Al Rivas-Plata has served as a Director of AAGLA for the past three years, and currently serves on AAGLA's Publications and Los Angeles Government Relations Committees. Al was born in Lima, Peru, and moved to California in 1964 with his wife, Laura, and son, Ricardo. In 1970 after completing his education in accounting, he returned to Peru. Al has earned an A.A. in Accounting from Pasadena College, and a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.

 

When Al and the family returned to Peru, the country was headed by a communist government, and it was in turmoil. The opportunities for Al and his family were limited, and the family decided to return to California.

 

When Al and his family returned, there was one more addition to the family, son Rene. Al was able to get his former employer, Wittaker Corporation, to hire him as a financial accountant at Kelly Pipe, and the family purchased a home and settled in Pasadena.

 

In 1975, Familian Corporation, the largest West Coast wholesaler of plumbing supplies, purchased Kelly Pipe, and Al became assistant controller for Familian Pipe. Then in 1980, he transferred to corporate headquarters where he was promoted to Chief Corporate Accountant.

 

It was at that time that Al began investing in real estate, purchasing a duplex and two undeveloped lots in Pasadena. In 1985 Al was promoted to controller of Shapco Inc., the parent company of Familian Corporation. He also purchased his first apartment building in Los Angeles and joined AAGLA.

 

Joining AAGLA helped him learn a lot about how to run his apartment rental business, by reading the monthly Apartment Age magazine, calling AAGLA staff and asking questions, and getting advice when he encountered problems.

 

In 1995, Al retired from Shapco Inc., purchased his second apartment building in Los Angeles, and founded Berendo Partnership, a company dedicated to the administration of the rental properties. While continuing to run the partnership, Al is planning its first development project: the two undeveloped lots in Pasadena he bought in 1980.

 

In addition to his service as a director of AAGLA, Al is the former President and a current director of the Peruvian Chamber of Commerce of California, the former President and a current director of the Peruvian Association Student Exchange, and a current Overseas director of the American Intercultural Student Exchange.

 

Al also serves as a director of Si Cumple, a California political organization to promote democracy in Peru.

 

As an AAGLA director, Al hopes the organization can develop a low-key campaign to identify Latino apartment owners and encourage them to join AAGLA. He believes that AAGLA teaches members how to better operate their business by teaching them ownership rights and tenant rights, which he believes to be a good complement to running a fair business.

 

Al still resides in Pasadena with his wife, Laura, who is a California Accredited High School teacher. His son, Ricardo, is an M.D., and Rene is a paralegal.