Matt Denny’s Ale House Restaurant has been named Corporate Community Contributor of the Year and Bruce McCallum has been named Citizen of the Year by the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce.
The announcement was made this morning at the Arcadia Chamber’s annual Planning Conference and State of the City report.
Matt Denny’s (represented by owner Matt McSweeny) and Bruce McCallum will be recognized at the Arcadia Chamber’s annual Installation Dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on March 31.
Tickets ($65 for members; $75 for non-members), sponsored tables and ads may be purchased here in the “Shop” area of the Chamber web site: www.ArcadiaCaChamber.org. Deadline for ordering tickets 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 29.
Tickets may also be purchased by calling the Arcadia Chamber office at 626-447-2159.
Also being recognized at the dinner will be outgoing Chamber President Andrew Gregson of The Executive Factor and termed-out board members Dr. Edward Wong of the Arcadia Chinese Association and Dr. Peter Young of Premier Dental Esthetic.
Arcadia Chamber Community Builder Presenting Sponsors are Westfield Santa Anita and Methodist Hospital. Installation Dinner event sponsors are USC Eye Institute, Singpoli’s Dusit D2 Constance Hotel, Professional Advisory Services, Foothill Credit Union, Century Rooter Service & Plumbing, BMW of Monrovia, and the Arcadia Association of Realtors.
Citizen of the Year
Bruce McCallum
Bruce McCallum, who was born in Miami (Arizona, that is), has received numerous honors for his many volunteer efforts since his retirement 15 years ago in 1999, including the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Service Award in 2014. But the time is long overdue for Bruce to be named Citizen of the Year, and it is particularly appropriate this year as he is coming off a year capped by his leadership of the massive Host Town Arcadia committee for the Special Olympics World Games and his third and final year as Chief Taste Officer, overseeing the volunteer committee overseeing the huge Taste of Arcadia.
The Host Town Arcadia committee was charged with hosting nearly 100 Special Olympics athletes and coaches from Trinidad & Tobago and The Kyrgyz Republic, including entertaining, feeding, housing, and arranging training facilities for four days prior to their World Games competitions in Los Angeles for the Games in July/August 2015.
Under Bruce’s leadership, the 2015 Taste of Arcadia and Business Showcase of the Taste was the most successful ever, exceeding the prior year which set a record for ticket sales and attendance under Bruce’s leadership.
Bruce is also a past master of his Masonic lodge and past President of the Rotary Club of Arcadia, where he won the Community Service Award in 2012. He was a volunteer at the Arboretum for over 11 years, including six on the Board of Trustees. Currently he is active on two committees of his church.
After his birth in Arizona, Bruce’s family soon moved to Los Angeles then to Inglewood where he attended public schools. He attended the University of Southern California where he earned both a BS and MBA degrees. While at SC he joined the ROTC and received a commission as an Ensign. He then spent two years as communications officer aboard the aircraft carrier Hornet as it patrolled the Orient.
After working in corporate America a few years, he decided that arena was not what he wanted, so he began a career as part-owner of two companies involved in the high-performance automotive aftermarket. During this time he was recognized as the “Person of the Year” by the industrial magazine, Hot Rod Industry News.
He then decided he wanted his own company so be bought a small company which made and installed laminate counter-tops. During the next 18 years he expanded his product line to include Corian, granite and marble. He successfully expanded his client base to include tract home builders, large contracting firms, and more than 140 home remodeling stores. He grew the company to 75-80 employees working in a 16,000 thousand square foot plant and servicing the counties of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego, as well as the Inland Empire.
While working he was appointed by then Governor Ronald Reagan to the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and spent five years on that board.
Corporate Community Contributor
Matt Denny’s Ale House Restaurant recently celebrated its 17th anniversary in January 2016.
On March 15 the eatery will host the 15th annual St. Baldrick’s Day event with partner Del Sol Salon, which has raised $600,000 over 14 years for children’s cancer research. The event unites support from The Arcadia Police and Fire Departments, Monrovia Police and Fire Department, Kids Groups, Corporate Leaders and City officials.
Another annual event is Matt Denny’s “Bob Mac Classic” Golf Tournament, which has raised more than $50,000 over 13 years to help support:
- American Red Cross Arcadia Chapter
- Foothill Unity Center
- Special Olympics
- St. Baldrick’s Foundation
- Wounded Warrior Project
These are just two of dozens of groups supported by Matt Denny’s each year, a partial list of which includes:
- Arcadia Seniors
- Arcadia Republicans
- Arcadia Chinese Association
- Arcadia Police and Fire Department
- Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation
And gift certificates from the restaurant are donated to many charities around the San Gabriel Valley.
Matt Denny’s also sponsors the following:
- Santa Anita Little League
- Arcadia American Little League
- Arcadia National Little League
- Monrovia Youth Baseball League
- Sierra Madre Little League and Girls Softball
- AYSO Region 2
- Arcadia High School Baseball, Softball, Basketball and Football programs
- Monrovia High School Baseball and Football Programs
- St Francis High School
- La Salle High School
- Alverno High School
and participates in the following events:
- Taste of Arcadia
- Methodist Hospital Mardi Gras
- Taste of Duarte
- Sierra Madre Wine and Food Festival
- Friends of Sierra Madre Library
- City of Arcadia Summer Concerts
- Santa Anita Uncorked
Matt Denny’s owner Matt McSweeny also supports the community by sitting on the boards of the following groups:
- Arcadia Chamber of Commerce
- Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association
- Arcadia Measure A Citizen Oversight Committee
- Holy Angels Fiesta Committee
Matt Denny’s Ale House Restaurant was opened in 1999 by Matt McSweeny and his friend Dennis Hartman, both of whom worked together at Crown City Brewery in Pasadena. While Matt and Dennis were building Matt Denny’s, they got involved with the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, met the folks from Citizens Bank, met the Fireman and Police and that was the beginning of our new venture.
“Meeting so many great people over the years has been one of the best parts of my job and I look forward to continue building those wonderful relationships,” says Matt. He thanks his wife Pam, his son Jake and daughter Shannon for allowing him to do what he loves every day, and all his brothers and sisters for always being there when he needs them.
“Thank you for 17 wonderful years in Beautiful Arcadia!!,” Matt says.
