Coffee Mornings Los Angeles

From Months to Days: How AI Is Rewriting Commercial Production

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how AI is transforming commercial production—and what it takes to build creative systems that actually perform. Jethro Rothe-Kushel is the Founder & CEO of Ritual Ads, a studio using AI to take brands from concept to finished commercial in days—not months—while improving performance through rapid iteration and real-time analytics. After more than 20 years producing major campaigns for brands like Google, Apple, and Amazon, Jethro saw firsthand how slow, expensive, and inefficient traditional production could be. Instead of accepting that model, he built something different. At Ritual Ads, the commercial production process is reimagined end-to-end—using AI to move from storyboard to finished spot in days, not months, while enabling faster iteration, real-time testing, and stronger performance. In this session, Jethro will break down how this approach works in practice, including: * How AI is compressing the timeline of commercial production * Why more iteration leads to better creative outcomes * What a modern “creative + performance” stack actually looks like * Lessons learned building and scaling a system designed for speed, consistency, and results This is a practical, real-world look at how advertising is evolving—and what builders, marketers, creatives, operators, and investors need to understand to stay ahead. *** ### **About the Speaker** Jethro Rothe-Kushel is the Founder & CEO of Ritual Ads, a studio using AI to take brands from concept to finished commercial with speed, precision, and measurable performance. He brings over 20 years of experience across film, television, and advertising, having produced major campaigns for leading brands including Apple, Netflix, American Express, Google, and Amazon. He is a former VP of the Producers Guild of America, representing thousands of top producers nationwide. Earlier in his career, Jethro documented the lives of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles—work that contributed to major public funding efforts and long-term housing initiatives. That experience continues to inform his belief in storytelling as a force for real-world change. Today, he leads Ritual Ads at the intersection of AI and storytelling, helping brands move faster while staying authentic and effective. *** **Networking** Come early to connect with fellow founders, technologists, creatives, and community members. Friday Coffee Meetup is as much about the people in the room as it is about the conversation on stage.

Warrior Coffee Pop Up | Benefitting Cats

Hosting a pop up with Coffee and Pastries in Boyle Heights to benefit Tofu’s Warrior Cat Rescue which helps feed, TNR and place homeless cats around Los Angeles. Coffee and pastries available for purchase on a donation basis. 100% of donations goes towards helping cats. I do have cats to play and pet during the event - they are not up for adoption, but will have some coming soon! If you want to meet new people, have some coffee and pastry then sign up to stop by this Sunday 5/17!

Cleantech Hardware Zero to One: What It Really Takes to Build EV Systems

Cleantech is full of big ideas—but turning those ideas into working, scalable hardware is where most teams struggle. Join us for a candid, real-world conversation with Bill Beverley, as he shares what it actually takes to build and deploy electric vehicle and battery systems that don’t just prototype—but perform in the field. With experience spanning aerospace, early EV OEMs, advanced battery technologies, and grid-connected electrification platforms, Bill has spent his career operating at the intersection of complex engineering and real-world execution and has seen firsthand what breaks, what scales, and what never makes it out of development. In this talk, Bill will cover: * The gap between ambitious concepts and functional, shippable hardware * What actually breaks in EV and battery systems—and how to plan for it * Early-stage architecture decisions that can make or derail a program * Supplier strategy, certification realities, and manufacturing readiness * How to navigate complexity, constraints, and cross-functional execution in high-stakes environments Whether you're a builder, operator, investor—or simply love a great behind-the-scenes tech story—this session offers a candid, grounded look at what it really takes to bring complex cleantech hardware from zero to one and make it work in the real world. ### **About the Speaker** Bill Beverley is an engineering and commercial leader with over 22 years of experience across aerospace, electric vehicles, battery technologies, and electrification platforms. He holds six patents in the electrified automotive sector and has held leadership roles at Faraday Future, Romeo Power, IndiEV, and Evolectric. He began his career in aerospace, serving as a technical project lead supporting global companies such as Airbus, Gulfstream, and Boeing, where he developed a strong foundation in systems engineering, safety, and precision. As Co-Founder (and now advisor and board member), Bill led technical strategy, new product development, and program execution at Evolectric, helping bring scalable electrification solutions to market. He now works with companies across mobility, defense, and energy through Bevco, advising on battery system development and deployment. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach, where he remains actively involved as Chair of the College of Engineering’s Zero Emissions Workforce Advisory Group and as an advisory board member for the Master of Science in Sustainability Management and Policy program. He is also recognized as part of the university’s “49er under 49” program for Mechanical Engineering. **Networking** Come early to connect with fellow founders, technologists, creatives, and community members. Friday Coffee Meetup is as much about the people in the room as it is about the conversation on stage.

