The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce produced Beverly Hills’ largest networking event of the year, the Summer Garden Party presented by Torrey Pines Bank and Greater LA Realtors on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. With over 500 members and distinguished guests in attendance, this signature event served as the Chamber’s annual Board of Directors installation and membership appreciation celebration. Guests relished in the evening’s festivities, surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Beverly Cañon Gardens.

The evening commenced with a warm welcome from Todd Johnson, President & CEO of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, who introduced the event’s presenting sponsors and thanked the city officials, esteemed guests, and Chamber Ambassadors in attendance. To kick-off this celebration of the Chamber’s monumental year, Johnson presented the Randy Fuhrman Ambassador of the Year Award to this year’s winner, the remarkable Jeff Forsythe, SVP CRE Loan Officer at Torrey Pines Bank, recognized for his notable efforts and involvement as a Chamber Ambassador for over seven years.

Following this award, the guests heard from the outgoing Chair of the Board, Giorgio Cyphaeus Sease, who shared his bittersweet final remarks as he reflected on the board’s accomplishments throughout the 2021-2022 term: 

“I would like to thank the Chamber Executive Committee and Board of Directors for their countless, integral contributions over the past year. Their leadership has been a tremendous asset to the Chamber and we truly could not have accomplished our goals without their efforts.”

Beverly Hills’ Vice Mayor, Julian Gold, MD was then welcomed to the stage to present the Certificate of Recognition to Giorgio, acknowledging his immense contributions to the Chamber as well as the Beverly Hills community. As Sease’s term came to a close, it was time to induct the 101st Chair of the Board of Directors, Kathleen Chapman. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Commercial Banking for Torrey Pines Bank, Chapman has been an active Chamber member since 2012 and has 30 years of professional experience in the banking industry. Greeted with resounding applause, Kathleen discussed her hopes and aspirations as Board Chair during the upcoming year:

“Throughout my career in finance and banking I have had the fortunate opportunity to work with a diverse array of businesses, in a multitude of industries and an assortment of sizes. And what I am always most fascinated by are the people behind the business – the entrepreneurs with the vision and the guts to go for it, the managers and leaders with the foresight to build on that vision, and the team that executes on it all. Over the years, as I’ve gotten to know many of the people behind the businesses of Beverly Hills, I’ve continued to be captivated by the entrepreneurial spirit, the fortitude, and the caliber of the individuals I’ve encountered. Our Beverly Hills business community is renowned throughout the world – and beyond the brands and the luxury, I know it is the people that make this possible. It takes every business of every size and type and every person behind each one to create the success that this community shares.”

Though the award ceremony and installation was winding down, the night was far from over. 

The reception, consisting of decadent tastings from some of Beverly Hills’ finest eateries as well as elegant ambiance provided by Kirschner Creative Artist’s Harpwoman, Ellie Choate, offered guests a way to celebrate and mingle in true Beverly Hills fashion. There were six different restaurants present, including Tommy’s Beverly Hills and Spago Beverly Hills, serving flavorful bites from grilled octopus to sweet white corn salad. 

The Chamber would like to recognize and thank each of our incredible sponsors, staff and crew members, Board of Directors, Chamber Ambassadors, and volunteers for creating such a memorable experience through their invaluable efforts. Special thanks to all of our event sponsors who made this night possible, including: Presenting Sponsors: Greater LA Realtors and Torrey Pines Bank; Gold Sponsor: Kennedy Wilson; Silver Sponsors, Cedars-Sinai Health System, U.S Bank, Grobstein Teeple, Cutera, MGAC, and First Republic Bank; as well as these exhibitor and reception sponsors: Metro, Daniel Garcia, Assil Eye Institute, Creed Boutique Beverly Hills, Dance and Dialogue, Athens Services, Sync Brokerage, Vertical Collective, Network Experts, Palisades, Tatel Beverly Hills, California Pizza Kitchen, impasta, Spago Beverly Hills, The Grill on the Alley, The Maybourne Beverly Hills, Tommy’s Beverly Hills, buzzbox premium cocktails, Gothic Gin, Icelandic Glacial, LeVecke Wine, Morandell Imports, Smoke Lab Vodka, Kirschner Creative Artist, and Entertainment Plus Productions.

Finally, thank you to all of our Chamber Members for sharing this unforgettable summer evening with us. We hope that everyone enjoyed our annual Summer Garden Party and we look forward to seeing you around the beautiful Beverly Hills!

For a listing of the 2022-2023 Board of Directors, click here. 

To view the official event photography shot by DVR Productions, click here.