Condor Squadron Flyover to Salute the Chamber’s Centennial

The San Fernando Valley’s rich business heritage will be celebrated Saturday, as the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce honors a century of leadership. The Condor Squadron Officers and Airmen Association, out of Van Nuys Airport, will flyover the Reagan Library with four World War II-era planes to salute the Chamber’s 100 years.

Past Board Chairs, Board members, current and past Chamber members and others in the Valley business community will gather to enjoy the flyover and celebrate with the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber.

“It’s the Chamber’s 100th birthday and about 300 guests are expected to attend what we’re calling “The Party” – our annual dinner gala and Inaugural Ball,” said 2009 Board Chairman Michael Fiore and chair of the event. 

The Party will be held at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Guests will begin the evening with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 6 p.m., which will also feature “100 Years of Valley Business,” a display of artifacts, photographs and documents from community members’ personal collections and the Chamber archives.

Another highlight of the evening will be “100 Years of Leadership,” a retrospective video featuring historical pictures and information.

Five awards will be presented at the 100th Birthday Celebration & Inagurual Ball:

• Founders’ Award  - Daily News
• Chairman’s Award of Excellence - Braemar Country Club
• Community Award of Excellence - Dr. Michael Olenick, President and CEO of Child Care Resource Center
• Chamber Award of Excellence - Curves of Lake Balboa Fitness Center
• Committee Chairperson of the Year - Anush Sumian, Valley Village
• Mendenhall Memorial Award - Heidi Lennartz, Mission Community Hospital

These awards recognize member businesses for their key roles in the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, as well as their community involvement.

“The Chamber currently has 450 members and has relied heavily on its volunteers, who have been vital to the organization’s longevity,” said Heidi Lennartz, current Chairwoman of the Board.  “The Chamber has ebbed and flowed through the years, but one thing has always been constant: board members and volunteers who have made it thrive.”

One vital reason for the chamber’s success over almost the past two decades has been CEO Nancy Hoffman Vanyek.  “Nancy has been with the Chamber for 24 years,” Lennartz said. “The vitality of our business community and the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber would not be where it is today without her leadership and influence.”

Lennartz said while many chambers across the nation have experienced a decrease in membership over the past several years due to a down economy, the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce has sustained its membership.

“I believe that it’s an indication that we’re giving value back to our members,” Lennartz said. "As one of the first chambers to be founded in the United States, we’ve always been cutting-edge.”

For more information on the honorees or the 100th celebration and inaugural ball,  call the Chamber at 818-989-0300 or visit: sanfernandovalleychamber.com.