Saturday Morning “Coffee and Art” Meetup - Personal Project Theme

Hello everyone, It's been a while since our last meetup, so let's catch up! I wanted to let you know we will be having our next meetup on May 23rd. The meetup will be at Memory Look, a cozy coffee spot in Koreatown with open-air seating in the back. There’s free parking available behind the cafe. Be sure to bring your drawing materials and a sketchbook for a relaxed and creative hangout. I hope to see you there, and feel free to message me if you have any questions. This meetup doesn’t have a specific theme, so feel free to focus on your personal project. You can use your phone to find reference images from Google or Pinterest to inspire your work. Any medium is welcome, whether it’s graphite, paint, or digital. **There will be a cap on this meetup** because of **limited space**; therefore, **RSVP early to reserve your spot**. We will meet **at the cafe at 9:30 am**. *Please don't RSVP for this meetup if you're not sure you can make it. The waitlist will be available, but the space is not guaranteed until someone cancels. Also, if a member has a pattern of no-shows after RSVPing, the member may be placed on the waitlist for future meetups.* Agenda 9:30 am - Meet at the backside of the coffee shop. 9:35 am - Meet and greet/make a name tag. 9:45 am - Draw and paint personal project (drawing, painting, or digital). 11:25 am - Take photos of your art. 11:30 - Depart or (Optional) Lunch with the group. Here are some options for lunch: Yama Sushi Marketplace, Wako Donkutsu, Lasung Tofu, Seoul Market Eatery, Koreatown Plaza, etc. Eric S.

Weekly Board Game Hang

Welcome back to our weekly Wednesday board game hang (previously as Nightcap Collective)! These gatherings exist to help you meet new people while doing something fun. Come on by between 6:30-9:30 pm and play from our collection, or bring your own favorites. We are no longer charging a cover but PLEASE buy food and/or a drink from our coffee bar so we can pay our bills 🙏 All skill levels and board game interests welcome - whether you're a beginner or advanced, looking for intense strategy or short, lighthearted games. We've got plenty of tables to group up by interest, meet your neighbor, and have a good time.

KISO BAR & PRECINCT

Weekly Coffee & Cowork

Calling all remote workers, creatives, or entrepreneurs who want some time to work in community each week! Come on by Rock Coffee House on Thursday mornings. These times will still primarily be for getting work done, just alongside some neighbors that we can get to know a bit over time. Come on by and join us at the Communal Table. No fee to join; just please purchase a drink or food item from the cafe. There's tons of options—matcha, chai, fresh-brewed loose leaf tea, smoothies, pastries, and food (including vegetarian and gluten-friendly options). Looking forward to having you join us!

Friday Night Prayers | Worship • Word • Prayer 📍 – Brea, CA

Join us this Friday night for an intimate Prayer Night —a space set apart for worship, the Word, and unified prayer. This gathering is for anyone who wants to slow down, seek God together, and experience the power of coming into agreement as a community. Whether you come carrying burdens, gratitude, questions, or simply a desire to be in God’s presence, you are welcome here. We’ll spend the evening with: • 🙌 Live worship • 📖 A short, encouraging word • 🤍 Guided and open prayer • ☕ A warm, welcoming atmosphere “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” — Matthew 18:20 No pressure. No performance. Just real people coming together in faith. Come as you are. Bring a friend. Let’s pray together. 📍 Location: 2435 Imperial Hwy, Unit A Brea, CA 92821

Coffee & Social Walk (Pasadena)

Join me for a relaxed Sunday as we get together for a late afternoon coffee and stroll. We’ll **start by meeting at Superba** for coffee and light mingling. From there, we’ll head out for a group coffee walk through Pasadena, taking in scenic routes and charming neighborhoods along with visiting the Caltech campus together as a Meetup community. There’s no better way to stay connected with friends and new acquaintances than through a fun, low-pressure activity like this. Whether you’re new to the area, looking to meet friendly faces, or just want a low-pressure, outdoor activity, this meetup is for you. **Time:** 5 – 7:30 PM **What to Bring:** Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate attire, positive vibes, and a friendly spirit! **Superba Snacks + Coffee** 712 South Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105 ***Note:*** *Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes! We’ll enjoy a relaxed stroll through Pasadena’s beautiful residential neighborhoods and explore the Caltech campus along the way.*

