By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Like, oh my God — the Valley totally threw itself a party, and showed again why it’s one of Los Angeles County’s crown jewels.
The Valley Economic Alliance’s 31st Annual Valley of the Stars Awards Gala, held Thursday, April 30, at a packed Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City ballroom and presented by Mission Valley Bank, brought together business leaders, community champions, and civic partners from across the San Fernando Valley to celebrate the people and organizations that drive the region’s economic vitality.
Founded in the rubble of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the Alliance was born the following year when local leaders recognized the need for a nonprofit entity that could equitably distribute FEMA emergency relief funds and convene the stakeholders needed to rebuild the community.
“The growth of The Alliance is a reflection of the strength of our community and the power of friendship, opportunity, and shared prosperity,” said Alliance Board Chair Armida Colmenares-Stafford in her welcoming remarks.
The Alliance serves a five-city region — Burbank, Calabasas, Glendale, Los Angeles, and San Fernando — comprising more than 160,000 businesses and over 2 million residents across more than 350 square miles. Its strategic collaboration spans all for-profit and nonprofit sectors, expanding its reach and deepening its commitment to workforce development, entrepreneurship, and inclusive regional growth.
Fritz Coleman, the five-time Emmy Award-winning comedian and former NBC Los Angeles weathercaster whose 40-year run made him a beloved Valley institution, served as the gala’s Master of Ceremonies.
Among those receiving awards was Legendary Monkees drummer and San Fernando Valley native Micky Dolenz — a Grant High School alumnus who grew up riding horses on a Valley ranch and once had to flee a San Fernando Valley mall when screaming fans surrounded him.
“My parents lived in Tarzana, on an old dilapidated chicken farm,” he said. “My beautiful wife Donna and I avoid Hollywood and LA whenever we can. It’s a schlep — living in the Calabasas area and then having to go through border control at Mulholland,” said Dolenz.
LAWA/Van Nuys Airport was honored as Regional Aviation Leader for its role connecting Southern California to the world while contributing billions annually to the regional economy. Humanitarian honoree Louise Oliver, a lifelong public servant, was recognized for decades of dedication in federal service, regional leadership, and nonprofit work across the San Fernando Valley community.
NBC4 co-anchor Carolyn Johnson — a Stanford University graduate who has received multiple Emmy awards and is known for her investigative reporting on the opioid epidemic — was celebrated for her dedication to journalism and storytelling.
Data infrastructure giant DDN received the Innovator Award as the world’s leading provider of AI data storage and management platforms, powering some of the largest AI deployments across enterprise, HPC, and autonomous vehicle innovators.
“Together, we will continue to elevate the San Fernando Valley and drive forward a legacy of growth, opportunity, and excellence,” said Alliance President and CEO Sonya Kay Blake.
