During a gala dinner event Thursday, Dr. Rion Zimmerman, owner of Flintridge Family Chiropractic, was installed chairman of the board for the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce in a ceremony that also welcomed new officers and directors for 2016.
The banquet, held in the ballroom of the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club drew a packed house, with many of the guests attending to witness the coronation of the new Miss La Cañada Flintridge, La Cañada High School junior Katy Paynter.
Mayor Dave Spence, who led the swearing-in ceremony during the installation portion of the evening, congratulated this year’s directors, along with the chamber’s new officers.
Lynne Graves of Plan Ahead Events was named vice president of ways and means; Nick Sarkisian of NASA Services will serve as vice president of community programs; structural engineering consultant Terry Sneed was installed as vice president of business programs; Pat Liddell of Melby & Anderson, LLP, is the new vice president of regional legislative affairs; and Disney retiree Gary Stibal will serve this year as vice president of membership and ambassadors.
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Katy Paynter, the moment her name is announced as the 2016 Miss La Cañada Flintridge at the LCF Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Miss La Cañada Flintridge Katy Paynter gets help with her crown to keep it on her head from 2015 Miss LCF Megan Reilly at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Reverend Skip Lindeman laughs and points to new Chamber Chairman Rion Zimmerman after ribbing him in the invocation at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman during makes a few announcements at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Allen Lund Company CIO Chetan Tandon shakes the hand of Intern of the Year Jack Nagel, who did his intership at the Allen Lund Company, at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The 2016 Chamber of Commerce officers and directors at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman recognizes La Cañada Valley Sun Editor and Glendale News Press Managing Editor Carol Cormaci and Glendale News Press Executive Editor John Canalis for the La Cañada Valley Sun and 70 years in the community at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2015 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Kim Beattie hands the gavel to 2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The ballroom is filled with community members at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The 2016 Royal Court with Jessy Sitaramya, Heather Connolly, 2016 Miss La Cañada Flintridge Katy Paynter, Kara Bradley, and Sloan Elmassian at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Announcing a Chamber of Commerce tradition, 2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman turns with a selfie stick to make a picture of himself with the waiving arms of the audience behind him at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman passes Chamber of Commerce member Suzanne Hart after talking with each other at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Cañada Flintridge Councilmember Mike Davitt talks with former California Assemblyman Anthony Portantino at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Mike Antonovich, of theLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors, takes a moment to address the audience at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Harriet Hammons, Jeanne Wallace and Mary Gant are recognized for their Ambassador Certificates leadership at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The crown for 2016 Miss La Cañada Flintridge with a bouquet of flowers and sash at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman recognizes Erik Ovanespour, the owner of Printefex as Business of the Year, at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman recognizes Orlando Sanchez of Gracie Barra Brazilian Jui Jitsu as Businessman of the Year at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman smiles after posing for a photo with Linda Taix-Paccone, the Businesswoman of the Year, at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Dr. Debra Cradduck, the Principal of Paradise Canyon Elementary, is recognized by 2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman for her Community Spirit at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman goofs a smile with Educator of the Year Sally Spangler at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The 2016 Royal Court with Jessy Sitaramya, Heather Connolly, 2016 Miss La Cañada Flintridge Katy Paynter, Kara Bradley, and Sloan Elmassian at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Volunteer of the Year Tammy Smith smiles with 2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman as a photo is taken at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Business representatives recognized for milestones, at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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La Cañada Valley Sun Editor and Glendale News Press Managing Editor Carol Cormaci, after being representing the Valley Sun for 70 years in the community, points to the tiara she would rather be wearing at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Katy Paynter is crowned as the 2016 Miss La Cañada Flintridge by last year’s Miss LCF Megan Reilly at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Departing Chamber board member Tammy Smith rests her head on the shoulder of 2016 Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Rion Zimmerman at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2016 Royal Court Finalist Jessy Sitaramya looks back smiling as she is introduced at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Heather Connolly looks off to her right with fellow Royal Court Finalists Kara Bradley, Sloan Elmassian and Katy Paynter as they are introduced at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The 2016 Chamber of Commerce officers and directors raise their right hand to recite an oath of office at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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2015 Miss La Cañada Flintridge Megan Reilly smiles with court members Ashley Morrison, Sarah Kurdoghlian and Charis Gee behind her at the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association’s 104th Installation and Awards Gala at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
Global Wealth Capital Management’s Karl Johnson was sworn in as chief financial officer for 2016.
Community service awards were presented to the following:
• Jeanne Wallace, Ambassador of the Year
• Printefex, Business of the Year
• Orlando Sanchez, Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Businessman of the Year
• Linda Taix-Paccone, Taix Workout Studio, Businesswoman of the Year
• Jim Geoghegan (posthumously), Community Service
• Dr. Debra Cradduck, principal of Paradise Canyon Elementary School, Community Spirit
• Sally Spangler, La Cañada High School counselor, Educator of the Year
• La Cañada Valley Beautiful, Organization of the Year
• Tammy Smith, Volunteer of the Year
La Cañada High School students who participated in the chamber’s annual summer internship program were recognized for their hard work and dedication at job assignments at the Allen Lund Company, Citizens Business Bank, City of La Cañada Flintridge and YMCA of the Foothills. As part of the program, each intern was awarded a $1,200 scholarship.
From among them, senior Jack Nagel, who worked with Allen Lund Company, received an additional $800 check for being the top-ranked intern at the program’s completion.
Also during Tuesday’s celebration, Barbara Marshall of State Farm Insurance was named Fiesta Days chair for the seventh year in a row, just beating the previous record of six years set by Greg Boyer. Officials also announced Frank Ruiz, owner of Paco’s Barber Shop, will be grand marshal of the Fiesta Days Parade, which takes place on Memorial Day.
The theme of the weekend and all its events will be “There’s No Place Like Home…LCF.”
Sara Cardine covers the city of Costa Mesa for the Daily Pilot. She comes from the La Cañada Valley Sun, where she spent six years as the news reporter covering La Cañada Flintridge and recently received a first-place Public Service Journalism award from the California News Publishers Assn. She’s also worked at the Pasadena Weekly, Stockton Record and Lodi-News Sentinel, which instilled in her a love for community news. (714) 966-4627
