VICA HONORS BUSINESS ADVOCACY.Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer UNIVERSAL CITY - Local business leaders got a little payback for their efforts Thursday night, receiving accolades at the Valley Industry and Commerce Association's annual gala. The group recognized business advocacy efforts this year, doling out six awards to organizations that lobbied on behalf of the local community. Members turned out in cocktail dresses and sleek, dark suits, celebrating their fellow industry elite. ``While another plaque on the wall isn't important, I'm in favor of anything that stimulates more volunteerism by recognizing it,'' Martin Cooper Martin Cooper (born December 26, 1926 in Chicago) is considered the father of the cell phone (as distinct from the car phone). [1] Cooper is the CEO and founder of ArrayComm, a company that works on researching smart antenna technology and improving wireless networks, , president of Woodland Hills-based Cooper Communications and winner of the VICA VICA Vocational Industrial Clubs of America VICA Video Conferencing Alliance (UK) VICA Vocational Industrial Chapters of America VICA Vision Counsel of America volunteer award, said before Thursday's presentation at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. ``I think it's very important for the business world to play a role in improving the community.'' VICA began the awards three years ago to fete companies that its members felt contributed extra effort to its lobbying campaigns. This year, the organization tackled the elimination of gross receipts tax A gross receipts tax, sometimes referred to as a gross excise tax, is a tax on the total gross revenues of a company, regardless of their source. It is similar to a sales tax, but it is levied on the seller of goods or services rather than the consumer. in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. and workers' compensation workers' compensation, payment by employers for some part of the cost of injuries, or in some cases of occupational diseases, received by employees in the course of their work. reform and pressed the state of California to streamline its business oversight. ``We realize there are no other business organizations recognizing all the great businesses around,'' said Bonny Herman, VICA's president and chief executive officer. ``There's 60,000 firms in the Valley and a lot are doing fabulous things. We want to gather them up and find the ones who deserved to be recognized.'' Verizon Communications won the Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award for Excellence. In the volunteer advocacy category, Mel Kohn, managing partner of Kirsch kirsch n. A colorless brandy made from the fermented juice of cherries. [French, short for German Kirschwasser; see kirschwasser. , Kohn & Bridge CPAs, took home top honors. North Hollywood's Valley Community Clinic won in the not-for-profit organization slot. Accountant firm Lever, Lippe, Hellie & Russell LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol and the Airtel Plaza Hotel & Conference Center won for small and large business achievement, respectively. Though Jim Dunn, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Van Nuys-based Airtel, received the honor, he echoed the oft-repeated sentiment that merely being a finalist was all the recognition he needed. ``It's a compliment to my organization,'' Dunn said. ``If I win, I get the award; if not, we're on the list with 21st Century Insurance and Kaiser Permanente - that's a pretty nice crowd to be in.'' The Pasadena office of accountant firm RSM McGladrey Inc. tallied the 84 ballots, guarding them with such secrecy that it refused to disclose the results even to VICA executives until the awards' announcement. |
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