The Los Al Chamber filled the Epson America Conference Center again last week as members and guests gathered to see officers and board members sworn in for 2026.
Joint Forces Training Base Commander Lt. Col. Jubilee Satele was present to perform the swearing-in ceremonies. Satele, relatively new in the role as the Los Al Base Commander, thanked the Chamber for the invitation to administer the oaths.
After taking the oath as the new President of the Chamber, Richie Barnes, an outreach specialist for F&M Bank, said he was ready to move the organization forward, having spent a couple of years as a member of the Board of Directors and the Chamber’s Finance Committee.
“I’m ready to get started,” he told the Chamber, before laying out his vision for the next year.
“I have a good idea of the financial structure,” said Barnes and “my strong suit is in the boardroom,” he said.
While the Chamber sponsors its “Heroes Appreciation Luncheon” each year, Barnes suggested meeting with other area Chambers to grow the network and get ideas.
“I want to really get connected with other Chambers,” said Barnes, “to broaden our network and move outside the ‘Heroes Appreciation Luncheon.’”
“So, I’m really looking forward to 2026,” he said.
In addition to Barnes, Satele also swore in the Chamber’s 15-member board of Directors.
Outgoing Co-Presidents Dr. Andrew Pulver and Susan Morales thanked the members for allowing them to serve, both acknowledging the changes they made were positive for the Chamber.
Pulver and Morales made several changes to the Chamber’s meeting, including a popular “Get Connected” segment wherein several members were grouped to solve challenges or exchange ideas.
“It’s been a fun way to keep us engaged and connected,” said Pulver.
Morales is a UCI Health Executive at the Los Alamitos Medical Center, and Pulver is Superintendent of the Los Alamitos Unified School District.
Pulver thanked the business community for strongly supporting its local institutions, noting that it was unique that the business community in Los Alamitos asked “two people who work for nonprofits to be co-presidents of the Chamber.”
Several representatives of local elected officials were on hand to honor the business officials and the board for their service to the community.
In other action, the Chamber;
- Honored Mike Prencavage, Jr., from The Family Plumber, for sponsoring the meal at Epson.
- Heard from Southland Credit Union executives after they were named “Member of the Month.”
- Heard from Luke Saylor, of Saylor Cleaning. They offer janitorial services for large commercial spaces.