United Chambers Honor Youth Volunteer Posthumously

David Potel, who was active for many years with youth in the east San Fernando Valley, and Scott Wilk, former chief of staff to Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge), were among those honored Friday at the fifth annual United Chambers of Commerce recognition dinner.

Potel, who died in December, was honored for his work with the East Valley YMCA and the city’s Parks Department.

Wilk, who before moving to Sioux Falls, S.D., was active with the group Finally Restoring Excellence in Education, or FREE, was honored as the administrative aide of the year.

Honored as large business of the year was the Facey Medical Group in Mission Hills. The medical group was nominated by the Mission Hills Chamber, in part for its health-education and outreach efforts, including free flu shots, a school immunization program and the donation of medical supplies to clinics in Mexico.

The award for medium-sized business of the year went to Continental Coin & Jewelry in Van Nuys, which also sponsors a number of outreach programs, including efforts to aid the homeless. The company was nominated by the Mid Valley Chamber.

The small business honoree was the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center, which has sponsored attendance of hundreds of children at the annual NAACP Save Our Children program. The company was nominated by the Pacoima Chamber.

The United Chambers group is made up of 23 individual chambers of commerce from throughout the San Fernando Valley. The group, founded in 1977, serves as a lobbying and networking group for an estimated 9,000 Valley businesses.