FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 25th Annual Valley of the Stars Awards Gala Honors Valley Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14, 2023

Media Contact:
Sonya Blake
sblake@economicalliance.org
818-379-7000 ext. 106

25th Annual Valley of the Stars Awards Gala Honors Valley Leaders

 Sherman Oaks, California – The San Fernando Valley’s bright stars took center stage at the 25th Annual Valley of the Stars Awards Gala presented by Mission Valley Bank on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at The Odyssey in Granada Hills.

Hosted by The Valley Economic Alliance, the event celebrated leadership in legacy, media, business and humanitarianism.  San Fernando Valley business and community leaders, and government officials gathered together to enjoy an awards presentation and dinner program emceed by award-winning journalist and image consultant Palmira Pérez-Najarian.

For the past 25 years, Valley of the Stars has recognized and celebrated exemplary businesses, people, and organizations who positively impact and contribute to the economic vitality of the Valley.

The 2023 “Star of the Valley” honorees include:

• Bill Allen, past president of The Valley Economic Alliance and recently retired president and CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, received the Legacy Award.
• Mission Valley Bank, a longtime Valley leader offering premier Community Business Banking products and services, received the Jane & Bert Boeckmann Business Leadership Award.
• Lynette Romero, Emmy Award-winning journalist, received the Media Award.
• Home Again Los Angeles, an organization that serves the Valley’s unhoused and at-risk of homelessness population, received the Humanitarian Award.

“Since its founding in 1998, the annual gala has fast become one of the most prestigious events of its kind in our region,” said Sonya Blake, CEO and President of The Alliance. “With great pride, we honor individuals and organizations that have helped grow and strengthen our economy, improve the quality of life in our communities, and bring national recognition to the San Fernando Valley.”

The 25th Annual Valley of the Stars Awards Gala is made possible through the generous support of sponsors, who help to further the mission of The Valley Economic Alliance.

Mission Valley Bank served as the Luminary Sponsor for the event. Trailblazer Sponsors included Primestor and CMTC. Game Changer sponsors were the City of Burbank, the City of Glendale, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bill and Marie Allen, SRAR, MAXIMUS, and Century Housing.

Influencer Sponsors included Aszkenazy Development Inc., Athens Services, City National Bank. Childcare Resource Center, City of Calabasas, Comcast NBCUniversal, Gaines & Stacey, LLP, City National Bank, Express Employment Professionals, Goodwill Southern California, Home Again Los Angeles, Kaiser Permanente, Lewis Roca, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, PCL Construction, SoCalGas, Pacific Federal, LLC, Los Angeles Valley College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Valley College Foundation, Presencia & Poder, UCLA Health and Van Nuys Airport.

Leadership sponsors were Los Angeles Rams, Insperity, Turner & Townsend Heery, and California State University Northridge.

Ambiance Sponsors Tierra del Sol and Mike’s Roofing and Building provided music. On Board – Business & Community Consulting and Galpin Motors supplied flowers. Sponsors Tracy and Randall Hernandez and Concierge Autoworks provided dessert. REALM Entertainment contributed wine. US Bank and Los Angeles Regional Consortium were award sponsors.

The Valley Economic Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of business, government, education, and community leaders. Our mission is to engage and unite Valley stakeholders to raise standards of living and economic vitality across the San Fernando Valley, a five-city region encompassing Burbank, Calabasas, Glendale, Los Angeles, and San Fernando. This region consists of more than 1.9 million residents, over 160,000 businesses and covering more than 350 square miles. To learn more about The Valley Economic Alliance, visit TheValley.net.

2023 Valley of the Stars Honorees pictured: Bill Allen past president of The Valley Economic Alliance, Lynette Romero Emmy Award-winning journalist, Tamara Gurney President and CEO Mission Valley Bank and Albert Hernandez, CEO Home Again Los Angeles

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4-14-2023 25th Annual Valley of the Stars Awards Gala Honors Valley Leaders