Adele Yellin President, The Yellin Company

Grand Central Market used to be known as a place where one could buy animal heads as well as the city's best tacos. With Adele Yellin at the helm, the iconic Market is getting spruced up--adding new foodie-centric vendors to the legacy tenants. By helping to revitalize Downtown LA, Adele, an interior designer, is carrying on the work of her late husband, Ira Yellin, who was an ardent advocate for the historic core. She's working with noted architect Brenda Levin, along with Ludlow Kingsley on new signature graphics and signage. Painting will begin early 2015. However, the beloved Market will still boast a diverse menu celebrating the cuisines and cultures of LA. She and Ira both loved architecture and the arts and were always civic-minded and involved. "I have always felt Grand Central Market was the heart of Downtown--a public space where people can connect." The project, called Grand Central Square, also includes two apartment buildings--one over the Market, and the other over the Million Dollar Theater; an office building on Hill Street; and a parking garage. Adele says she'd love to do other projects, including some more residential development. She tells us she's had to learn to trust her own judgment, and she advises young women to listen to their inner voice. "Get informed, but go with your gut." Adele's passionate about women's issues and raises funds for the UCLA-Santa Monica Hospital Rape Treatment Center. She is also on the boards of Angel Flight and LA Streetcar Inc. Fun fact: Adele loves to cook and once thought about opening a stall of her own at the Market.