It starts at the top — the top of the Union Bank building at the Keesal, Young & Logan Law offices, where Grand Prix festivities began Sunday with brunch for a thousand guests! Champagne and mimosas, delectable breakfast fare, great camaraderie and spirit de corps prevailed. Then it was off to the race and back again at day’s end for more festivities with dining and dancing. Souvenirs of the memorable day included a race car photo, T-shirt and hat. The behind-the-scenes operation was as smooth and efficient as the pit row crews changing of the race car tires thanks to Kelli Gardener, Jodi Cohen, Richard Brown, Julie Pearce, Chef William Hall, Chef Mauricio Perez, and the great KY&L and HCVT staffs, who keep the mechanics of the day well-tuned.
The generous charitable donations of the firm also start at the top! The firm is well known for its hospitality and community contributions. Among the 50 or so organizations it supports are Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach, Aquarium of the Pacific, Boy Scouts of America, Long Beach Area Council, California Conference for Equality and Justice, Leadership Long Beach, Long Beach Public Library Foundation and YMCA of Greater Long Beach. The giving spirit indeed starts at the top, with Skip Keesal.
Seen at the scene: Skip Keesal, Steve Keesal and Hope Norris, Steve Young, Blake and Vicki Christian, Victor and Lisa Gonzales, Supervisor Don and Julie Knabe, Mayor Robert Garcia, Police Chief Robert Luna, City Attorney Charles Park and his wife Teresa, Jane Netherton, Sarah Sangmeister, David Tong, John Hancock, Steve Conley, former Mayor Beverly O’Neill, Port of Long Beach Executive Director Jon Slangerup. Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond and Commissioners Rich Dines and Lou Anne Bynum, Deputy City Manager Reggie Harrison and Commissioner Lori Ann Farrell-Harrison, Graham and Cindy Vanhegan, Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, Long Beach city councilmembers Lena Gonzalez, Suzie Price, Stacy Mungo, Dee Andrews, Roberto Uranga, Al Austin, and Rex Richardson; Cheri Bazley of LB Ronald McDonald House, Don Rodriguez of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, Drew Gagner of St. Mary Medical Center Foundation, State Assembly members Patrick O’Donnell and Mike Gipson, Becky Blair, Donna Duke, Molly Tatman, Larry and Barbara Jackson, Mark, Ryan and Jerry Bloeser, Linda and Alex Bellehumeur, Julie and Rocky Suarez, Doug and Freda Otto, Darlene Dameron and Gary Taylor, Terri Geiling, Mari Hooper and Anne Kramer, Art Levine, Jackie and Ernie Kell, Dave Zanata, Mike Murchison.