Mixing with the commerce crowd

For the past 80 years, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce has worked to promote local economic growth, prosperity and goodwill.

It has done this by serving as a conduit between diverse Burbank-based businesses, local, state and federal government, the at-large community and outside entities in search of everything from business licensing and tax information, to hotel recommendations and tickets for "The Tonight Show."

The Chamber of Commerce staff, ambassadors, and members gathered at the West Magnolia Boulevard offices of Priority One Credit Union for their July After Hours Mixer this past Thursday evening.

A longstanding tradition, these monthly mixers are held on the fourth Thursday of each month with the exception of November and December, when they take place on the third Thursday. They were established to give chamber members the opportunity to welcome other local professionals to tour their facilities.

Guests, including Councilman Jess Talamantes, were welcomed to Thursday's mixer by chamber President and Chief Executive Gary Olson, Operations Manager Kimberly Thompson and Membership Director Melinda Martin. They then mixed with Priority One Assistant Vice President Sylvia Perez and members of her staff including Cynthia Diazvicarte, Johnny Garcia, Nidia Reyes and Theresa Haddad.

Established just one year shy of the city of Burbank's celebration of its first decade as an incorporated city, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce today represents nearly 1,000 member businesses with more than 33,000 employees.

Among the local business owners and representatives on hand for Thursday's mixer were Dusty Brandel of the Burbank Assn. of Realtors, Mona Moore of the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel, Escrows Inc. President Marcia Amoroso, Rende Rae Mora from the office of Dr. Stephen McNeese, JoeCammorata of CRT Virtual Tours, Philip Di Nova, who serves as the director of development at the Burbank YMCA, and Patricia Nelson of Nelson's Treasures.

Among the chamber's ambassadors, who are deft in the art of making people actually "mix" at their mixers, were Jeanne Vlazny, Don Baldaseroni, John and Carole Sanchez, MitraLayeghi, Karen Volpe, Martha Aviles, Nancy Guillen, Andre Murray and Burbank Noon Kiwanis President Harvey Branman, who is gearing up for his organization's 13th annual gala fundraiser on Aug. 7. to honor Kay Farquhar and pay posthumous tribute to her late husband, 57-year Kiwanian, Don Farquhar.