SMALL CITY, BIG BUSINESS BURBANK CHAMBER SERVES BILLION-DOLLAR ENTERPRISES.Byline: Rick Coca Valley News Writer With 975 paying members, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce represents a wide variety of businesses ranging from small mom-and-pop stores to billion-dollar film studios. Established in 1920, the chamber has been balancing the needs of a small city with big-city industries for decades. Elected president in January, Richard Roche said the focus of his year-long presidency will be improving interaction among members, from breakfast and luncheon business mixers to updating the chamber's Web site. ``Redoing our Web site (is important) because these days the Internet is a great tool to use,'' Roche said. Roche wants to continue to build on the success of the Team Business seminars, a partnership with the city of Burbank to provide business-related symposiums to chamber members on a variety of topics. Roche, a director of external affairs for AT&T and a South Pasadena South Pasadena (păs'ədē`nə), city (1990 pop. 23,936), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles; inc. 1888. Medical supplies, clothing, and transportation and electronic equipment are manufactured. resident, has served as president of the Pasadena chamber and is involved in various business, community and charitable organizations This article is about charitable organizations. For other uses of the word charity, see Charity. A charitable organization (also known as a charity) is an organization with charitable purposes only. throughout the Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena area. Roche said because the interests among the large membership are so diverse, he wants to make sure the chamber is continually seeking out services to meet those divergent needs. ``It's just a constant struggle to find ways to relate to different businesses,'' Roche said. While some business owners want to interact with their colleagues at business mixers and social events, others want the chamber to help them establish relationships with the city. The chamber has a number of fundraisers, including Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (môNtā` kärlō`), town (1982 pop. 13,150), principality of Monaco, on the Mediterranean Sea and the French Riviera. night, an annual gala dinner and dance, which includes a silent auction. The proceeds for the April 1 event will help fund the chamber's programs, as well as deferring the cost of salaries for its five-member staff. The chamber is self-sufficient and receives no subsidies from the city of Burbank. Gary Olson of Burbank took on full-time duties as the chamber's executive director after a 25-year career with Forest Lawn Forest Lawn is the name of a number of different places:
n. A place, especially a funeral home, where dead bodies are kept before burial or cremation. . Olson and his staff handle the day-to-day operation of the chamber. A former chamber president, Olson touted several of Burbank's restaurants, home furnishing stores and movie theaters as among the top grossing in the country. Besides Disney, NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. and other well-known studios in the Burbank area, Olson said, there are 300 other media-related businesses in the surrounding area. Like Roche, Olson spoke about the effectiveness of the chamber and city's Team Business program, which has proved popular among people looking to start a new business. ``People want to live the American Dream American dream also American Dream n. An American ideal of a happy and successful life to which all may aspire: ,'' Olson said. ``Maybe they're dissatisfied with the corporate environment. They have enough gumption to try (opening their own business), but they don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what to do. They need some help. (We) can help in that regard.'' The chamber also sponsors the mayor's state of the city event that is held at the Burbank Hilton Hotel, which typically draws about 400 people. The chamber also acts as a visitor and convention bureau for the city, offering people advice on things such as how to get tickets to the ``Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' or how to relocate a business to Burbank. Olson has served on numerous civic and nonprofit planning boards Noun 1. planning board - a board appointed to advise the chief administrator advisory board governance, governing body, organisation, administration, brass, establishment, organization - the persons (or committees or departments etc. . As both a resident and promoter of business in Burbank, Olson said it's important to be mindful of the sometimes competing interests between business and residents. ``We're all in the same rowboat,'' Olson said. The Burbank Chamber of Commerce is located at 200 W. Magnolia Magnolia, city, United States Magnolia (măgnō`lyə), city (1990 pop. 11,151), seat of Columbia co., SW Ark.; inc. 1855. Its oil industry has been important since 1938. Ave. in Burbank. For information, call (818) 846-3111, or log onto info(at)burbankchamber.org CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Burbank Chamber of Commerce President Richard Roche oversees the 975-member organization. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion