The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has named Thomas S. Sayles, senior vice president for university relations at University of Southern California, as the 2016 board chairman. The installation took place on February 11 at the Chamber’s 128th Inaugural Dinner, at the JW Marriott hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Mayor Eric Garcetti, Hon. Herb Wesson, Hon. Mark Ridley-Thomas and President & Incoming CEO of Delta Air Lines Ed Bastian spoke to more than 1,600 business and civic leaders at the event and recognized outstanding leadership with the prestigious Civic Medal of Honor presented to Antonia Hernandez, California Community Foundation; the Distinguished Business Leader award to Peter Lowy, Westfield Corporation, Inc; and the Corporate Leadership Award to AECOM. Event photos may be seen here.
Sayles thanked the chamber and shared his vision to strengthen the city’s economic progress.
“This chamber must continue to do everything it can to support job-creating projects,” and added, “we must continue to fight for for-profit and non-profits, lage and small.”
Sayles has been with USC since July 2011, and oversees government relations, communications, media relations, public relations, marketing, community outreach, and USC’s eleven public radio stations.
Previously, Sayles practiced law in the private and public sectors. He left the practice of law to serve as California’s commissioner of corporations and later as secretary of business, transportation and housing. He then returned to the private sector to work for Sempra Energy as vice president of government and community affairs and as senior vice president of consumer marketing.
Sayles also has been appointed by three different California governors to serve on boards and commissions, including the University of California Board of Regents and the California Community Colleges Board of Trustees.
His complete bio may seen here.
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