Bullet Bar NoHo

Coffee, Conversation & Art @ Hollywood Sculpture Garden

The Hollywood Sculpture Garden is really a neat place . . . AND WE GET TO VISIT AND HAVE A DAYTIME COFFEE SOCIAL THERE!!! It's located on private property and not normally open to the public. So it is indeed a special thing for us to go. To Attend you NEED to be ON THE GUEST LIST TO BE ON THE GUEST LIST . . . **you NEED to FILL THIS OUT FORM [https://forms.gle/oPv6oB7gmV6wL8Pf9](https://forms.gle/oPv6oB7gmV6wL8Pf9)** No entry on the form will result in no entry to the event. Now . . . About this event: It is outdoors in a super-funky, pretty and cute location of The Hollywood Sculpture Garden. **This is intended as a Coffee and Convo surrounded by Art.** A perfect way to meetup some quality people in a fabulous location. Oh!!!!!! One other thing **It's a pastries pot luck. I will be providing coffee and fresh made lattes for those that wish. BUT . . . to get a latte you need to bring a place or box of pastries to share.** Your ticket for entry is a pastries. Bring anything that is good to share for serve 10 people. I will provide the tables, dishes, plastic-ware, cups, napkins, etc. **Frist:** RSPV to the event. **SECOND:** Fill out the form **[https://forms.gle/oPv6oB7gmV6wL8Pf9](https://forms.gle/oPv6oB7gmV6wL8Pf9)** **Third**: Pick up pastries to bring to the event. **Fourth**: Show up (at the event) with your best self and be ready to be social and have fun. I know what you are thinking . . . * will this be fun? * is this a cool place? * will there be people as cool as me there? * or even . . . . I'm not cool & I am shy/introverted . . . * will I be able to fit in and enjoy too? ***And the answer is yes to all.*** **[WATCH THIS!!!](https://youtu.be/xm3TLYKLHqI) Here is a vid from an actual event we did there.** It was summer of 2021. Watch the whole thing and you will see the food/wine . . . the place, . . . where we hang out and how. As well as what it looks like at day and nite. AND . . . you get of feel of the people, place and vibe. (reg link to the vid) [https://youtu.be/xm3TLYKLHqI](https://youtu.be/xm3TLYKLHqI) And to see pix from past visits: [https://photos.app.goo.gl/dGoqMzDfCuFT4NDJA](https://photos.app.goo.gl/dGoqMzDfCuFT4NDJA) **To attend this FREE event you MUST be on the GUEST LIST list** **TO BE ON THE LIST . . . fill this out Google Form** **[https://forms.gle/oPv6oB7gmV6wL8Pf9](https://forms.gle/oPv6oB7gmV6wL8Pf9)** Question: ***The cost for all this?*** Answer: ***FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE. And bring pastries to go with coffee or tea.*** PARKING: Parking is tight to non-existent the location. The Google Form will used to make sure you have ALL the best parking info. This event is cross posted to several meetup groups. So there will be plenty of folks. Be sure to fill out the google form so we can send you all the parking info and the schedule and event info. AND to have your name on the guest list. [https://forms.gle/oPv6oB7gmV6wL8Pf9](https://forms.gle/oPv6oB7gmV6wL8Pf9) Some goals for this event . . . * To make new friends. * To make more friends. * To go to new places. * To be more social (in real life). There is an evening companion event to this from 5 to 10 PM [https://www.meetup.com/sevenarts/events/311241891/](https://www.meetup.com/sevenarts/events/311241891/) NOTICE: For our events we do not discriminate by Age, Race, Color, Religion, Ethnicity, National Origin, Political Affiliation, Relationship Status, Gender, Gender Preference, or even Belly Button Lint. We welcome all, . . . and that includes you.

Weekly Coffee & Cowork

Calling all remote workers, creatives, or entrepreneurs who want some time to work in community each week! Come on by Rock Coffee House on Thursday mornings. These times will still primarily be for getting work done, just alongside some neighbors that we can get to know a bit over time. Come on by and join us at the Communal Table. No fee to join; just please purchase a drink or food item from the cafe. There's tons of options—matcha, chai, fresh-brewed loose leaf tea, smoothies, pastries, and food (including vegetarian and gluten-friendly options). Looking forward to having you join us!