If Los Angeles is the land of film-esque lighting, cool props and walking into different worlds, then Big Foot West proved to be a welcome departure from florescent-lit cubicles of the work-a-day world. Over cocktails, filling appetizers and under dozens of elk antlers, a disco ball and mood lighting, IABC-LA welcomed members and non-members to our conversation-starter April networking event.
I introduced our diverse and highly enthusiastic new board team including Warner Boutin, Development Chair and Big Foot event lead; Mike Spasoff, Chair, Media and Technology; Christie Ly, Treasurer and Past President; Kyle Kearney, Student Outreach Chair and myself, President. Kerry Bonner, Membership Chair and Betty Henry, Communications Chair, and Paula Cassin, Past President, had schedule conflicts. We have some very solid and talented filmmakers on our team supporting our media efforts and promotion, besides outstanding experience in tech and communications.
We were delighted to have a “guest of honor,” SCE’s Chris Cabrera, Past President and board member for last few years. Chris Keough of Belkin enjoyed talking with Cabrera about what it’s like to be a Chris(!) We welcomed Nancy Profera, Editor, Crosslink Magazine for Aerospace Space, who is very interested in volunteering and participated in one of our Google Hangouts. Gerhard Runken, Sales Manager of Automation (digital printing), is also getting involved in volunteering with the chapter towards membership. Great to see Dawn Pace of KPMG, and meet Andrea Wilcox of Davis and Co. and Elizabeth Albright of Pharmavite. Warner introduced us to Businesswire colleague Rachel Kaye and Sam Wolk of Cardwell Beach. (With the magic of WordPress, I shall add other attendee names shortly.)
Whether attendees appreciated Big Foot West’s kitsch-y or retro-trendy vibe, the group enjoyed networking with one another and looks forward to meeting up again.
Big thanks to Warner Boutin for bringing the chapter to a completely different locale and doing much of the legwork to make it happen. Thanks to Kyle Kearney (www.kyleallenphoto.com) for great still shots of the board pre-and during event. Mike Spasoff served as wingman getting last minute details in order on location.