Bustamante to Speak to Commerce Group

State Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante (D-Fresno) will give the keynote address at the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn.’s 20th annual awards dinner Thursday.

The event will also honor Browning-Ferris Industries with an award for commitment and service to the greater San Fernando Valley.

BFI President and CEO Bruce Ranck will accept the Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award for Excellence at the dinner, which is open to the public.

VICA is citing BFI for its involvement in such community activities as Little League baseball, the Boys & Girls Club, the Valley Family Center, the San Fernando Valley Charitable Foundation, the World Children’s Transplant Fund and the Los Angeles Children’s Museum.

Past award winners include Cigna HealthCare of Southern California, Warner Bros., Latham & Watkins, 20th Century Insurance and Texaco Inc.

The dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, 333 Universal Terrace.

Tickets are $200. For more information, call the association at (818) 888-2228.