News-Press GM receives Man of the Year award

Robert Chacon

The Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized Gregg Bertness,

general manager and advertising director of the News-Press, as its

Man of the Year on Wednesday.

Bertness received the award Wednesday night at La Canada

Flintridge Country Club during the chamber’s annual recognition

banquet. The chamber recognizes members of the community who have

improved the quality of life in the Crescenta Valley.

“I’m very honored to receive this recognition because I am from

this community,” Bertness said during his acceptance speech. “If

there is a community that is labeled as an overachiever, it is La

Crescenta.”

Bertness, a 20-year resident of La Crescenta, recognized the

community for its schools.

“The schools in La Crescenta have been recognized statewide and

nationwide as excellent schools. In a town with a population of

20,000, that says a lot,” he said.

Both of Bertness’ daughters attended La Crescenta schools.

The chamber’s six-member awards committee chose Bertness from a

long list of candidates, chamber director Jean Maluccio said.

“Gregg has served on boards and done positive things in the

community,” she said. “He has taken time to talk to people and has

offered to help me on events and fund-raisers.”

The Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce recently announced

it will recognize Bertness as Business Person of the Year at its

recognition banquet Jan. 8.

Bertness is a 25-year employee of the Los Angeles Times, the past

two at the News-Press, which is part of the Times Community News

division of The Times.