In 2004, some very business-minded individuals realized that having a Chamber of Commerce is vital to growing and sustaining a healthy business community. Hence, the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce was founded.
From a borrowed office in a local bank building, to a great storefront on Mission Street, the Chamber has become a collaborative, innovative and creative organization that works tirelessly for the local businesses. We utilize the unique characteristics of the South Pasadena community and work to create events and activities that encourage residents and visitors to Shop/Eat/Do in South Pasadena. The quarterly Arts Crawls are the very popular “neighborhood-night-on-the-town” events where businesses stay open later on a Saturday night and offer special events and activities. Our signature event, the Eclectic Music Festival & Arts Crawl, is a one-of-a-kind, grassroots event that brings arts of all genres to the streets of town. Bands, musicians, artists, food, galleries, activities for kids of all ages – bring people to the business district and they enjoy an afternoon and evening exploring and experiencing all that “is” South Pasadena.
We advocate for local businesses. We have several very active committees, and serve on several others. Together with the City staff, the Chamber is working on the economic development of the city, bringing in the right businesses to augment all that is already here, and encouraging the residents of the SGV to explore South Pas. Located at the South Pasadena station of the Metro Gold Line, with plenty of free parking, we invite you to Eat/Shop/Do in South Pasadena!
Mission Statement: To partner with businesses to support, promote and advocate for their interests; and to connect and build relationships and attract people and businesses to South Pasadena.
At its Annual Meeting on October 5, 2020, held as a Zoom call due to the pandemic, the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce ratified the election of officers as well as an amendment to the by-laws. Nominating Committee Chair Michele Downing reported on the nominating committee’s work in selecting the slate of officers that was presented to the Chamber membership for a vote. Newly elected and reelected Board members for a two-year term include Andrew Berk, Jeff Burke, Ray Delgado*, Camille DePedrini, Sam Hernandez, Jamie Khuu Inzunza and Karla Thompson. They will join these continuing mid-term Directors Thano Adamson, Ed Chen, Steve Dahl, Michele Downing, Janice Lupien, Jason Mak, Elda Marquez, Kris Morrish, Lawrence Sin and John Vandercook whose terms will expire in 2021.
The Executive Committee includes: Andrew Berk, Sam Hernandez, Jamie Khuu Inzunza, Steve Dahl, Michele Downing, Kris Morrish, Karla Thompson and John Vandercook.
Directors are volunteers who provide leadership and expertise to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber Laurie Wheeler, and the Chamber staff, including Nichole Clark, Communications Manager and Sioe Scott, Bookkeeper. Since its incorporation in 2004 the Chamber has continued to advocate for businesses and created opportunities and connections between members as well as organizing events and activities to encourage people to explore and discover South Pasadena.
Andrew Berk
Chair
Avison Young Commercial Real Estate
Sam Hernandez
Immediate Past Chair
Paradise General Contractors
Kris Morrish
Treasurer
The Kutzer Company
John Vandercook
Secretary
Reimagine Your Home
Steven P. Dahl, AIA
VP of Economic Development
Dahl Architects, Inc.
Michele Downing
VP Membership
Compass
Jamie Khuu Inzunza
Vice President
Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta
Karla Thompson, DDS
Vice President
SmileHaus Orthodontics
Thano Adamson
Director
Mission Tile West
Jeffrey Burke
Director
BurkeTriolo Studio
Ed Chen
Director
Athens Services
Camille DePedrini
Director
Camille DePedrini Boutique
Jamie Khuu Inzunza
Director
Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta
Janice Lupien
Director
Arroyo Vista Inn
Jason Mak
Director
Golden Oaks Apartments
Elda Marquez
Director
Lowell & Vanderbilt
Ray Delgado
Director
Hillsides
Lawrence Sin
Director
Core Benefits
Laurie Wheeler
President & CEO
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber stays active and engaged through the volunteer efforts of its membership. Here are some of the opportunities to get involved in the community that are available to Chamber members.
The objective of the Economic Development Committee is to create a vision for a healthy local economy and work to attract and retain top quality businesses in South Pasadena.
Jamie Khuu Inzunza
Committee Chair
Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta
David Bergman
Interim Director of Planning and Building
City of South Pasadena
Andrew Berk
Member
Avison Young Commercial Real Estate
Jeff Burke
Member
BurkeTriolo Studios
Dollie Chapman
Member
Dollie Chapman Design Planning
Steven P. Dahl
Member
Dahl Architects, Inc.
Stephanie DeWolfe
City Manager
City of South Pasadena
Megan Dostal
Member
Further Products, Inc.
