Almost 200 people attended the annual Pasadena Chamber of Commerce President's Breakfast at the Pasadena Hilton.

Everyone was very eager to hear from Tournament of Roses President Amy Wainscott about her experiences leading the Tournament for 2023.

Ms. Wainscott did not disappoint. She highlighted her journey as a young woman from Eagle Falls, Minnesota, (population about 1,500) to Los

Amy Wainscott delivers speech
Amy Wainscott talked about her experiences coming to California as a young worman as well as the choices she made as President of the Tournament of Roses for 2023. Lyd and Mo Photography
Angeles (population more than 3 million), with a modest wardrobe and a little over $700 in travelers checks to her name. She talked about making person-to-person collect phone calls home to let her family know she was ok. Settling in Pasadena and finding her passion for building and contracting, as well as her professional interactions with the Tournament and the Rose Bowl.

Ms. Wainscott also paid tribute to the many volunteers whose spirit and enthusiasm drive Pasadena's new year celebrations.

Another highlight of the event was introduction of the Rose Queen and Rose Court for 2023, Queen Bella Ballard and Rose Court members Salia Baligh, Michelle Cortez-Peralta, Adrian Crick, Zoe Denoncourt, Sahanna Rajinikanthan and Uma Wittenberg. 

Guests dined on Yogurt parfait with fresh berries and granola; a bakery basket of croissant, muffins and pastries; short rib benedict with  chipotle cream accompanied by orange juice, coffee and assorted teas.

In attendance were: Pasadena City Council Member Tyron Hampton and Vice Mayor Andy Wilson. Vice Mayor Wilson also serves on the

Amy Wainscott takes a selfie with Raphael Henderson and Paul Little
Amy Wainscott takes a selfie with Raphael Henderson and Paul Little. Lyd and Mo Photography
Board of the Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena Airport Authority. Mr. Hampton is chair of the Pasadena Center Operating Company Board. Pasadena City Manager Miguel Marquez; Pasadena City College President Superintendent Erika Endrijonas with PCC Trustees Sandra Chen-Lau, Jim Osterling, Tammy Silver, Kristine Kwong and Steve Gibson. Mike Ross, CEO of the Pasadena Center Operating Company, which includes the Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Civic Auditorium and the Convention Center attended, as did Art Chute, Deputy Chief of the Pasadena Police Department.

We also had several members of the Chamber Board of Directors with us. Mike Antenesse, former Board Chair Tom Daly, Elizabeth Dever, Dave Klug, Charlotte Lacey, former Board Chair John Leano, Ed Morales, Emilio Padilla, Greg Sanchez, Don Schweitzer and former Board Chair Justin Tsui were there.  We were honored to have some past Chairs of the Chamber Board here with us as well, George Falardeau and Dr. Dennis Buckley.

We also had several future presidents of the Tournament of Roses with us: Ed Morales, Craig Washington, Mark Leavens and Pam Knapp

Joan de Souza with the Rose Court photo
Ambassador Leader Joan de Souza with the Rose Court. Photo by Lyd and Mo Photography.
along with Tournament of Roses CEO David Eads.

Wells Fargo is the presenting sponsor for the 2022 President's Breakfast. Special thanks to Queen and Court Sponsors Athens Services, AT&T, Help With My Loan, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Kaiser Permanente, Pasadena City College, Pasadena Center Operating Company, Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the  Rose Bowl Stadium. Thanks also for our Corporate Table sponsors the City of Pasadena, Home Instead and the Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Newsgroup. Thank you also to Bickley Printing, Lyd & Mo Photography, the Pasadena Hilton, the Tournament of Roses Queen & Court Committee, Von's and West Coast Trophy.

You can read the PasadenaNOW coverage here: https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/tournament-president-wainscott-honored-by-chamber-of-commerce

You can read the Pasadena Star-News coverage here: https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/12/05/pasadena-chamber-tournament-of-roses-leaders-set-for-presidents-breakfast/

All photos courtesy Lyd and Mo Photography.