Stephen Koppekin, Neighbor

Stephen Koppekin, an expert in labor law, unionization, employment issues, and negotiation, is a professional with over forty years of experience. He has been recognized as a leader in the entertainment industry for his ability to consult companies on properly handling employees. Stephen Koppekin has overseen dozens of collective bargaining agreements and resolved labor-related grievances at every level imaginable. Additionally, he has helped to redefine the motion picture industry's approach to labor relations. He was instrumental in establishing the first basic cable agreement, as well as the new media template for the industry.

Stephen's passion for being the best in his profession came from a traumatic occurrence in his late teens/early twenties. After high school, Stephen Koppekin worked in a factory, turning oil off of ships to make Crisco. When he went into work one day, a wooden beam crashed down on his head from the ceiling above, landing him in the hospital with a concussion. Having survived such a blow, Stephen woke up with a renewed passion and drive for life. Very shortly thereafter, he enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he excelled academically and socially. He began a career in economics, and then, he continued his education at Rutgers School of Law.

Combining his two specialties, labor and employment, was Stephen’s ultimate goal for a career path. He worked at the National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency determined to safeguard employees' rights to organize into unions and prevent and remedy unfair labor practices committed by private sector employers and unions. He also spent 13 years at CBS and became the Vice President in Negotiating Services and Labor Relations. Stephen Koppekin was primarily responsible for all internal employment and labor disputes, and he negotiated collective bargaining agreements on behalf of the corporation.

Stephen retired in 2013 to found his own company, Koppekin Consulting, Inc. in Los Angeles, California. As the Founder and CEO of Koppekin Consulting, Stephen provides an extensive range of consulting services regarding labor and employment for smaller or mid-size companies. Geared towards employers, Stephen combines his more than four decades of experience with his unmatched dedication to finding the best solution for every workplace. At the heart of his practice, Stephen Koppekin is a life-long advocate for communication and compromise. His continued success can be directly linked to his ability to foster long-term relationships with local union leaders. These relationships prove invaluable when sitting down with an employer to find a solution that will benefit all parties.

He also contributes to a number of noteworthy causes in his community. A few causes Stephen Koppekin supports include: the annual Heartbeat of Hollywood Golf Event, which is a day-long golf tournament that benefits the Motion Picture & Television Fund; The Valley Jesters social events; and his local California chapter of the Jewish Federations of North America.

The Valley Jesters is an organization Stephen Koppekin is particularly fond of. The Valley Jesters is an organization that focuses on raising funds for five charity organizations, while simultaneously providing a warm and welcoming community for men who enjoy philanthropy, entertainment, dining together, golfing, and more. Stephen was inaugurated as the “King,” or Chairman of the Board, of the Valley Jesters on January 15, 2017. He appointed Harvey Turell as the Crown Prince, the second in command of the organization, who will then automatically be King next year and appoint his own Crown Prince.

Today, Stephen Koppekin enjoys life as a retiree, entrepreneur, consultant, and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. To Stephen, living each day with intention is the foundation of a healthy, successful, and satisfying life.