Dan Evans
Member
Evans & Associates
Thomas Field
Member
Thomas R. Field American Antiques
Robert Joe
City Council
City of South Pasadena
Marina Khubesrian
City Council
City of South Pasadena
Donald Loewel
Representative
Small Business Development Center
Dave Lubs
Member
South Pasadena Unified School District
Jason Mak
Member
Golden Oaks Senior Apartments
Kris Morrish
Member
The Kutzer Company
Gary Pia
Member
Mission Street Wealth Planning
Jon Primuth
Member
Primate, Driskell & Terzian, LLP
Karan Raina
Member
Aro Latin/Radhika Modern
Indian Bistro
Mark Smeaton
Member
Crux Studio
Rebecca Thompson
Member
Crux Studio
John Vandercook
Member
ReImagine Your Home
Laurie Wheeler
President/CEO
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
The objective of the Legislative Affairs Committee is to represent the business community with all levels of government in an effective, timely fashion and to provide a communications link between business and government. See what we have been doing. HERE
Ellen Wood
Chair
WISSPA
Connie Aguilar
Member
Options for Learning
Ed Chen
Member
Athens Services
Becky Cheng
Representative
Judy Chu, Congressperson, 27th District
Patty Cortez
Representative
Upper San Gabriel Valley Water Mgmt District
Christian Daly
Representative
Kathryn Barger, District 5 Supervisor
Catherine (Cat) Del Rosario
Representative
Chris Holden, Assemblymember, 41st District
Stephanie DeWolfe
City Manager
City of South Pasadena
Marc Donohue, MMC
Chief City Clerk
City of South Pasadena
Megan Dostal
Member
Further Products, Inc.
Evette Kim
Representative
Anthony Portantino, California State Senator, 25th District
Diana Mahmud
City Council
City of South Pasadena
Talin Mangioglu
Representative
Anthony Portantino, California State Senator, 25th District
Savanna Moore
Representative
Kathryn Barger, District 5 Supervisor
Sussy Nemer
Representative
Kathryn Barger,
District 5 Supervisor
Jon Primuth
Member
Primuth, Driskell & Terzian, LLP
Helen Romero Shaw
Representative
Southern California Gas Company
Jeannette Soriano
Representative
Southern California Edison
Charles Trevino
Representative
Upper San Gabriel Valley Water Management District
John Vandercook
Member
Reimagine Your Home
Linda Wah
Representative
Pasadena City College Area 5 Trustee
Geoff Yantz
Member
South Pasadena Unified School District
Rainbow Yeung
Representative
SCAQMD
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Laurie Wheeler
President/CEO
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
The objective of the Ambassador Committee is to welcome all new members to the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, provide support for ribbon-cuttings and other recognition events, and to assist in the planning and execution of all mixers, networking breakfasts and special events.
Laurie Astle
Member
Reimage Your Home
Gloria Bennett
Member
Young Stars Theatre
Francisco Cardenas
Member
Wells Fargo
Celinda Grande
Member
Priority One Credit Union
Jeanie Joe
Member
Sew Joe Stitch Lounge
Ivonne Lanzas
Member
Welcome Wagon
Tracy Macrum
Member
Keller Williams Realty
Lawrence Sin
Member
Core Benefits
Derek Vaughan
Member
South Pasadena Homes
Laurie Wheeler
President/CEO
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
The objective of Events Committee is to plan and execute major annual city-wide events on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. These events include the Eclectic Music Festival in the Spring and Arts Crawls throughout the year.
Laurie Wheeler
Chair
President/CEO
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
David Arcos
Member
MOSAIC LA
Cathy Billings
Assistant Director of Library
City of South Pasadena
Nichole Clark
South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Brad Colerick
Member
Deepmix
Robin da Silva
Member
Rotary Club of South Pasadena
Ximena Dussan
Member
Deepmix
Steve Fjeldsted
City Librarian
City of South Pasadena
Jamie Khuu Inzunza
Member
Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza and Pasta
Elda Marquez
Member
Real Estate Heaven
Kris Morrish
Member
The Kutzer Company
Hope Perello
Member
SPACE
John Pope
Public Information Officer
City of South Pasadena
Mitzye Ribas
Independent
Michael Ribas
Independent
Toni Rodriguez
Independent
Martin Smith
Member
SoSound Entertainment
Howard Spector
Member
South Pasadena Arts Council – SPARC
Odom Stamps
Member
Stamps & Stamps
Maida Wong
Senior Librarian
Children’s Services
City of South Pasadena
The Chamber is a nonprofit membership organization working to create a vibrant local economy, celebrate the arts and connect the community.
We partner with businesses to support, promote and advocate for their interests; and to connect and build relationships and attract people to South Pasadena.
MAIL:
PO Box 3446
South Pasadena, CA 91031
OFFICE:
1121 Mission Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Tuesday – Friday
10am – 5pm or by Appointment.
PHONE:
(626) 441-2339