Ron Burkle founded The Yucaipa Companies in 1986 and is widely recognized as one of the preeminent investors in the retail, distribution, technology, entertainment, sports and hospitality industries. Ron has served as Chairman of the Board and controlling shareholder of numerous companies including Americold, Soho House, Golden State Foods, Dominick's, Fred Meyer, Ralphs and Food4Less. Ron is Co-Chairman of the Burkle Center for International Relations at UCLA and is broadly involved in the community.  He is a member of the Board of The Scripps Research Institute, the National Urban League and Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy.  He is a trustee of the Carter Center, and AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). Ron was the Founder and Chairman of the Ralphs/Food4Less Foundation and the Fred Meyer Inc. Foundation. He has been a member of the board of numerous organizations, including Occidental Petroleum Corporation, KB Home, Kaufman & Broad S.A., Yahoo!, and the J. Paul Getty Trust. Ron has received numerous honors and awards including the AFL-CIO's Murray Green Meany Kirkland Community Service Award, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Man of the Year, the Los Angeles County Boy Scouts Jimmy Stewart Person of the Year Award and the APLA Commitment to Life Award.