Frank Girardot Installed as Pasadena Chamber Chair at Gala Marked by Resilience and Recognition

In a ceremony marked by congratulations, heartfelt stories, and a community still healing, the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association held its Inaugural Gala Friday night at the Langham Huntington Hotel, installing veteran journalist and executive Frank Girardot as its new board chair.

Girardot, known for his long career in investigative journalism and recent leadership roles in communications, took the stage with a joke and heartfelt reflection. A Pasadena resident who lives near the fire-scarred foothills, Girardot spoke personally about the devastation of the January Eaton Fire and the businesses and lives disrupted in its wake.

“I’ll be standing on my front lawn thinking, ‘I need to go to the hardware store,’ and then I remember—it’s not there anymore,” he said. “This was more than a fire. It changed our city.”

Girardot highlighted the Chamber’s responsibility not just to promote business, but to unify a city in recovery. He also announced that, for the first time, the Chamber is offering free membership to all businesses in the hardest-hit 91001 ZIP code.

“We want people to know we’re not going anywhere,” he said.

U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu arrived from Washington, D.C., Friday afternoon in time to join the celebration and offer her congratulations.

“One of my greatest honors in Congress is representing the city of Pasadena,” she said. “I was thrilled to see Frank Girardot take on this new role. His commitment and voice will serve this community well.”

Chu used the occasion to praise the Chamber’s longstanding role in championing small businesses—especially those recovering from both the pandemic and the fire. She highlighted recent federal grants that have helped restaurants like Bone Kettle and AWA build or refurbish their outdoor dining areas, made possible through her efforts to bring $41 million in federal funding to Pasadena.

She also praised Southern California Gas Company, recipient of the Chamber’s “Corporate Citizen of the Year” award, for helping displaced businesses reopen. “Your efforts will really make a difference in the recovery,” said Chu.

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo followed with an emotional tribute to the city’s resilience.

“Not a fire, not an earthquake, not COVID—nothing is going to break our spirit,” said Gordo. “We are a resilient, loving, and embracing community.”

He also paid tribute to Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Little and gave a nod to the many elected officials and former leaders in attendance, including councilmembers, college trustees, and state representatives.

Outgoing Chair Katelyn Barchowsky, who led the Chamber through a turbulent year, thanked her fellow board members and acknowledged the emotional toll of the fire.

“This has not been the year that any of us wished for,” she said. “Yet the Chamber stood tall… We helped find housing and locations for displaced businesses, provided critical information, and remained a steady presence during a time of need.”

One of the evening’s most emotional moments came during the presentation of the Chamber’s annual Bill Bogaard Scholarships—named for the former Pasadena mayor—to two students: Cynthia Reyes and Nataly Perez. Both women were nominated through the Chamber’s partnership with Journey House, which supports emancipated foster youth.

Reyes, a single mother, working house cleaner, and student of criminal justice, thanked the Chamber for what she called “a source of hope.”

“This scholarship is not just financial assistance,” she said. “It’s encouragement that reminds me I’m not alone in this journey.”

Perez, who plans to pursue a career in social work and family mediation, dedicated her remarks to her late sister, who died by suicide after suffering trauma in the foster system.

“I want to create a team who knows what it feels like to be silenced,” said Perez, her voice trembling. “And use that experience to break the cycle.”

As the evening came to a close, Girardot—who began his speech with a self-deprecating joke about mortality—returned to a more solemn note.

“We have board members still in temporary housing. We have homes and businesses still gone,” he said. “But the Chamber is here, and will continue to be here, helping rebuild, bringing people together, and pushing Pasadena forward.”