Allan K. Jonas, pioneer industrial developer in the Los Angeles International Airport area, owns and operates Jonas & Associates and is General Partner of more than 50 current investment properties. Mr. Jonas graduated from the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, in 1943. Moving to California in 1948, he was co-founder and first president of the Westchester Chamber of Commerce in 1954 and 1955. He also co—founded and is past President of the American Industrial Real Estate Association, a growing group of professionals in the field. From 1960 to 1963, he took leave from his business to serve as Director of the California Disaster Office under Governor Pat Brown and was responsible for all emergency planning and services for natural or war-caused catastrophes in the state.

For the past 40 years, Mr. Jonas has donated his expertise and half of his time to civic affairs. In addition to serving on the board of Children Now, his current activities include board member of LA’s BEST, a volunteer board in partnership with the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Los Angeles Unified School District to extend after school care and enrichment for “latch-key” children at 24 elementary schools; and of KCET, Constitutional Rights Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center and LA Music Center Opera.