John Arguelles

John sums up his 35 year career as having a professional love affair with the business of luxury. As an undergraduate while at Loyola Marymount Universtiy he became a private yacht steward working with a fleet of the most prestigious vessels docked in the "Southern California Riviera". He quickly became a specialist at organizing white glove, caviar and champagne experiences aboard the yachts catering to the extravagant requests of his clientèle. It was the 1980's aka the "money is no object" days of conspicuous consumption. His accounts included individuals that not only lived "the Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous", but were often profiled on the show with the same name, or on the cover of Vanity Fair. Often, they were Saudi Royals, "Wall Street Wolves", "Takeover Tycoons" and a long list of Hollywood's "Who's Who". Those clients began to rely on John's expertise and ease at executing spectacular events on the water which eventually extended to the production of special high profile events across the city and grew in scope in time. In time, John could easily count the numbers of events he produced for corporate as well as private clients as well over 1,500 over a decade. It was rewarding and challenging however, he felt he'd reached a plateau and wanted to change his direction. His artistic proclivities prompted him to earn a B.A. in Studio Art while attending Loyola Marymount University. He graduated in 1982 with a second degree achieving a B.A, in Social Studies with a self crafted major in Public Relations. He completed University in 3 years time while taking a year to study abroad in Austria attending the University of Salzburg. He chose Austria as his second campus for no other reason than he wanted to see if the hills truly were alive with the sound of music. They were! By the early 90's the AIDS epidemic was becoming crisis and critical funding became an emergency of "epidemic proportions". Money was needed to support essential programs for those who were living and dying from the disease was affecting the human race and certainly every one that John knew. The fashion, beauty and entertainment industries rose to the occasion and special events were organized across the city to raise funds. AIDS became the "cause du jour" and sponsorship and support swelled as the numbers of those losing their lives also rose to unimaginable numbers. Fund raising events were being backed by the most powerful brands and the biggest names in the arts, fashion and entertainment industries at that time. He discovered a sense of satisfaction as he became part of that effort by leveraging his talent as a volunteer to make a difference in the efforts to raise funds through special events. His ability to help not-for-profit organizations efficiently produce, organize, and recruit sponsor and talent for dozens of events was effectual and brought him a level of personal satisfaction that had begun to dissipate from his for-profit day job. When an opportunity to accept a Senior Development Department position was offered to him with AIDS Project Los Angeles, he made the move. It was a sizable income loss from his ongoing work in the private arena but that consideration took backseat to the personal satisfaction he garnered through becoming a front-line volunteer turned professional making a difference. After a time, John realized that although AIDS was an important issue to him, there were many issues that were of great importance to the community including: cancer and neurodiversity, legal support for civil and human rights, housing and education and so many others. The Entertainment Industry Foundation which continues to be a leading non-profit organization dedicated to fund raising for a number of cause related programs throughout the Los Angleles area and many that were national and international in scope. His second career chapter sparked in 1998 in Paris, France. John was on his return home from the Cannes Film Festival and made a planned several day pit stop in Paris. He had been in Cannes as one of EIF's producers for a fund raising event called Cure By The Shore surrounding a QVC initiative to raise funds for women's cancer issues by selling designer sunglasses in a live sales event taking place during the Festival. It was during the Paris detour that he took a meeting with a young fashion designer named Lloyd Klein. The two were each separately at a crossroads in their professional lives. The designer had long been interested in exploring the potential of moving his operations to the United States which in his view was where all designer brands were given international position in the press as a result of celebrity connection. John, on the other hand was just about to finish pre production on a high profile event known as Tribute to Style and although loving every minute of it he was very interested in parlaying his talents differently and perhaps not exclusively around non-profit events. John found the French style and personality of the designer charming as did Lloyd connect with the apparent American charm that he ascribed to John. However, what John found to be most interesting and appealing was the designer's talent and his infectious passion for his craft. In what is remembered as the blink of an eye, within less than a year, John found himself diving head first into the fashion business eventually becoming partner in Lloyd Klein's fashion house in 2000 when operations fully migrated from France to the US. Combining the producing skills and celebrity relationships that were nurtured as a Development and Event Marketing Specialist in Hollywood, he entered into the whirlwind that is the couture fashion world becoming Brand Director for the U.S. operations of Paris based, Lloyd Klein Couture in 1998. In 2000, when the Fashion House relocated headquarters in Los Angeles, and he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and became an equity partner in the business. He's has had brilliant success in aligning celebrity relationships, corporate alliances and connecting influential clients with the brand. His behind the scenes work as producer for appearances by Lloyd Klein himself as well as product placement for the Lloyd Klein brand by orchestrating celebrity engagement continues to be his forte. John has played himself on several television programs.