Our Team
John Bivens, CEO & Founder- Investment Advisor Specialist
Mr. Bivens has worked in the Financial Services Industry as a Financial Advisor and Wealth Manager for high net worth individuals for over 20 years. He has gained significant experience while working with some of the largest and most prestigious wealth management institutions (Wells Fargo, UBS Paine Webber, TD Waterhouse) in the US. He was successful in managing clients through a difficult technology NASDAQ crisis of 1998-2000 in addition to an extensive real estate and market correction in 2008-2012. Currently Mr. Bivens manages assets for high net worth individuals, institutions, and non-profit organizations. For the last 10 years his major focus has been in the sports and entertainment arena where he currently represents both active and retired professional athletes. Working with athletes, Mr. Bivens has been successful in helping manage their financial well being as well as assisting in the coordination of their current professional support team. Mr. Bivens has played a major role in the development of business opportunities charitable endeavors on behalf of his clientele. Mr. Bivens holds a bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from the University of California Los Angeles, Series 7 and 63 Securities Registration, and Life, Health and Variable Insurance Licenses.
Enrique Balderas, COO, VP of Business Development & Operations
Mr. Balderas is a Financial and Company Formation Consultant. Primarily focused on acting CFO and or COO positions for startup companies; he specializes in company financial budgeting, investment planning, product, and marketing development strategies. He was a Managing Partner of Lake Advisors, Inc. and primarily dealt with business and strategic planning, marketing, business turnarounds, business consulting, internet marketing, and financial analysis. Mr. Balderas is also a former owner of a successful Farmers Insurance Agency, which he sold in 2014. On behalf of Wells Fargo Bank, Mr. Balderas formed and developed an offshore banking subsidiary in the Cayman Islands, primarily for non-resident alien US investors. He is also a former investment banker with Private Bank with responsibility for maintaining and developing existing and new ultra high net worth private banking clients. He was responsible for oversight and full management of a $600MM book of business.
Mr. Balderas holds an MBA in Entrepeneurship as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the University of Southern California. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. He is a Certified Trust Financial Analyst from Cannon School of Trust and Financial Planning Levels I and II. He holds California Property and Casualty and Life Insurance Licenses and has over 20 years experience in the Financial and Investment Banking Industry.
Toni Thompson, Director of Event Coordination
Toni Thompson is a veteran publicist and event consultant specializing in film, television, music, award shows and other live events in the entertainment industry. The industry veteran's recent clients include Nokia, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, dick clark productions, Amazon Prime, Red Bull Media House, Dolby Laboratories, The Hollywood Reporter, SAG/AFTRA, Billboard Magazine, Lexus and many others.
Thompson, who is a Los Angeles native, began honing her skills in film publicity at Twentieth Century Fox. After several years working for studios, Fox and MGM United Artists, she parlayed her vast experience into a successful entertainment PR and event production business. Since then, she has overseen the publicity for a host of diverse events including the Academy Awards® (13 years); The Hollywood Reporter's “Women in Entertainment Breakfast” (five years); the 2013 Billboard Music Awards; the BET Awards (ten years); the Essence Music Festival (seven years); and Lexus Design Disrupted (two years).
In 2000, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences contracted Thompson to serve as the telecast publicist to generate Oscar® show coverage in both domestic and international media. For 13 years, Thompson returned to the Academy's headquarters in Beverly Hills to serve as the show spokesperson and media contact. In that role, she served as the conduit between the media and the show's producers, host, performers and other participants. Working directly with television shows such as “Entertainment Tonight,” “Access Hollywood,” “Good Morning America,” and publications such as the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, EW and People, Thompson has been responsible for creating the pre-Oscar® show “buzz” leading up to the biggest night in Hollywood.
After several years promoting and supervising the orchestration of award shows and red carpet events Thompson began applying her skills to producing events for corporate clients whose business concerns meet at the intersection of entertainment and technology. Over the last several years, she has produced product launches, show openings and other milestone events on behalf of Nokia Technologies, Amazon Prime, Dolby Laboratories and Lexus.
Ralina Shaw, Director of Public Relations
Ralina Shaw Public Relations (RSPR) is a Los Angeles based full-service public relations and marketing agency. Our clientele span premiere markets from Los Angeles to New York, Miami to San Francisco, Chicago to Las Vegas, and other vogue territories. Ralina Shaw, the founder of RSPR, and her talented team have garnered recent attention with respect to their distinct and creative campaigns for clients with public relations, promotional, and marketing needs. RSPR's speciality areas include: entertainment, talent, lifestyle, fashion, beauty, health, fitness, luxury, consumer products, technology, music, hospitality, and red carpet and special events.
We take pride in our ability to supply each and every one of our clients with a fresh approach to reaching their most grand ambitions in an often all-too-predictable industry. We take a hands-on service approach and will be right there with you every step of the way. And due to this open relationship with our clientele, we develop a tight-knit connection that allows us to more fully understand and achieve your unique business goals and public relations aspirations. In everything we do, our primary objective is to ensure the growth and success of your business, whether you are an eager newcomer or a well-established veteran who simply requires an infusion of energy or increased visibility in the market place. At RSPR, we will do all that we can for you and more!
Ralina Shaw is a graduate from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. She began her public relations career as an Account Executive at a Los Angeles Public Relations agency. After a short time, she moved up the ranks to Director of Accounts and Special Events, while also managing the company and a staff of five employees. Ms. Shaw has personally handled a wide range of clientele executing their media and exposure campaigns including but not limited to: Chris and Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Jose Eber, Nokia, Cadillac, Dave Bautista, Emii (Recording Artist), PCF Restaurant Management Group (Buffalo Wild Wings), Equinox Fitness and Spa, Super Bowl XLVI, The Sundance Film Festival, Underground FYC Event, Chris Brown and Ron English present Dum English, Pacific Elite Sports Fitness Center Grand Opening during Pro Bowl 2014, The Hollywood Reporter Lounge at SD Comic-Con, and Cedars Sinai's COACH for Kids.