NEARLY 350 ATTEND ANNUAL EVENT AT HYATT REGENCY HOTEL IN IRVINE

 IRVINE, Calif., May 24, 2012 – The Irvine Chamber of Commerce addressed nearly 350 business professionals and community leaders at the annual Business Breakfast with the Mayor & State of the Chamber on Friday, May 18^th at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. The morning event featured a salute from the Irvine Police Honor Guard, a musical medley performed by the Irvine School of Music Children’s Choir and updates from members of the Irvine Chamber.

The University of La Verne’s Irvine campus served as the presenting sponsor for the 2012 Business Breakfast with the Mayor & State of the Chamber. The university’s President, Dr. Devorah Lieberman, was honored to welcome attendees and open the program.

Following Lieberman’s address, Chamber members Bob King and Ed Benoe presented three Lt. Col. Thomas U. Wall scholarship awards to students and veterans, Enrique Campo, Andriy Nikitin and Rubin Molinar. President and CEO, Tallia Hart recognized Steve Churm, CEO of Churm Media as the Member of the Year for demonstrating high values and dedication to the Irvine Chamber. Mayor Sukhee Kang proudly announced Edwards Lifesciences as the 2011 Business of the Year.

President and CEO of the Irvine Chamber, Tallia Hart, shared the “State of the Chamber” with attendees and highlighted the accomplishments and exceptional growth in the local community before introducing Mayor Kang for his Business Address. In this year’s address, Kang focused on the collaborative efforts to ensure a prosperous local business environment, the City’s continued support for Irvine companies large and small, and the advantages of an Irvine location.

Tallia Hart noted, “The annual event provides the chamber the opportunity to recognize and thank our partners. It is an honor to be able to present the ‘State of the Chamber” alongside Mayor Kang.”

In addition to the presenting sponsor, the University of La Verne, the Irvine Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the additional sponsors that made this event possible:

Corporate Sponsors

Flex Energy

Edwards Lifesciences

Hoag

The GDR Group

Affiliate Sponsors

Irvine Company

Kaiser Permanente

Table Sponsors

AT&T

Churm Media

Cox Business

FivePoint Communities

Island Hotel Newport Beach

HBLA

ManagEase

Orange County Association of Realtors

The Printery

Sage

Tierra Verde Industries

United Dental Group

University of California, Irvine