It was a joyous holiday breakfast at Embassy Suites Arcadia Thursday, Dec. 17, for more than 40 Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Board members and Ambassadors who shared fun personal and professional anecdotes about themselves and received gifts ranging from chocolates and cake to Star Wars and IMAX merchandise, industrial-strength tape measures, and tickets to symphony concerts.
Sumptuous buffet provided by Embassy Suites Arcadia
The group was being thanked during an annual holiday breakfast by the Arcadia Chamber office team for their volunteer service all year long. The belly-warming breakfast prepared by Embassy in the elegantly-decorated Pasadena ballroom included a potato casserole, egg frittata, crispy bacon and savory sausage, as well as an arrangement of breads, muffins and fresh fruits, and a selection of hot teas, coffee and fresh squeezed juice.
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Attendees ranged from City Council Member Sho Tay and school district officials as well as business executives and owners, including Westfield Santa Anita mall General Manager Ramon Oseguera and Santa Anita Park race track’s Pete Siberell. They were also treated to multiple gifts and a serenade of live holiday music on a harp courtesy of the Pasadena Symphony and Pops special Random Acts of Music program.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” harpist Allison Allsop performs a Princess Leia theme piece.
And since it was Star Wars Day with the latest movie called “The Force Awakens” opening in IMAX theaters that night, gifts included 10 Star Wars light sabers and “funkos” (toy action-figures of characters from the movie), courtesy of IMAX, as well as dozens of IMAX-branded shirts, hats, water bottles and pens. Harpist Allison Allport, whom we learned during the program was actually one of the musicians hired to perform the score for “Force Awakens,” even performed a beautiful solo piece relating to scenes with Princess Leia from the Star Wars movie.
Arcadia Chamber President Andrew Gregson led the meeting, which doubled as an abbreviated monthly board meeting, and introduced Pasadena Symphony & Pops CEO Lora Unger, who invited everyone to attend the upcoming seasons of the orchestra both indoors and outdoors at the L.A. County Arboretum in Arcadia next summer. She also offered four tickets to the upcoming Beethoven Emperor Piano Concerto on January 9 for a raffle prize, which was won by Arcadia Unified School Board President Kay Kinsler.
In turn, Lora was the winner of a raffle prize herself, a lovely red velvet cake by Carmen Richardson of Chef Carmen’s 3C’s.
Pasadena Symphony CEO Lora Unger presents raffle winnre AUSD School Board President Kay Kinsler with four concert tickets.
Lora, Kay and the others took turns introducing themselves as Andrew presented them with a newly-designed, Arcadia Chamber member plaque featuring a colorful peacock as well as, for the first time, the year they joined the Chamber and a sticker to be added each year to show they continue to be a current active member. Kay, former President of the Assistance League of Arcadia, was presented with the organization’s new membership plaque indicating that they joined in 1985, and thus celebrating a 30th anniversary of being a member of the Arcadia Chamber.
Andrew announced the year each attendee joined as he handed them their plaque and the member shared their introductions, including personal testimonies of the benefits received from membership. President-Elect Vicki Knight of Century Rooter Service & Plumbing stated with sincere conviction that through her many years of experience in business, never has a Chamber welcomed her with such open arms and helped her generate so much new business. Wayne Williams of Professional Advisory Services imparted the value of loyalty to the Chamber, expressing with accomplished understanding that continued business success is not only gained through the provided membership benefits, but foremost through the commitment to giving of one’s time to furthering others’ success. After several years of developing and nurturing new relationships through the Arcadia Chamber and demonstrating the value of his financial service advisories through investments on behalf of the Chamber, this year Wayne landed a job managing a billion dollar account thanks to the Chamber, and is a candidate for another major account with the Arcadia Association of Realtors.
“Made in Taiwan” John Sun of Budget Blinds.
VP nominee Romy Rahmanian
Reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of members, which enhances the personal networking, board member and Ambassador John Sun of Budget Blinds drew a laugh with her personal anecdote, noting he was “made in Taiwan” before growing up in South America. Ambassador Ivan Lai of Cruise Planners then noted that he was “made in Hong Kong.” Wendy Maeda of Keller Williams mentioned attending European schools before attending college in California.
Arcadia Unified School District Superintendent David Vannasdall shared that he never experienced Christmas as he has this year through the eyes of two three-year-old twin boys.
Legal advisors Romy Rahmanian and Stephen Miyabe exchanged playful banter about both having two young children and being each other’s professional competition, reflecting the camaraderie of Chamber members who otherwise compete in the workplace.
Continuing the family theme, Past President Denise Weaver of Weaver & Associates Insurance mentioned the joy of the Christmas experience with two daughters and being a grandmother. Attendees laughed along with her as she noted that her daughter is tenacious about the family business and is encouraging Denise’s husband Matt to be more so as well.
Certainly, all who attended were provided with a buffet that served up delicious breakfast and seasoned knowledge. And there were so many wonderful gifts that no one went home empty-handed. In fact some of the members left with armfuls of great gifts and prizes. Among them:
- Board member Annette Ousterhout of Jan’s Towing donated a Broomstones Chef’s Fork to winner Treasurer Gil Stromsoe of Mark Schaeffer Associates.
- Board member Bruce Lazenby of Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary donated a great Movie gift basket with sweet treats, which was won by Ambassador Suzie Krikorian of Serve Pro.
- Ambassador Naomi Briones, Director of Sales at Embassy Suites Arcadia, donated a $25 gift card to their very own Peacock Room, won by Wendy Maeda of Keller Williams.
- Vicki Knight of Century Rooter, in addition to the tape measures, also donated a Starbucks coffee cup with a redemption card to use every day in January, as well as some delicious chocolates, which was won by Vice President Andrew Cooper of Arcadia Association of Realtors.
- John Sun of Budget Blinds donated fun red flashlight pens to every attendee.
President Andrew Gregson and CEO Scott Hettrick lead board business discussion
As for the board meeting portion of the program, regular agenda items and reports were efficiently integrated into the comfortable discussion over breakfast. Gil Stromsoe of Mark Schaeffer Associates provided the November financial report and confirming that Chamber member dues are at an all time high, reflecting the continuously expanding business community of Arcadia. Chamber President Andrew Gregson reported the scheduled Jan. 28th Planning Conference update on the state of the city and from the heads of departments. The newly-designed member plaques commemorating Chamber relations were introduced and are to be presented to the Board of Directors and Ambassadors for distribution in the new year. Members with upcoming events and news also gave their reports. Ramon Oseguera of Westfield Santa Anita shared that holiday mall hours are extended to 11 p.m.; Pete Siberall of Santa Anita Park reminded the room of the Dec. 26th Opening Day at the track; and Brian Green of Methodist Hospital reported that the hospital was named one of the best in the region.
The Executive Committee also presented a slate of recommended new board members and officers for 2016-17. Members may submit additional nominees before the board votes at the January 28 board meeting. The slate includes Romy Rahmanian as Vice President, with the following members nominated for two-year terms on the board of directors: Brian Greene, Methodist Hospital; Megan Oppelt, Togo’s; Allen Tsay, Waddell & Reed; Sophia Chan, Forest Lawn.
The accommodating breakfast combined with the high spirits of members made for a morning filled with heady anticipation of not only the blockbuster weekend, but also a bright outlook for another outstanding Chamber year.
