BOSS student-athletes joined us at the Great Los Angeles African-American Chamber of Commerce’s 22nd Annual Economics Awards Gala at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at LA Live.

Actress Dawnn Lewis (A DIFFERENT WORLD and HANGIN’ WITH MR. COOPER) headlined the 22nd Annual Gala, and joined a packed house of 750 guests in recognizing individuals, corporations and African American businesses in 13 award categories for their achievements, commitment to diversity in hiring and business contracting and for providing opportunities to minority businesses.  The theme of this year’s gala:  Advocating, Educating and Creating Business Opportunities.

Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, delivered the keynote address.  Noel Massie, President, UPS, South California District, was Dinner Chair.  Honorees included (first female and first Black) California Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Kamala Harris; Toyota North America General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Christopher Reynolds; and Bank of America’s Senior Vice President Garrett Gin.  Guests included LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, LA County Board of Supervisors member Mark Ridley-Thomas, executives of American Honda, Bank of America, Hensel Phelps, Kaiser Permanente, Northrop Grumman, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company, Toyota, Union Bank, UPS, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo.