For the second year in a row, Los Angeles has won the Outstanding Chapter Performance Award. Tony Brown was the chapter’s president for the 1978-79 term, and he led the chapter to a 32 percent increase in membership, bringing its membership up to 146.
The Los Angeles chapter’s members enjoyed listening to several very interesting speakers during 1978-79, according to this year’s president, Peter Balgochian. One in particular he remembered was Mike Cohen, a physical fitness director at Xerox, who spoke on stress and physical fitness. The members also held a seminar in November 1978 on “Effective Leadership in Management,” which was led by chapter member John Utvich.
Utvich, a recipient of both the Professional Manager grade and the title of Fellow of the Society, was credited by Balgochian as one of the driving forces behind the success of the chapter.
One of the ways the Los Angeles chapter is seeking to grow is through expanded involvement in its community. It currently works with Junior Achievement, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration, and is trying to establish a site for an Operation Enterprise session on the West Coast for campus chapter members and Junior Achievers.
Balgochian also spoke of the chapter’s desire to recruit more women into the Society. He hopes to achieve success in this area by setting up an S.A.M. booth or table at a local businesswomen’s meeting.
What makes the Los Angeles chapter so special? Balgochian said that the answer lies in the caliber of its members. “There are enough people who are willing to give of their free time to make the chapter a success.” SAM-NI
This SAM News International article is from our historical archive, information provided is for reference and archival research about the activities and developments of the Society.