Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Honored Laura Farber at Annual President’s Breakfast

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce honored 2020 Tournament of Roses Association President Laura Farber at the annual President’s Breakfast at the Hilton Pasadena on Thursday morning, December 5, 2019. More than 225 Chamber members and friends heard Ms. Farber discuss The Power of Hope, the theme for the 2020 Tournament.

Honored special guests included the Rose Queen Camille Kennedy and the Royal Court, as well as past

Tournament presidents Sally Bixby, Corky Conzonire and Scott Jenkins. Future presidents Bob Miller and Amy Wainscott were also in attendance. Local community and civic leaders in attendance included California State Senator Anthony Portantino and Pasadena Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton as well as Pasadena Assistant City Managers Julie Gutierrez and Nick Rodriguez and Fire Chief Bertral Washington. Pasadena City College Superintendent President Erika Endrijonas attended with PCC Trustees Jim Osterling, Berlinda Brown, Hoyt Hilsman and Linda Wah. Frank Miller Executive Director of Hollywood Burbank Airport as did executive leadership of the Rose bowl Stadium and Pasadena Center.  

Ms. Farber was accompanied to the President’s Breakfast by her husband, Tomas Lopez. The Pasadena

Chamber was represented by Chair of the Board Justin Tsui, Chair-elect John Leano and Board members Raphael Henderson, Debbie Unruh, Greg Sanchez, Chamber Ambassador leader Joan De Souza and Ambassadors John Barrett, Tim Carruth and Edsel Desouza escorted the Rose Queen and Court to their seats. Former Board Chairs Dennis Buckley and George Falardeau also assisted with Chamber Board members John Leano and Greg Sanchez. The Royakl court was seated with Queen and Court corporate table sponsors.

Laura Farber is the first Latina to serve as President of the Tournament of Roses. In her remarks, Ms. Farber touched on her family’s immigrant history and that of her husband Tomas. Each family fled repression and violence in their home countries, to come to America to enjoy freedom of speech, assembly and religion and how those experiences helped her settle on The Power of Hope as the theme for the 2020 Rose Parade and Game.

Ms. Farber also talked about traveling to visit marching bands and some of the extraordinary efforts

musical groups go through to be part of the Rose Parade. She also explained the economic impact the game and parade have on the region and Pasadena, including a total impact of about $200 million in the region.  

Guests at the President’s Breakfast enjoyed a fruit and yogurt parfait, pecan smoked bacon and an entrée consisting of a cheddar cheese biscuit with tender breaded organic chicken pieces under sausage gravy and a fried egg.

The president’s Breakfast is presented by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce to honor the president of the Tournament of Roses and the contributions the Tournament continues to make to our community and region. Queen and Court Sponsors were Athens Services, AT&T, Cetera Advisor Networks, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena Tournament of Roses and Wells Fargo. Corporate table sponsors were Five Acres, Hahn and Hahn, Hilton Pasadena, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, the Pasadena Center Operating Company, Pasadena City College, the Rose Bowl Operating Company and the University Club of Pasadena.

Here is a link to the PasadenaNOW story on the event: http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/the-power-of-hope-plays-role-in-business-world-says-tournament-president-laura-farber-at-annual-chamber-breakfast/

Here is a link to the Pasadena Star-news coverage: http://pasadenastarnews.ca.newsmemory.com/?token=IJDYU4WVb5uVydDACeaKmQ%3d%3d&product=eEditionPSN