2025 Business Leaders' Breakfast
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 7 AM
HONOREE
Charlie P. Smith
Senior Managing Director Broker Lead, Los Angeles, JLL
Click Here to view Charlie’s Biography
EMCEE
Maria S. Salinas
President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Click Here to view Maria’s Biography.
FIRESIDE CHAT MODERATOR
Craig S. Meyer, SIOR
President, Global Chair, JLL, Americas Industrial
Click Here to view Craig’s Biography.
The 2025 Business Leaders’ Breakfast was a powerful celebration of leadership, community, and the life-changing impact of Scouting.
We were proud to honor Charlie P. Smith as this year’s Business Leader of the Year, recognizing his exemplary leadership, commitment to youth development, and positive impact on the greater Los Angeles community. As a key executive at JLL, a global leader in commercial real estate services, Charlie has helped shape the skyline of our city while also giving back in meaningful ways. His conversation with Craig S. Meyer offered timely insights into the evolving landscape of downtown Los Angeles and the future of real estate and enterprise. Charlie’s service, integrity, and vision make him truly deserving of this honor.
We extend a special thank you to the outstanding Scouts who led us in the opening ceremonies: Eagle Scout Charles of Troop 509, Scout Allison of Troop 4, and Cub Scout Leia of Pack 10. The impressive color guard, made up of Scouts from Packs 10, 40, and 848 along with Troops 4, 40, 509, and 738, set a patriotic and inspiring tone for the morning.
We are deeply grateful for the leadership and remarks of Council Board Chair and President Steven J. Rothans and Acting Scout Executive Maricela Gonzalez-Orendain, who shared their vision for the future of Scouting in Greater Los Angeles.
Our thanks also go to Tom McDonald, who energized the room with a passionate call to action during our Fund A Need paddle raise, helping to generate crucial support for local Scouting programs.
The morning was further elevated by two incredible Eagle Scout speakers. Christian, a double graduate of Tulane University with a BS in Public Health and a Master’s in Health Administration, shared how Scouting paved the way for his academic and professional journey toward medical school. Sudeshna, a proud member of Troop 423 and recipient of a Gold Medal level Congressional Award, spoke about how Scouting ignited her passion for service and leadership. She’ll begin her biology studies at UCLA this fall.
A heartfelt thank you to Maria S. Salinas, our exceptional emcee and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. As the proud mother of four Eagle Scouts, her presence brought the morning full circle with warmth and authenticity.
Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude to our event sponsors; your generosity is helping to change lives through Scouting. Thank you for believing in our mission and investing in the future of our youth.
Together, we celebrated more than business. We celebrated the power of character, leadership, and community.
Highlights from the 2024 Business Leaders' Breakfast
Since 1915, Greater LA Scouting has been building tomorrow’s business and civic leaders through programs that develop real-world skills: leadership, teamwork, resilience, and community service.
In 2024 alone, Scouting impacted over 12,700 youth, with 413 Scouts earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, and we proudly serve the youth of all backgrounds, including 962 girls in grades K–12. Nearly 1,000 individuals received Scoutreach and Campership support, covering annual dues, uniforms, and access to camp experiences last year, and the need continues to grow.
Thank you again to our 2024 Sponsors.
View our 2024 Tribute Journal here.
