Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Celebrated 125th Anniversary at Inaugural Gala July 12th at Hilton Pasadena

200 friends, community leaders, Pasadena Chamber members and business leaders were on hand at the Hilton Pasadena for our annual Inaugural Gala on July 12th. Those attending enjoyed a hosted cocktail reception and silent auction before being ushered in to a gourmet dinner and celebratory program.

CL Keedy of UBS Financial Services was sworn in as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, replacing (now) Immediate Past Chair Patty Waggoner of Amalgamated Bank. New and returning Board members Karl Bird of Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Michael David Gallego of Cheveux Salon, Juan Gutierrez of Pasadena City College, Robert Holmquist of Parsons, Lauren Marlis of Mayfield Junior School and Justin Tsui of TeamLogic IT were sworn in along with the Executice Committee. The Executive Committee of the Pasadena Chamber consists of Chair CL Keedy, Immediate Past Chair Patty Waggoner, Chair-Elect Ben Green of the American Red Cross, Treasurer Ron Carter of The Carter Agency, Secretary Tom Daly of Christie, Parker and Hale and Vice-Chairs Joel Bryant of Trademark Development, Michael D’Antuono of National Construction Alliance, Joan De Souza of PartyLite, George Falardeau of Art Center College of Design and Bob Oppermann of CED.

Special recognition was given to Joel Bryant of Trademark Development who was presented with the Directors’ Award for Community Service. Kaiser Permanente was recognized as Corporate Citizen of the Year in the Large Business category. Kidspace Children’s Museum was recognized as Corporate Citizen of the Year in the Small Business Category. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard was on hand to help present the awards. Joan De Souza of PartyLite was recognized for recruiting the most new members to the Chamber in the most recent fiscal year. She receives a $795 ad in the next edition of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Business Directory, Community and Visitor Guide.

Spencer Belko was given a $500 Pasadena Chamber Scholarship. Chamber member Christie, Parker and Hale matched the Chamber scholarship, and gave Mr. Belko an additional $500. Mr. Belko is an emancipated foster youth who recently graduated from community college and will attend Eastern Michigan University in the fall. Tony Tartaglia of the Gas Company presented Marshall High School graduate Jonathan Chea with a scholarship check for $1000, as well.

The Pasadena Chamber Inaugural Gala concluded with a brief presentation on the 125 year history of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, going back to our beginnings as the Board of Trade.

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala was supported by Gold Sponsors Kaiser Permanente and Wells Fargo. Silver sponsors were Huntington Hospital, Park Place Commercial and Parsons. Burbank Bob Hope Airport sponsored the centerpieces and table favors. Old Oak Cellars, Pasadena’s only winery, donated wines for the event.

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association is a professional business organization. Since the earliest days of Pasadena, the Chamber has played a major role in the development of this internationally renowned city. Since 1888, when the organization was founded as the Board of Trade, the Chamber’s primary purpose has been the enhancement of both the business climate and the quality of life in Pasadena. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce serves more than 1450 members.