FE DESIGN & CONSULTING - Key Persons
Adriana Cortez Drafter Adriana is one of our Drafters here at FE Design and works alongside our project managers to prepare CD's for the Health and Building and Safety departments. With her previous experience working with a contractor on design build projects she can conduct precision on-site measurements to crate detailed as-built plans. She brings restaurant experience from having worked for a restaurateur for over a year. Adriana grew up in the Los Angeles Area and is in the process of going back to school. On her down time Adriana enjoys doing creative activities and as a student has participated in various competitions with the latest one being HAUNT 2021 held by IDDA SO CAL.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF
- CONSULTANT
- Chief Consultant of FE Design
Eddie Navarrette is the Chief Consultant of FE Design & Consulting, which he founded in 2003. Better known as "Fast Eddie," together with his team of planners, drafters, designers and expeditors, his hospitality-focused company has helped to develop, build and open doors to hundreds of LA's best independent restaurants, bars and more. But it was at age 16 that Eddie would earn his suggestive moniker while performing at Raji's in Hollywood as a touring punk-rock drummer and later, as an undefeated-champion bike jouster on the streets of 7th and Santa Fe in the now very populated Arts District. To support himself, he was a teenage server at Miceli's and an average barback at the infamous Three of Clubs. Unusually, Eddie would get a part-time gig as a kitchen designer. His early years of experience would include helping iconic Los Angeles music venues -- like The Smell, Spaceland and others -- avoid getting shut down by the city. Preserving the LA arts community continues to be an important mission for Eddie. Eddie would later become inspired by a different breed of artistry: Chefs. Bartenders. Coffee geeks. It became his personal mission to equip the small-business entrepreneur with the tools, tips and answers to navigate all the red tape of City Hall. Eddie uses his extensive knowledge of the Planning, Building and Health codes to develop overall project design and strategy for his clients to build their dream spaces. Years of battling the holistic government bureaucracy on behalf of his clients, an emerging identity as a hospitality advocacy leader paved the way for Eddie to co-found the Independent Hospitality Coalition at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Now, as Executive Director, Eddie has led the march on behalf of our city's vibrant hospitality community and organized countless meetings with City, County, State, and Federal legislators in creating equity for small business owners in Los Angeles County and beyond. Eddie lives in Little Tokyo, where he is actively engaged within the Downtown LA community as board President of ArtShareLA. His addiction to travel allows him to ogle kitchen & bar design all around the world. His leisure time is best filled with drinking bottles of Champagne and fine Burgundian wines and forging ahead as a competitive salsa dancer.
From application to active license, Henry manages all ABC-related projects for FE Design. He spent six years in the entertainment industry after graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a double BA in Radio, TV, Film and Communications. Originally from New York City, Henry has spent much of his life in the Los Angeles area. A lifelong Clippers fan, he spends his free time cheering on his favorite team, exploring new restaurants and trying as many different whiskeys as possible. To balance out his excesses, he trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Job Titles:
- Design & Expediting Manager
Julie Pashinyan Design & Expediting Manager Julie manages projects pertaining to Building and Safety and the Health Department. She also oversees all coordination, communication and strategy. Julie's amazing ability to understand and interpret code comes from many years as an expediter and drafter for both commercial and residential projects. She also has a degree in Business Management from Woodbury University, a real estate background and experience as a loan processing manager.
Lauren is one of our Project Coordinators at FE Design who is responsible for compiling and expediting plans, working with our drafters, and corresponding with clients. She's organized, motivated, and enjoys moving projects along. Lauren received her BFA in Creative Producing from Chapman University and spent 8 years in the entertainment industry before transitioning into real estate, construction, and architecture. Before FE Design, Lauren worked for a real estate developer and managed multiple adaptive reuse commercial projects throughout LA. She was born and raised in Southern California and grew up working in hospitality at her family's business. Outside of work, Lauren loves surfing and going on adventures in nature, traveling and trying new restaurants, and cooking at home. She can also beat anybody in backgammon.
Manny is FE Design's man with the plan. Acting as a liaison to the Department of City Planning, the ABC and the Police Commission, he oversees all projects submitted to those offices. Manny honed his uncommon ability to deal with government agencies while directing grassroots political campaigns throughout California and Nevada, working tirelessly to build support for his clients through fundraising, membership drives, petitions, press conferences, public education and student activism. He also worked on the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns and the 2003 San Francisco mayoral race. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in History and Political Science. Manny has been with FE Design since 2005, though he admits he'd much rather be playing centerfield for the Dodgers (or guitar for the Clash).
