausman started his career with CBS Studios as an usher in 1971. He worked on such shows as “All in the Family” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Klausman is now senior vice president, CBS Corporation West Coast Operations and Engineering and president of the CBS Studio Center. Klausman has been an active alumnus of Cal State Northridge since receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1974.

 

At the CBS Studio Center and CBS Television City facilities, Klausman is in charge of marketing and operations. The two sites encompass over 228,000 square feet of production, office, and support space on 65 acres of land, including 26 sound stages. He is also responsible for negotiating contracts with production companies for use of the facilities.

 

After joining the CBS Television City staff in 1972 as a videotape librarian Klausman moved through the organization to become director of program production services. In 1991, he became vice president and general manager of CBS/MTM Studios at the CBS Studio Center. A year later, he became president of CBS Studio Center. 

Klausman has been instrumental in helping Cal State Northridge students in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts (CTVA) gain real-world experience in the entertainment industry. Since 1999, numerous CTVA classes have been taught at the CBS Studio Center. Klausman has also assisted in fundraising on behalf of the department under the auspices of the Entertainment Industry Institute which acts as a liaison between the campus and the industry. Through his professional contacts, he has provided a critical link between students and entertainment industry professionals who generously share their unique knowledge and skills with CTVA students. 

 

In addition to his many responsibilities at CBS, Klausman is the immediate past president of the Studio City Chamber of Commerce and is treasurer of the Studio City Neighborhood Council. His Christian faith is most important to him. He is a member of Calvary Chapel and has served as a host and keynote speaker at several Christian leadership conferences including the National Media Prayer Breakfast.

 

He is also involved with such organizations as Child S.H.A.R.E. and the Hunger Homeless Committee of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. He received the Olive Crest Leadership Award for his dedication to Olive Crest Homes and Services for Abused Children. Klausman and his wife Beckie were honored with the Guardian Angel Award from Child S.H.A.R.E. for their work with foster children.

 

A California native, Klausman has been married for 36 years and has five children and two grandchildren. He is an avid fisherman and has a black-belt in Tae Kwon Do. (Updated 05/07)