The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce installed their new 2016-2017 board June 15, with an evening at host hotel Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows welcoming new and old members in celebration.
Chair of the Board Yesenia Monsour officially took them helm, sworn in by Santa Monica Mayor Tony Vazquez under the hotel’s historic Fig Tree.
While enjoying cool ocean breezes and cocktails during the reception, guests bid on Silent Auction items donated by local businesses.
The dinner and program commenced with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Santa Monica High Student, Zoe D’Andrea.
Nat Trives, former Mayor and Chief of Police emceed the event, and along with Mayor Vazquez and Laurel Rosen, President of the Santa Monica Chamber, bid a fond farewell to outgoing Chair Julia Ladd, Assistant VP of Santa Monica Place, Macerich, and her Board.
2016-2017 Chair Yesenia Monsour, Director, Public Affairs and Brand Communications at Kaiser Permanente, gave an inspiring and moving speech after accepting the gavel from the Mayor. She will be joined this year by board members:
Julia Ladd, Santa Monica Place/Macerich
West Hooker, Locando del Lago Restaurant
Richard Chacker, Perry’s at the Beach and Bike Rentals
Scott Schonfeld, , Linwood Ventures
Pat McRoskey, Water Garden
Barbara Bishop, BBPR Inc.
Justin Grant, Morley Builders
Dave Nelson, Chief Financial Officer, Tegner-Miller Insurance Brokers
Adam Weiss, Cornerstone OnDemand
Alisha Auringer, LAcarGuy
Brian McMahon, Expert Dojo
Calvin Cheong, Cooley, LLC
Julia Cooksey, Frontier
Daniel Abramson, RAND Corporation
Ellis O’Connor, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
Gary Loeb, Chezgal Merchandising Creations
Jeff Jarow, Par Commercial
Jeff Klocke, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
Jeff Lasky, Hudson Pacific
John Warfel, Metropolitan Pacific Real Estate Group
Juan Viramontes, Georgian Hotel
Kiersten Elliot, Santa Monica College
Len Lanzi, LAVA
Mathew Allnatt, Jonathan Club
Matt Lavin, Worthe Real Estate
Marcel Loh, Providence St. John’s Health Center
Michael Gruning, Pence Hathorn Silver Realty
Mike Harriel, Southern California Gas Company
Mitchell Kraus, Capital Intelligence Associates
Nat Trives, Coalition for Engaged Education
Paula Larmore, Harding Larmore Kutchal & Kozal LLP
Richard Lawrence, Commercial Bank of California
Susan Gabriel Potter, Bob Gabriel Co. Insurance
Susan Inwood, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Ted Braun, UCLA Health
Tim Kusserow, Carlthorp School
Dee Menzies, retiring from a successful career at Carlthorp School, accepted the Bob Gabriel Community Service Business Award for her support of the SM Chamber and community for the past 33 years. Iao Katagiri, Director of Community Relations, Deputy Vice President at Rand was honored for her many contributions to Santa Monica in her 40 year career, including the first Civic Center Specific Plan and Annual Community Conference on Early Childhood Education.
More than 400 guests were treated to a delicious farmers market-fresh dinner created by Chef Yousef Ghalaini of Fig. For more information on the Chamber, head to: smchamber.com.
