150 celebrate Tournament President Brad Ratliff at Chamber breakfast

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce honored 2017 Tournament of Roses Association President Brad Ratliff at the annual President’s Breakfast at the Westin Pasadena on Thursday, December 1, 2016. Mr. Ratliff was accompanied by his wife, Susan and parents Dick and Susan Ratliff. (Dick is a former President of the Tournament.)

Chamber members and friends were joined by the Royal Court and Rose Queen Victoria. The Blair High School Junior ROTC displayed the colors during the Pledge of Allegiance and Rob Lee, a friend of Mr. Ratliff and an English professor at Pasadena City College, gave the invocation before guests were served a Granola Parfait Smoothie with Mixed Berries Compote, Chia-Seed Vanilla Yogurt and Candied Berries followed by the Westin Mix Mushroom Quiche with Smoked Gouda, Tomato Fennel Fondue, Pancetta Chip served with Potato Pommes.

Chamber Chair of the Board Ishmael Trone introduced Mr. Ratliff, a freind since their days in the band at Eliot Junior High

Brad and Susan Ratliff with the Royal Court at the President's Breakfast.
School. While touching on Echoes of Success, the theme for the 2017 Tournament, Mr. Ratliff discussed the former theme that resonated with him the most, Voyages of Discovery and 1992 Tournament President Bob Cheney. Mr. Ratliff talked about the evolving Tournament before discussing the importance of music programs and how pleased he was personally to support the many bands that will perform in the upcoming Rose Parade.

Rose Queen Victoria Castellanos and Princesses Audrey Cameron, Maya Kawaguchi Khan, Shannon Larsuel, Autumn Lundy, Natalie Petrossian and Lauren "Emi" Powers were given an ornament as a souvenir of the President's Breakfast. Mr. Trone presented Brad Ratliff with a glass plaque commemorating the event and showed a brass version that will be displayed at Tournament House. Mayor Terry Tornek presented a commendation from the City of Pasadena to Mr. Ratliff, as well.

Dignitaries in attendance included Assembly Member Chris Holden, City Council Member Tyron Hampton, PCC Trustee

Mayor Terry Tornek and Chamber Chair Ishmael Trone made presentaions to Mr. Ratliff.
Ross Selvidge, Pasadena Center Operating Company CEO Mike Ross, Hollywood Burbank Airport Executive Director Frank Miller, PCC President and Superintendent Rajen Verdien, Pasadena City Manager Steve Mermell and Mayor Tornek.

Bill Flinn, Executive Director and CEO of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was also in attendance.

Past Presidents of the Tournament of Roses in attendance were: Bob Cheney, Corky Conzonaire, Gary Haworth, Mike Matthiessen and Dick Ratliff, Brad Ratliff's father.

Queen and Court Sponsors were Corporate Center Pasadena, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Pasadena Star-News, and Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

You can read the Pasadena NOW coverage of the event and see more photos here: http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/tournament-of-roses-president-echoed-success-stories-as-128th-parade-nears/