Pasadena Chamber to Install Real Estate Veteran as Board Chair at Annual Gala

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The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association will install Bill Ukropina of Coldwell Banker Commercial as its new board chair at the organization’s annual Inaugural Gala on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Langham Huntington Hotel.

Ukropina, who has over 40 years of commercial real estate experience in Pasadena, assumes leadership of the 138-year-old organization as the business community continues recovering from the January 2025 Eaton Fire, which destroyed 9,418 structures and burned 14,021 acres in neighboring Altadena, according to the Chamber’s Pasadena Perspectives magazine. The Chamber offered free memberships to all businesses in the hardest-hit 91001 ZIP code in the fire’s aftermath, according to Pasadena Now coverage of the 2025 gala.

The Chamber represents more than 1,150 member businesses, according to the organization.

“The Chair has a unique opportunity to shape and direct Chamber policies and programs during their year leading the Board,” Paul Little, the Chamber’s president and CEO, said in a statement last year about the role.

Ukropina currently serves as the Chamber board’s treasurer for the 2025-2026 term, according to the Chamber’s business directory. He joined the board in 2023. His Coldwell Banker Commercial office is located at 388 South Lake Avenue, according to the firm’s listings.

Beyond real estate, Ukropina has served on the City of Pasadena Parks and Recreation Commission, served twice as president of the Pasadena American Little League, and coached AYSO for 11 years, according to his professional biography.

The gala will also honor outgoing Chair Frank Girardot of BYD|RIDE, recognize Corporate Citizens of the Year, and award Bill Bogaard Scholarships to emancipated foster youth, according to the Chamber’s invitation. The scholarships are named for the former Pasadena mayor.

At last year’s gala, Girardot announced the free membership initiative for fire-affected businesses. “But the Chamber is here, and will continue to be here, helping rebuild, bringing people together, and pushing Pasadena forward,” Girardot said at the 2025 event, according to the Chamber’s magazine.

Caltech and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are the presenting sponsor. Gold sponsors include Kaiser Permanente, the Langham Huntington Hotel, and Verizon, according to the Chamber invitation. Silver sponsors are Athens Services, the City of Pasadena, Rose Bowl Stadium, Wells Fargo, and Womble Bond Dickinson LLP. SoCalGas is the entertainment sponsor.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction in the Viennese Ballroom at 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue. Dinner and the program follow at 7:30 p.m. Complimentary valet parking will be provided. Registration is available online through the Chamber, or by contacting the office at 626-795-3355 or leanne@pasadena-chamber.org.

“The Chamber is growing and thriving as we support our members and work to grow our local economy, create jobs and improve the quality of life for everyone in our community,” Little said in a March statement about the organization’s activities.