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On Thursday, Jan. 8 the Culver City Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Installation of Officers and Awards Luncheon for its 2015 Board of Directors at the DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Westside.
Commercial real estate leasing and sales agent Kevin Lachoff of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and member of Culver City’s Planning Commission, installed as the 2015 Culver City Chamber of Commerce Chair.
“I found out I’d been considered for the Chair position for 2015 in the fall of 2013, when Chamber President Steve Rose, then-Chair Michael Hamill, and 2014 Chair Bill Reider asked if I’d be interested in being the 2014 Chair-elect,” Lachoff said. “I was surprised, mostly because after a couple of years on the Chamber Executive Committee as a Vice Chair, I’d actually not been a Vice Chair in 2013.”
Also installed to the Chamber Executive Committee for 2015 were: Colette Moore, serving as Chair-Elect, owner of the local franchise of Pridestaff, one of America’s leading employee placement organizations.
Joining were Bill Reider, General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton, LA, Westside as Immediate Past Chair; Vice Chairs of the Board Elizabeth Flynn of Walter N. Marks, Inc., (Helms Building); Paul Goldstein, General Manager of Hillside Memorial Park & Mortuary; Sue Robins, Ascend Training Solutions, LLC and Member of the Culver City Board of Education; Geoff Maleman, Maleman Ink; and Don Ziss, General Manager of Westfield Culver City.
Being the chair of such a successful board is a huge responsibility but one that Lachoff does not shy away from.
“I know the Chamber has been very successful as a local champion for our community,” Lachoff said. “Since I feel it works really well, I don’t expect accomplishments this year as “fixing” anything; it’s important to me that our Board be engaged, our members be satisfied with their organization, and that our community and its economy prosper.”
Joining the Board of Directors were newly elected or re-elected and appointed members Keith Jones, Marina Martial Arts; Brian Bunnin, Bunnin Chevrolet; Mike Harriel, Southern California Gas Co.; Jamie Hemann, NFL Media; Ed Wolkowitz, Attorney-at-Law; Janice Beighey, Tower Insurance Associates, Inc.; Rich Kissel, Kissel & Co./Keller Williams Realty; Rich Hibbs, Richard S. Hibbs CPA; Michael Hamill, Grandview National, Inc.; and Goran Eriksson, esi Techtrans, Inc.
“Culver City has such a great brand, especially in the last few years. I’m eager to see it continue to grow, and being Chair gives the opportunity to be involved in helping shape that growth,” Lachoff said. “Following City’s loss of the Redevelopment Agency, the Chamber has been increasingly involved in working with the City on economic development, and that’s a responsibility I’m glad that the Chamber has joined them on.”
Master of ceremonies Culver City Councilmember Andy Weissman, who introduced attendees including Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells and Councilmembers Jeff Cooper and Jim Clarke, along with other city officials, led the event. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Rose introduced the crowd to newly hired Membership Director, Mary Jo Scott, and then proceeded to introduce the 2014 President’s Award: Bunnin Chevrolet’s owner Leo and son Brian Bunnin, and General Manager Ron Vartanian
Bill Reider, 2014 Chamber Chair, provided a recap of some of the many highlights for the Chamber throughout 2014 including a 40 percent increase in new members. Reider presented the 2014 Chair Award/Member of the Year to Peg Jackson, owner of Peg Jackson & Associates.
Current President of the Los Angeles City Council Herb Wesson Jr. gave the Oath of the officers and provided several humorous but heartfelt acknowledgments to various members of the audience. He also gave significant credit to his success to the early support he’d received over the years from Culver City.
Lachoff was accompanied by his wife Michelle Lachoff and his mother-in-law, Culver City Historian Julie Lugo Cerra.
“To say that the support of my family has been important would be an understatement,” Lachoff said. “I’ve been very fortunate that my wife, Michele, has always been supportive in my endeavors and in my involvement in the City. “My mother-in-law, Julie Lugo Cerra, has not only been supportive, but has been inspirational in local civic involvement.”
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