Six Valley Leaders Win Arabian Award

Six local leaders were honored at the 20th annual Justice Armand Arabian Leaders in Public Service Awards luncheon on Oct. 24. Singer Frankie Avalon, who oversees beauty supply manufacturer Avalon Products, won for contributing his talent to numerous philanthropic fundraisers. Other winners included land-use lawyer and former Calabasas mayor Fred Gaines; Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Kris Pitcher; Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy Chief Trevor Richmond; Strength United at California State University – Northridge Executive Director Kim Goldberg-Roth; and Business Journal Publisher Charles Crumpley. About 300 business, political and nonprofit chiefs attended the ceremony at the Hilton Woodland Hills hotel. Armand Arabian, an associate justice on the California Supreme Court, was known for his civic work. He collaborated with other civic leaders to create an award to honor those who perform outstanding community service but who may not be recognized. Arabian died in 2018. Rickey Gelb of the Gelb Group real estate firm in Woodland Hills, Karl Boeckmann of Galpin Motors in North Hills, the Gelb Group’s Gloria Pollack and Encino Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Diana Dueñas produced the event. Television game show host Wink Martindale returned as emcee. The Calabasas resident announced this was his last stint because he is moving out of the area.