At the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce’s installation luncheon last week, the 2015 board of directors took their oath to serve the community. Please join me in congratulating: President Aram Ordubegian, Vice President Calvin Chock, Treasurer Craig Fisher, Secretary Robin Goldsworthy, Past President Steve Pierce and Honorary Mayor Chris Aristo. Returning directors are Lt. Lola Abrahamian, Ken Biermann, Warren Boehm, Doug Dall, Leonard Ghazarian, Ella Hambarchian, Dr. Cynthia Livingston, Julia Rabago, Michael Riley and Dr. J. D. Speas. New directors are Dr. Emil Avanes, Michael Baldwin, Jeero Habeshian, Christy Scott and Dwight Sityar.

Meet two of our new directors.

Dr. Emil Avanes is a board certified internist who completed his residency at L.A. County-Harbor UCLA Medical Center. He’s a graduate of Duke University and completed his master’s and M.D. degree at Chicago Medical School. Emil joined the Crescenta Valley community in 2012 when he founded Harmony Health M.D., a practice that aims for excellence in all endeavors through teamwork and compassion for all.

Dr. Avanes works diligently towards physician empowerment as district board member of the Los Angeles County Medical Association. He is active in the community through his roles on the Glendale College Health Information Technology Advisory Board and Glendale Adventist Medical Center Utilization Management Committee. He believes we are in a critical time period in health care delivery and it is up to health care professionals to get involved in creating the best health care system for the future.

When not taking care of patients or volunteering in the community, Emil enjoys the company of his beautiful wife Gayaneh and three children, Leone, Lorence and Charlotte. He stays active by playing basketball with many of his childhood friends several times a week. Emil’s motto has always been and will continue to be, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” and he is thankful for this opportunity to be on the board of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Michael Baldwin currently serves as Post Adjutant for American Legion Post 288 and VFW Post 1614. After being drafted in 1966, Mike served in the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division. He moved on to Advanced Infantry training at Fort Polk, Lousiana and, in Vietnam, he served in Infantry Operations Air Combat Command.

Mike is a La Crescenta native, one of six children, born on Altura Avenue in 1942.  He graduated from Glendale High and attended Glendale Community College. He returned to La Crescenta with wife Carolyn White in 1962 and raised two sons Michael and Mark. Mike coached Little League and was athletic director for the Glendale Bears.

After working at Pacific Telephone for 31 years in the Special Services Data and Information Technology Dept., Mike retired in 1991. He then obtained his Microsoft Certified System Engineering certification from Long Beach State and applied his expertise as an IT consultant for the U.S. Navy Hospital and Computer Resources Group.

Retiring again in 2003, he now divides his time among eight grandchildren, numerous sports and various community-minded efforts via the American Legion, the VFW and now the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Welcome Michael Baldwin and Dr. Emil Avanes!

  Lisa DUPUY