The Club held its 97th annual luncheon Feb. 11 at the California Endowment in downtown Los Angeles. The event was hosted for the second time by Arlene Herrero, Club Chief Business Officer.
The theme, “Growing Together,” focused the afternoon on deep, long-term relationship-building instead of just executing transactions.
The annual luncheon continued elements began last year: the naming of Employees of the Year across many jurisdictions and a Lifetime Achievement Award; the second installment of “Along for the Ride” Club video; and a panel discussion, this year hosted by General Services staffer and Club Member Eric Robles, and featuring Club Members Brenda Aguirre, Assistant General Manager, Rec and Parks, and Chief Carlos Calvillo, Emergency Operations Center, LAFD.
Those elements combined with ongoing favorites like the Club President’s Award, the ceremonial swearing in of Club Board Members, annual reports from Club staff, and of course a delicious lunch and the renewal of friendships and business relationships.
Officer Don Jenkins of the LAPD Chaplain Corps gave the opening invocation and the closing benediction. The business portion of the annual meeting – the official swearing in of Club Board Members – took place in late 2025.
The 97th annual lunch meeting was produced by the meeting committee Mariana Guevara, Arlene Herrero, Guadalupe Lira and Clara Flores.
CEO Remarks and Swearing In
After welcoming and thanking the Board of Directors, Club Ambassadors, Club staff and creative contributors, Association and Club President and CEO Robert Larios remarked on the Club way of connecting with Members and partners.
“The people who started the association in 1928 had no idea what 2026 would look like,” Robert said. “They just knew people who take care of everyone else would need someone looking out for them, too.
“That’s still it. Our mission—to honor, celebrate and give thanks to public service employees for their dedication and service. That’s not marketing language. That’s actually what we do, and what we’ve been doing since before most of us were born.
“There are two ways to operate: Transactional or relational.
Transactional is: What can you do for me? What’s in it for me? Sometimes you need that. I’m not saying it’s wrong. But it’s limited.
“Relational is different. It’s: What can we build? How do we help each other? Relational wins. Every time. When you treat them like a person —like their story is worth knowing — you get trust. Loyalty. Community. Someone who shows up for you later. A Member for life. That’s what this organization has been doing for 97 years.”
Robert then introduced Club Chief Operating Officer Summy Lam, who swore into office Association Board Members who were present: Rita Robinson-Kane, Marilyn Holley, Phillip Chou, Andrew Virzi III, Neil Guglielmo and Andrew Virzi Jr.
Panel Discussion: City Employees and Collaboration
After lunch, Arlene Herrero introduced the moderator for the afternoon’s panel discussion: Eric Robles, Chief Management Analyst, General Services, Club Member. Eric introduced fellow speakers Chief Carlos Calvillo, Emergency Operations Center, LAFD, Club Member; and Brenda Aguirre, Assistant General Manager, Rec and Parks, Club Member.
During their discussion, Eric, Carlos and Brenda talked about cooperation and ways City employees and even departments can work together.
Corporate Updates
Club Chief Operating Officer Summy Lam reported on the strength of the Association and the Club.
Arlene Herrero reported on the strengths of several Club initiatives, including Club Angels, the Club’s charity partner; Club Scholarships; employee retirement and recognition programs; the implementation of its Code of Ethics and Conduct; Club Sports and wellness initiatives; the creation and the growth of the Retiree Society; and the strength of its core mission across municipal departments in the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and the State of California.
Club Video: Along for the Ride
Finally, the Club debuted the second installment of its exciting new immersive documentary series called “Along for the Ride,” where the Club cameras spend time with Club Members on the job and using important Club benefits. This second installment featured four members of the Port Police Baker to Vegas running team – Sgts. Brandyn Anderson and Tyler Hellinga; and Officers Jose Verbera and Alexandra Garbe. The second portion of the video told the powerful story of Jasmine Dowlatshahi, Sr. Facilities Director, Rec and Parks, and her heroism during and after the Palisades fire, keeping the rec center youths safe while finding space for them to continue their leagues at neighboring Rec Centers.
This second installment of “Along for the Ride” will have its public debut later this spring. “Along for the Ride” was produced for the Club by Burnes Creative and ÁLAS Media. Let Club video tell your story! Are you interested in being featured in a future segment of “Along for the Ride”? Email the team at alive@employeesclub.com
Club Awards
Presidents Award
Mariana Guevara, Club Director of Ticketing and Affinity Programs, presented one of the Club’s most meaningful and distinguished honors – the President’s Award, chosen by the awardee’s peers and co-workers. This year’s recipient was Ron Cortez, Assistant Quality Assurance Analyst.
“This year’s recipient has made a number of contributions to both the growth of our Association and fostering deep-rooted relationship-building with everyone they work with,” Mariana began. Ron “has an incredible attention to detail as illustrated by his keen eye for edits as part of our Alive! editorial team.
“Ron has taken the lead in strengthening vendor processes, always looking for ways to streamline and improve accuracy resulting more efficient work flow and fewer errors. He demonstrates genuine dedication by stepping up on weekends when needed to ensure time-sensitive projects are completed in alignment with payroll deadlines, application processes, and vendor communications.
“He is an active participant in the Association’s Book Club, reflecting his curiosity and growth mindset. His commitment to learning is further exemplified with his achievement of earning an MBA from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. His presence strengthens and spreads a sense of community within the Club. He inspires us with his positivity, collaborative and thoughtful approach to problem-solving, and his willingness to uplift his teammates.
“Ron is an integral part of our team, where his work consistently strengthens the Club’s ability to serve its Members with precision, care and integrity. We’re truly grateful to have such a charismatic and dedicated person as part of our foundation and legacy. We celebrate you, Ron, on this well-deserved achievement.”
Employees Of The Year
For the second time, the Club presented its Employee of the Year Awards, an initiative to celebrate the incredible dedication, professionalism and heart that define public service employees in California. It’s about recognizing excellence, the very best of public service.
Recipients of the 2026 Employee of the Year Awards were:
Officer Percival Valdenor
23 years of City service
16 years of Club Membership
Richard Hamada
20 years of LADWP service
20 years of Club Membership
Lifetime Achievement Award
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Guadalupe Lira, Club Director of Digital Media, then presented the Club Lifetime Achievement Award to “an extraordinary leader, advocate and champion of City employees – Lady Yvette Smith, LACERS.
“Lady’s impact on the Employees Club of California — and on so many of us personally — is remarkable,” Guadalupe began. “For years, she has been a driving force behind our Club Sports programs, especially the softball league. Many of you know her affectionately as ‘The Commish.’ And that name wasn’t just a title — it reflected her energy, her leadership, and her ability to bring people together.
“She didn’t just oversee games. She built community, encouraged participation and created connections across departments. That matters — because in a City as large and complex as Los Angeles, connection doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because someone creates space for it. It matters because when employees from different departments come together, we get to know one another beyond our roles. We build relationships. We strengthen morale. And that makes us stronger — not just as coworkers, but as a public service community.
“In 2022, Lady stepped into another leadership role as a founding member of our Ambassador Circle, proudly representing LACERS. As a Club Ambassador, she has continued doing what she does best — building bridges between employees, departments, and Retirees.
“Lady reminds us that public service isn’t just about the work we do — it’s about the relationships we build and the community we create.
“Lady has shown us what leadership looks like when it’s rooted in service and heart — and our community is stronger because of her. Today, we honor her not only for her leadership and advocacy… but for the hearts has poured into the City employee community. Thank you, and congratulations.”
