LMU Lions at the 2026 L.A. Area Chamber Inaugural Dinner

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LMU Lions at the 2026 L.A. Area Chamber Inaugural Dinner

Los Angeles has a special way of celebrating the people who make the city move. During awards season, the spotlight is usually on our storytellers—and on the thousands of people behind the scenes who power the creative economy. (Also: traffic. Which is always here. Awards season just adds a little extra flair.)

Last night, I had the privilege of attending a different kind of “premiere”—with our students—at the 2026 Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s Inaugural Dinner, held in the Ray Dolby Ballroom in the heart of Hollywood.

And yes, the setting is as “L.A.” as it sounds—right down to the venue.

A civic tradition in Hollywood

If you’re not already close to the Chamber’s work, here’s the quick version: the L.A. Area Chamber is a leading regional business organization that convenes and advocates—bringing together business, civic, nonprofit, and education leaders to strengthen our economy and communities.

The Chamber’s Inaugural is one of those uniquely Los Angeles traditions—an annual gathering that celebrates leadership and marks the passing of the gavel to the incoming board chair.

This year’s featured speakers reflected a cross-section of the region’s leadership: Maria S. Salinas ’87, President & CEO of the L.A. Area Chamber; outgoing 2025 Board Chair George L. Pla, Founder & CEO of Cordoba Corporation and former LMU Regent; and incoming 2026 Board Chair Andy Park, Office Managing Partner at EY. And, of course, LA Mayor Karen Bass.

The evening also honored three standouts who have shaped Los Angeles in distinct ways:

• Civic Medal of Honor: George Kieffer, Senior Counsel at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
• Corporate Leadership Award: Bank of America (accepted by Raul Anaya, President of BofA Greater Los Angeles)
• Distinguished Business Leader: Lewis Horne, President (Greater L.A., Orange County & the Inland Empire) at CBRE

Together, the honorees reflect the breadth of leadership recognized by the Chamber—spanning civic service, corporate leadership, and regional impact.

The best seat in the room

LMU was proud to support the Inaugural as a sponsor—and I genuinely loved hosting our table. But what matters most isn’t the name on a sponsor list. It’s what sponsorship makes possible: relationships, learning, and real access for our students to see leadership up close.

Seated with us were LMU students Ayah Mohamed and Kaila Nash (who’s also one of LMU’s interns with the Los Angeles Rams). Watching them navigate the room, ask thoughtful questions, and see firsthand how the city’s leadership ecosystem actually works is the kind of learning you can’t fully replicate on campus.

This is what we mean when we say education is engaged.

You can teach networking. But the real spark happens when students realize: I belong here—and I have something to contribute. That’s the moment I love most—and why I couldn’t be prouder that LMU gives students not just a seat in the room, but a real seat at the table.

We were also fortunate to have Dr. Cathy Irwin, our University Ambassador and First Spouse, with us—someone who represents LMU with warmth, grace, and a genuine commitment to community connection. Cathy is a force for good for this university and for Los Angeles, and we’re lucky she’s out there representing and making connections for our Lions.

(Also, it’s hard not to love an evening where the Dodgers’ World Series trophy makes a cameo. In LA, even the trophies network.)

Dr. Maria Salinas: leadership, connection, and Lion pride

A highlight for me—always—is seeing a dear friend and LMU Lion, Dr. Maria Salinas: an impactful civic leader, a generous partner, and an alumna who truly shows up for the university.

Maria earned her undergraduate degree at LMU (’87), went on to build a career marked by corporate leadership and entrepreneurial drive, and in 2018 made history as the first woman and first Latina to lead the L.A. Area Chamber. In 2019, LMU conferred on her the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, recognizing her leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and community service. She has also served LMU as a past chair of the Board of Regents and returned to campus to address our graduate commencement.

There’s something powerful about watching someone who understands how Los Angeles works—and uses that understanding to make Los Angeles better for all. Maria embodies that connection, and she helps create the kind of civic table where higher education isn’t on the sidelines, but in the middle of the conversation.

A year-round partnership, not a one-night event

I am honored to represent LMU at the LA Chamber and sit on the Chamber’s Board of Governors. What I appreciate most is the Chamber’s gift for convening. Business, education, nonprofits, and civic leaders don’t always land in the same room naturally—so the Chamber builds the room. A big thanks to outgoing Board Chair George Pla for his vision and for showing up for Angelenos in a particularly challenging year (it’s hard to believe it was only one year ago since the wildfires). And congratulations to our new Board Chair, Andy Park; we all appreciate and admire his passion, energy—and an inspiring speech that reminded us about the enduring values of his upbringing, the courage of his immigrant parents, and the enduring value of a hard work ethic.

If you read my recent post about LA28, you’ve already heard me reflect on what big civic moments can catalyze when institutions align around shared goals. LA28 is one example of that broader dynamic—but nights like the Inaugural are a reminder that the real work is year-round: building relationships that turn into internships, community service, engaged learning, and opportunities for LMU Lions (and students across the region) to connect their education to the city and world they’re helping shape.

What I’m most grateful for is that LMU doesn’t just encourage this kind of engagement—it expects it. The university enables its leaders to step into roles where civic responsibility, community partnership, and student impact intersect. That expectation says a lot about who we are.

Gratitude for the team that makes it happen

A big thank you to VP Marianna Villa and our External Relations & Partnerships team for their leadership—and for the gracious hosting and coordination that made LMU’s presence at the Inaugural feel thoughtful, student-centered, and authentically us.

Los Angeles has no shortage of “big nights.” What makes this one matter is what it represents: a region choosing leadership, partnership, and shared responsibility—and LMU showing up with students at the center of it.

—John