Mark Lacter, who writes LA Biz Observed, is a regular contributor to Los Angeles magazine, specializing in Southern California business. His work has also appeared in Fast Company, Inc. and the Financial Times. In addition, he is the business analyst for KPCC-FM. Before that Mark was editor of the Los Angeles Business Journal and a senior editor at Forbes covering media and entertainment. He has worked at the San Francisco Chronicle, Investor's Business Daily and the Los Angeles Daily News. In 2005, Mark was named by the Society of Professional Journalists as Distinguished Journalist of the Year. He lives in Westwood.