The City of Monrovia has won a Green Leadership Award from the County of Los Angeles.  Monrovia was nominated for the award by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and won in the Public Agencies category. The award recognizes Monrovia’s 21 Environmental Accords, adopted by the City Council in 2007, for their positive impact on the environment, sustainability and transferability to other agencies. The Accords are a list of actions that the City is taking over the next several years in the areas of energy usage, water usage, waste reduction and green building techniques to lower the community’s impact on the environment. The award  was presented to the City by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. Pictured receiving the award (from left): Supervisor Mike Antonovich; City Manager Scott Ochoa; Mayor Mary Ann Lutz; Supervisor Don Knabe.

Glendale water official Peter Kavounas was seated as the city’s representative on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  Kavounas, assistant general manager of Glendale Water & Power, replaces James M. Rez, who had served as the city’s representative on Metropolitan’s board since August 1988. In his Glendale position, Kavounas manages the planning, engineering, construction, maintenance and operation of the city’s water production, transmission, treatment, storage and distribution facilities. Prior to joining Glendale as water services administrator in April 2004, he worked for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for 17 years, where he managed the department’s Eastern Sierra environmental group. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 19 million people in six counties.

The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) have announced the election of Lloyd Greif as the new chairman of the LAEDC, a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to attract, retain, and grow businesses and jobs in the regions of L.A. County.  Greif has served as a member of the LAEDC’s Board of Directors since 2000 and chair of its Finance Committee since 2003. For information visit www.laedc.org or call (888) 4-LAEDC-1.

The Pasadena Development Corporation hosted “The Stimulus Summit for Small Business” and the effects it will have on small business.  A panel of business leaders addressed Overcoming Challenges, Access to Capital and Tax Incentives that can aid small business owners. Topics also covered were how cash flow and receivables collections can improve small business. Participates from the left were:  Natalie Orta, SBA Chief of Economic Development Division at the LA County SBA Office; Richard Bruckner, City of Pasadena Planning and Development Director; Melissa Alva, City of Pasadena, Norwest Programs Div, Pasadena Enterprise Zone Manager, and Keith Rogers, Pasadena Development Corp., Executive Director.

The Duarte and Monrovia Chambers of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of the Best Buy store in Duarte on May 7 with a double ribbon cutting ceremony.  The 48,000 square foot store is located at Central and Mountain Avenues. At left, cutting the ribbon for Duarte: Chamber chairman-elect Sandi Mejia, Councilman Phil Reyes, Best Buy General Manager Marisel Mosqueda, Mayor John Fasana, and Councilwoman Lois Gaston. Handling the honors for the Monrovia Chamber was Best Buy store manager George Delgado and Chamber Executive Director Karin Crehan.

Christopher D. Myers, President and Chief Executive Officer of CitizensBusiness Bank, has announced the appointment of Raj Sedeora to the position of Vice President and Relationship Manager of the Bank’s El Segundo Business Financial Center. Mr. Sedeora’s professional career incorporates seventeen years of banking and business experience, with a background in credit, sales and marketing.  Myers also announced the appointment of Lina Garabedian to the position of Vice President and Relationship Manager of the Bank’s Monrovia Business Financial Center. Ms. Garabedian’s professional career incorporates fifteen years of banking experience, with a background in credit, sales and marketing.  Citizens Business Bank is the largest bank with headquarters located in the Inland Empire area of California.