Marina is our Administrative Assistant here at FE Design and is responsible for all finances and bookkeeping. All our clients have some interaction with Marina regarding billing and client information. She is originally from Russia and received her Bachelor of Science in accounting, banking, and finance from Moscow Psychological and Social Institute. From her time in Russia she brought over her experience is Management and accounting which allows her to thrive in her position right now. In addition, she has received accounting certificates from Glendale College and is a certified tax preparer. Though Russian is her primary language, she has adjusted to her American life here through schooling and work experience. Previously, Marina spent over 3000 hours in the sky as a flight attendant and has visited many countries in North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Outside of work, she loves to do portrait photography and is an avid hiker.
Associate Planner Matthew brings decades of customer service experience and a Master's in Urban & Regional Planning from UCLA to his role at FE Design. While at UCLA he interned for both LADOT and CD-11. At FE he is responsible for seeing the planning process through from initial application preparation to the eventual effectuation. This includes interfacing with all levels of municipal government and being the firm's face for all stakeholder advocacy and community engagement.
Matthew spent his formative years at UC Irvine where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and honed his lobbying skills among Orange County's political establishment.
He spent his youth working a cadre of hospitality jobs from fine-dining to amusement parks. Running the full gamut of dishwasher, prep cook, busser, bartender, and server instilled a deep empathy for the local service economy.
A proud native son of Long Beach, he's a recent transplant to LA proper but his affection for the Los Angeles restaurant community writ large has been a passion for much of his adult life.
Outside of work Matthew enjoys an eclectic array of leisure activities from musical theater, cinema, rooting for LA sports teams (Go Bruins!) and long-distance running or hiking. Fun fact: he spent a little over a year working as an LA County Wildland FIrefighter before resuming his formal undergraduate education.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- Eddie 's Executive Assistant and Social Media Coordinator
Rosa is Eddie's Executive Assistant and Social Media Coordinator. She is responsible for screening new business calls to FE, mastering Eddie's wild calendar, and capturing memorable moments here at FE. Rosa is also handy at changes of ownership, acquiring seller's permits, and business licenses.
Before starting to work at FE, Rosa acquired a B.A. in Anthropology and minored in Evolutionary Medicine. During her free time, she likes to go on hikes, visit museums, and learn about coffee.
Job Titles:
- Supervisor
- Drafting Supervisor
Sarmen Ohanian Drafting Supervisor Burbank resident Sarmen, our drafting genius, conducts precision on-site measurements to create detailed as-built plans. A student in Project Management Certificate Program, Sarmen has a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a Certificate in Construction Management from UCLA and He also has experience as a project estimator. He combines his war chest of CBC and Health Department codes with cutting-edge techniques to prepare full sets of plans to submit to those departments. He also schedules drafters and keeps an eye on the schedule to make sure drawing sheets get to expediter on-time to be submitted at City. When he's not drafting or studying, Sarmen enjoys hiking in Griffith Park and playing saxophone.
Vi is responsible for compiling and expediting plans, working with drafters, and corresponding with clients to move their projects forward. Vi has spent her years working in restaurants all around LA as a server, chef, general manager, and sommelier. She insists that the best skills and life lessons can be acquired in restaurants. These skills are transferable, of course! Prior to joining the team at FE, Vi also worked as a freelance consultant, assisting small and big businesses with optimizing their operations. Her professional goals are centered around helping independent restaurants thrive. Outside of work, Vi loves all things food and wine and spending time with her pup. You may also find her elbows deep at a flea market or at the movies.
Xing was born and raised in China. She went to college in Beijing and moved to Los Angeles to receive her master's degree at USC in 2012. Xing graduated with a double major in Urban Planning and Economics, as well as a Certificate of Real Estate Development.
Before joining FE team, Xing was working for a boutique real estate company in Beverly Hills where she handled market research, development financial analysis and clientele interaction. She also interned at Southern California Association Governments (SCAG) and China Academy of Urban Planning and Design (CAUPD, Beijing) where she put her urban planning knowledge gained into practice. Currently, Xing is working as an Assistant Planner for FE's Planning Department. She also holds a real estate salesperson license in California.