• Rules from the BABY’s Book on Becoming a Billionaire
  
  

  • Rule #87: You can wish all you want --- but only purpose will bring real results. Ouija boards, channeling, psychics and The Secret can never replace the other big four -- Discovery, Excellence, Altruism, and Heroism.

  • Rule #38: The chance at greatness always entails risks. Take them because in the end, nobody remembers whether it was Zworykin or Farnsworth. What they remember is watching their television as a man walked on the moon.

• From a ship wreck to the Queen Mary: George W. Haligowski describes how he successfully turned around a failing financial institution while many others went out of business.

• Competitive advantage? In our Ask the Expert segment, Amy Wintersheimer clarifies the rules and restrictions surrounding non-compete clauses…most of which are non-enforceable in California.

• Gone fishing. The creator of the Filet-o-Fish sandwich, Lou Groen, paired purpose with customer need to ensure a successful McDonalds franchise.

• A tale of vision: Philo T. Farnsworth’s dream was to invent the television. Unfortunately, his naivety left him to die without realizing any reward.

George W. Haligowski has served as ITLA Capital's Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. He has also served as the bank's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since 1992, and was the bank's President from 1992 to October 1997. Prior to 1992 until he joined Imperial, he worked in the securities industry and has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal of Halivest International, Ltd., an international finance and asset management company; as a Vice President at Shearson Lehman Hutton and Prudential-Bache Securities; He has also worked for Bateman, Eichler, Hills and Richards; Kidder, Peabody & Co. and at Avco Financial Services as Regional Director of its Japanese branch operations, and as Training Coordinator as well as a Branch Manager for Avco Thrift and Loan.

Haligowski graduated from the Securities Industry Institute held at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. He became an alumnus of the Harvard Business School by completing the Owners Presidents Management Program. He completed the Advanced Management Program at the University of Southern California. He received his Masters of Banking diploma from L.S.U. Graduate School of Banking. His community involvement includes serving on the board of Operation Hope, Chairman Emeritus of the Young Presidents Organization of San Diego, and Chairman of the University of California San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Advisory Board Director's Cabinet.

Amy Wintersheimer, an employment litigation partner at the law firm of Allen Matkins, specializes in employment issues including wage disputes, wrongful termination, harassment and discrimination lawsuits. She also frequently handles matters involving the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title 24 Access. She is a member of the board of directors of the San Diego Blood Bank, Big Brothers and the Big Sisters of San Diego County, and actively participates in the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program and the American Board of Trial Lawyers.