About Alex

Born in Santa Monica and raised in Culver City, Alex Thapar developed a passion for service at a very young age. Watching his Argentinean mother’s strong work ethic as a child led to his decision to pursue a career in hospitality. With almost 20 years of experience in various leadership roles, Alex is broadening his reach as he takes on this exciting role of General Manager at City Club Los Angeles.Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Alex initially ran several upscale fitness clubs. Subsequent to that, he opened The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles in 2011 and held other Director roles at both The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel & The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey. In 2015, he moved on to The Bay Club Company where he was an integral part of establishing new markets while also doing diligence on several acquisitions. Through this process, Alex was the Club Manager and Food & Beverage Director at the prestigious Manhattan Country Club.

About Annalise

Annalise may be new to Los Angeles, but she is not new to the Invited family! She joins City Club Los Angeles after years of serving as Director of Member Relations and Membership at The City Club of Washington in the Nation’s Capital. Annalise earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Politics from Lake Forest College, and Master of Business Administration degree and Global Management certificate from The George Washington School of Business. She brings her passion for international affairs and business development into her role as Director of Membership Sales and Retention, and is eager to help members maximize their potential through rich experiences and valuable introductions.  In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with The Junior League, playing tennis, trying new restaurants, and enjoying culture through museum visits and festivals.  

About Pearl

Pearl Ho was born in Taipei, Taiwan but moved to Los Angeles when she was just 16 months old. She grew up watching and rooting for the Lakers and Dodgers! She lived in the Bay Area for four years while attending UC Berkeley. Missing the sunny LA weather, she moved back to SoCal after graduating and worked in marketing. She was always passionate about food and parties, so she fell in love with the world of catering and events. She was a Sales Manager at New York Food Company and Patina Restaurant Group for the past 6 years and is excited to join the Invited family as a new PED with City Club LA. Pearl has an addiction to escape rooms and enjoys scuba diving with sharks and manta rays!

About Rick

New Jersey Native Rick Arline got his first taste of hospitality while working as a busser in a country club in high school. After getting a degree in Communications from the University of Miami, Rick worked in sportscasting for a bit, then shifted back towards a career in hospitality. Becoming a Certified Sommelier in 2011, he joined the Capital Grille as a bar manager in 2012, then moved to Los Angeles in 2014. In Los Angeles, Rick worked as a sommelier at venerated restaurants Patina, Ink. and the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, and was the Wine Director at Hotel Bel-Air. In 2018, Rick was a member of the opening sommelier team at the NoMad Los Angeles, then became the Wine Director at James Beard Award-winning Auburn in the Melrose District. After Auburn’s closure due to Covid-19, Rick opened Fellow Traveler, a wine bar in West Hollywood. In late 2021, Rick moved to Chicago to take the role as Beverage Director at The Girl & The Goat. Now back in Los Angeles, Rick was most recently the Director of Wine at Hotel PerLA. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding, cooking, and traveling.