Victor Berrellez on Friday was installed as the chair of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association. He succeeds Brad Rosenheim, who’s two-year term largely coincided with the coronavirus pandemic.
Rosenheim, of the land consultancy firm Rosenheim and Associates, told the crowd of about 250 at a luncheon at the Garland hotel in North Hollywood that not only was the pandemic a defining feature of his term, but the social unrest of last year prompted VICA to include aspects of the social justice movement in its mission, which is largely to represent Valley area business interests.
Berrellez of U.S. Bank thanked those who had worked with him and inspired him, including fellow VICA Board Member Lupita Sanchez Cornejo of AT&T;, and said that during his upcoming two-year term he would work diligently on behalf of VICA’s more than 300 members, who are among the Valley area’s most engaged business leaders.
The luncheon, VICA’s 72nd annual meeting, was not held in person last year because of the pandemic.
In other action, Timothy Gaspar of Gaspar Insurance Services, was given the inaugural David Adelman Inspiration Award. Adelman, a longtime VICA leader who was a passionate advocate of nonprofits, died in March last year.
VICA’s Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award of Excellence was given to Midwood Investment and Development, which owns the Sportsman’s Lodge property which this week opened the Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge. The President’s Award went to Pamela Marcello of Hollywood Burbank Airport. The Harmon Ballin Community Service Award was given to Mark Davis of Sun Hill Properties, which owns the Hilton Universal Hotel.
Mike Feuer, the Los Angeles City Attorney who is running for mayor, swore in VICA’s board for the coming year. In all, VICA has 80 board members.
Also, three $1,000 scholarships were given. The Rickey M. Gelb Scholarship went to Giovanni Divaia of Los Angeles Valley College; the Melvyn A. Kohn Memorial Scholarship went to Aroa Kim of Granada Hills Charter High School, and the Marvin R. Selter Memorial Scholarship went to Abigail Pangilinan of California Lutheran University.