Laurel Rosen, President/CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce presents Macerich's Santa Monica Place Marketing Manager Ashley Walkley with the Business Cares award on Tuesday, February 12, 2009, for their outstanding service to the community by working to end homelessness. Macerich encourages its employees to volunteer at various non-profit organizations that benefit each Town Center concept of being the social heart of their community. Each full-time employee receives a volunteer time bank of an aggregate of 24 hours a year to volunteer at the non-profit organizations. Last year Macerich employees completed more than 20,000 volunteer hours! Macerich is one of the country's largest owners, operators and developers of major retail properties. Key markets include Arizona, California, the New York City metropolitan area, and suburban Washington, D.C., within an expansive national footprint. Delivering what's new and what's next, Macerich is an industry leader in adding value to well-sited shopping centers with strong demographics and demonstrable shopper loyalty. The company's success stems from a deeply rooted commitment to embrace and reflect the changing preferences of consumers, retailers and communities on every step of the journey toward creating remarkable destinations. The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's new 'Business Cares' program honors members of Santa Monica’s business community working to end homelessness.

Laurel Rosen, President/CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce recognizes Andrea Dubois, Human Resource Coordinator from Rubin Postaer & Associates for their outstanding service to the community by working to end homelessness on Tuesday, February 12, 2009. Rubin Postaer & Associates hosts a number of events designed to raise money for local charities by bringing employees together to have fun and celebrate the holiday season. This represents a wonderful win-win for the company, their employees and for the charity. The employees participate in activities that strengthen relationships and foster better teamwork, while the charity gains new donors. Rubin Postaer & Associates selected OPCC (Ocean Park Community Center) as its 2008 annual employee charity drive beneficiary and raised $9,000.00. Rubin Postaer & Associates is headquartered in Santa Monica and has a client roster of national firms that includes UCLA, Acura, Honda, MGM, and Pioneer. The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's new 'Business Cares' program honors members of Santa Monica’s business community working to end homelessness.

Economist Christopher Thornberg, past economist with the UCLA Anderson Forecast and cofounder of Beacon Economics, discusses  the contracting economy during  Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's 2009 State of the City - Economic Outlook at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage on Friday, January 30, 2009. Thornberg provided answers to questions such as will the economy recovery, get worse or stay the same? Are homes going to be a good buy in 09? The new D word is deflation, can it happen? Does it matter? "A new year brings in new hopes and new fears," said Thornberg. "While the underlying problems in the US economy remain large, the Federal Reserve and Treasury have already taken historic actions in order to stabilize the economy—and the new Obama administration promises to bring aggressive fiscal actions to the table as well." About Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce: Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce advocates and represents businesses' interests and issues affecting the community. They provide the environment to help their members prosper and succeed through a proactive working partnership with all levels of government and community organizations to achieve a healthy local economy and quality of life. The Chamber provides a wide range of community and member services, including community events The Taste of Santa Monica, Non-Profit Festival, Business Expo and Health Festival.

(top) Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem, Richard Bloom, and his 9 week-old black Lab  'Jackson' welcome  Santa Monica's newest teachers during  Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's 14th Annual Education Celebration at Le Merigot on Thursday, October 23, 2008. (center) McKinley Elementary School teachers (left to right) Principal Irene Gonzalez, Kristen Mowry, Nancy Murphy, and Mary Carpenter examine their stuffed door prize during the Education Celebration at  Le Merigot. The event is held to welcome new teachers to the district and celebrate educational excellence.

(above) Founder and CEO of  02 Max Fitness, Karen Jashinsky (bottom right) leads her teenage students through a 'Bosa Ball' demonstration during the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's 26^th Annual 2008 Wellness & Safety Festival at the Third Street Promenade on Saturday, April 26, 2008.